Cancellation of the College Basketball Invitational
As the highly anticipated Selection Sunday approaches in the realm of college basketball, it has been confirmed that one notable postseason event will not take place in 2026. The College Basketball Invitational (CBI), established in 2007 and launched a year later, will not be hosted this season. Organizers announced the cancellation via social media, attributing it to “circumstances beyond our control,” while expressing hope for a return next year.
History and Evolution of the CBI
The CBI was originally created as an opportunity for teams that did not qualify for either the NCAA tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). In its early years, the tournament featured a number of prestigious power-conference teams, with Oregon State, Oregon, Pittsburgh, and VCU among the initial champions. Notably, VCU won the tournament in 2010 before making a remarkable run to the Final Four the following year.
However, in recent seasons, the CBI has shifted primarily to featuring mid-major and low-major teams, often including those with subpar records. Not a single participant from one of the five major conferences has appeared since DePaul in 2019. When the University of Indiana declined an invitation to the CBI in 2014, former athletic director Fred Glass remarked,
“We’re Indiana. We don’t play in the CBI.”
indicating a reluctance among some programs to participate.
Challenges Facing Secondary Postseason Tournaments
Despite historically requiring an entry fee, the CBI made strides in 2023 by offering NIL funding to its participants. Nevertheless, the increasing challenges faced by secondary postseason tournaments like the CBI and others have become more pronounced, as many schools that miss out on NCAA bids are more focused on rebuilding for the next season through the transfer portal. This trend has led to a noticeable uptick in teams declining invites to the NIT, and the College Insider Tournament (CIT) has not been held in five of the last six years, exacerbated by the interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This development marks a significant moment in the landscape of college basketball’s postseason structure, reflecting the ongoing evolution of team priorities and tournament viability.
