Helena Frye
CBI stands for College Basketball Invitational. It is a 16-team, single-elimination tournament for men's college basketball teams not selected to participate in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The CBI is often seen as a tertiary tournament, providing an opportunity for teams to continue their season.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | College Basketball Invitational |
| Started In | 2008 |
| Number of Teams | 16 |
| Type of Tournament | Single-elimination until the finals, which are best two-out-of-three |
| Teams | Teams that the NCAA Tournament and NIT don't want |
| Stigma | Tertiary tournament |
| Example Teams | Virginia, Washington, Utah, Stanford, VCU, Oregon State, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Texas, Texas A&M, Purdue (2013), Penn State, Cal, TCU, Vanderbilt |
| Hosting Fee | $50,000 for a game, $75,000 for semifinals |
| Past Winners | Tulsa (2008), Seattle (2024), Illinois State (2025) |
| Broadcasters | DirecTV, Fox Sports Net, HDNet, CBS Sports Network, ESPN |
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What You'll Learn
CBI stands for College Basketball Invitational
The CBI is a 16-team tournament, featuring 11-15 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams. It provides a chance for young teams to continue their season and gain postseason experience, although it is unpopular among higher-profile teams due to the stigma of playing in a tertiary tournament. Teams have to pay to host CBI games, with the fee ranging from $50,000 to $75,000 for the semifinals.
The games are held on campus sites, with the opening rounds, quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship games broadcast on various platforms. In recent years, the semifinals and championship games have been televised on ESPN2 and ESPNU.
The CBI has been described as similar to the NIT, providing an opportunity for teams to extend their season and for players to gain more experience. While some critics argue that these secondary tournaments are unnecessary, others emphasize the benefits they bring to players, fans, and coaches.
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CBI is a 16-team tournament
CBI stands for College Basketball Invitational. It is a 16-team tournament that began in 2008 and includes teams that are not selected for the NCAA Tournament or the NIT. The CBI is a chance for these teams to continue their season and play in the postseason.
The CBI is single-elimination until the finals, which are the best two out of three games. The tournament is fully bracketed, with teams seeded 1-15. Games are held on campus sites, and teams have to pay to host them. The fee for hosting a game is $50,000, and it increases to $75,000 for the semifinals.
The CBI has featured several well-known programs, including Virginia, Washington, Utah, Stanford, VCU, Oregon State, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Texas, and Texas A&M. Two Big Ten teams, Purdue in 2013 and Penn State in 2014, have also participated in the CBI.
The tournament has been broadcast on various television networks over the years, including DirecTV, Fox Sports Net, HDNet (later AXS), CBS Sports Network, and ESPN. The most recent editions, in 2024 and 2025, were aired on ESPN2, with the semifinal and championship games telecast on this channel.
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It is a chance for teams to continue their season
CBI stands for College Basketball Invitational. It is a 16-team, single-elimination tournament that started in 2008 and features teams that weren't selected for the NCAA Tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The CBI provides an opportunity for teams to extend their season and play postseason basketball. While some higher-profile teams may view the CBI as a tertiary tournament with a certain stigma attached to it, it offers several benefits for participating teams.
The CBI allows teams, especially young and improving squads, to gain additional experience and build momentum for the following season. It provides a platform for players to showcase their skills and gives coaches valuable recruitment opportunities. The tournament also caters to fans who get to witness more games, potentially against recognizable opponents. Teams that have historically performed well, such as Virginia, Washington, Stanford, and Purdue, have participated in the CBI, validating the quality and competitiveness of the tournament.
The CBI has been broadcast on various television networks over the years, including DirecTV, Fox Sports Net, HDNet (later AXS), CBS Sports Network, and ESPN. The championship series, in particular, has received exclusive coverage on ESPNU and ESPN2. The tournament's format includes a fully bracketed structure, with single-elimination rounds leading up to the finals, which are typically a best-of-three series.
While there may be criticism of an overcrowded postseason atmosphere with the addition of tournaments like the CBI, supporters argue that these tournaments harm nobody. They provide valuable opportunities for players, coaches, and fans to extend their season and enjoy the excitement of postseason basketball. The CBI has grown in prestige over the years and continues to offer a chance for teams to showcase their skills and make lasting memories on the court.
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CBI games are televised and streamed
CBI stands for the College Basketball Invitational, a men's college basketball tournament created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group. The CBI is a 16-team tournament that takes place after the conclusion of the men's college basketball regular season. It provides an opportunity for teams that are not selected for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) to continue their season.
The CBI games are televised and streamed on a variety of platforms, making them accessible to fans across the country. Local sports networks and regional sports channels may carry the CBI tournament games, so checking local sports channels or listings is recommended to find coverage in your area. Availability may vary depending on location and cable/satellite provider, and regional restrictions may apply to streaming options.
In the past, the CBI tournament has been broadcast on DirecTV and Fox Sports Net, with games also available on the official website. From 2009 to 2013, the tournament broadcasts were changed to HDNet, and CBS Sports Network televised the 2014 and 2015 tournaments. In 2016, the CBI announced an exclusive television partnership with ESPN, with the best-of-three Championship Series televised on ESPNU from 2016 to 2019. The 2025 CBI Tournament was telecast on ESPNU and ESPN2, with the first and quarterfinal rounds streamed on FloCollege.
With the increasing popularity of streaming platforms, fans can also enjoy the convenience of watching CBI games on various devices through streaming services. Certain cable and satellite TV providers offer mobile TV apps that allow subscribers to stream live television on their mobile devices, including CBI Tournament games. Streaming platforms often offer additional features such as on-demand replays, highlights, and analysis, allowing fans to customise their viewing experience and catch up on any missed moments.
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CBI is considered less prestigious than the NIT
CBI stands for College Basketball Invitational. It is a 16-team, single-elimination tournament that started in 2008. The CBI includes teams that are not selected for the NCAA Tournament or the NIT. Teams that host CBI games have to pay $50,000, and that fee goes up to $75,000 for the right to host semifinals.
The CBI is considered less prestigious than the NIT for several reasons. Firstly, the NIT has a longer history and tradition, dating back to the 1940s, when it was considered the most glamorous and prestigious of the post-season tournaments, often featuring stronger teams than the NCAA Tournament. Secondly, the NIT has historically been associated with high-profile teams and venues, such as being hosted in New York City at Madison Square Garden, which attracted significant media coverage before the era of television and mass media. This contributed to its prestige and prominence in the early years of college basketball.
Additionally, the NIT has had a larger number of participants, with 32 teams compared to 16 in the CBI. The NIT selects teams that are not chosen for the NCAA Tournament, so it features teams that are still considered competitive and of a higher calibre than those in the CBI. The CBI, on the other hand, is often seen as a tertiary tournament, including teams that were not selected for either the NCAA Tournament or the NIT. This perception contributes to the stigma surrounding the CBI, making it less desirable for higher-profile teams to participate.
While the CBI provides an opportunity for teams to extend their season and gain postseason experience, particularly for younger players, it is often viewed as a consolation tournament. The NIT, despite losing some of its prestige over the years, still maintains a higher standing among college basketball tournaments due to its history, the calibre of teams it attracts, and the perception that it is a more competitive and prestigious event.
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Frequently asked questions
CBI stands for College Basketball Invitational.
The CBI began in 2008 and was the first new postseason tournament since the Collegiate Commissioners Association Tournament in 1974.
The CBI is a 16-team tournament, featuring teams that the NCAA Tournament and NIT don't select.
The CBI is a single-elimination tournament until the finals, which are the best two out of three. Teams have to pay to host CBI games, with the fee increasing for the semifinals.
