What is the CBI? You probably have some questions, including who is playing, how many teams are playing, and the Pay-to-play format. But the CBI is more than just a basketball tournament – it’s also a showcase for college basketball talent. We break down the most important details of the CBI, including who’s playing, what the format is, and where the tournament is held.
16 teams
The College Basketball Invitational is a one-day competition for collegiate basketball teams. The tournament is held during the end of the NCAA regular season. In recent years, the tournament has been played at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. For the first time, it will feature a field of 16 teams, seeded 1-16. The tournament’s single-elimination format will remain unchanged.
The field began with 68 teams, but has since shrunk to sixteen. Two of the top three seeds, Kentucky and Baylor, were eliminated by their respective regionals. The MAAC has as many as sixteen teams in the Sweet 16 as the SEC, but one team, Akron, did not make it past the first round. For the most part, this is a tough field for college basketball teams.
The number one overall seed Gonzaga must improve on its transition defense to advance to the Sweet 16. No. 4 Arkansas is the team’s next opponent. Despite the talented Big East, the Cardinal are a dark horse. The No. 2 seed Arizona lost in overtime to Texas Christian, but is the best overall seed in the west. Texas Tech, meanwhile, knocked off Michigan State. The top seeds from the Midwest, Michigan, and Kansas, will face Gonzaga and Texas Tech in the Sweet 16.
The College Basketball Invitational is an elite, yet fringe tournament. In the past, this tournament has attracted big names. The Peacocks have made the NCAA tournament six times, and have a talented shooting team led by Doug Edert. It has plenty of talent to go far in the CBI, but the Peacocks may be the team to beat in the finals. But the Peacocks aren’t as talented as they were a few years ago.
Pay-to-play format
West Virginia University has accepted a bid to participate in the CBI basketball tournament, and will head to Spain this summer. But there’s a problem. The CBI has a bad reputation and could backfire. This summer’s CBI is a pay-to-play tournament. Teams play for $50,000 to enter the first round, a cost far lower than the home team. As each round advances, the price goes up. In return, the CBI schools keep the television revenue, ticket sales, and other revenue generated from the tournament.
Since the CBI started in 2008, the teams that participated are mostly mid-majors. Last year, the field was made up of mostly mid-majors: Wyoming, Colorado, and George Washington. These schools didn’t make it past the first round, but were still among the top-ten seeds in the CBI. As a result, the CBI field is likely to be small and unimpressive. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.
The College Basketball Invitational features 16 teams. In 2008, Nevada was one of them. The team paid $40,000 to host a game. Then, they could make money from ticket sales, while the road team had no money. Unlike the NCAA Tournament, the CBI basketball tournament is one-elimination, with the champion determined in a best-of-three format. But the CBI is not a bad thing for college basketball. It’s a great way to support college basketball.
While the CBI may be a fringe tournament, it is a legitimate event. In the past, it has attracted big names, including Michigan and Ohio University. It has also featured major upsets. Teams like Oregon State and Tennessee have a chance of grabbing a CBI bid. And with the tournament expanding, it’s more profitable than ever. And it’s fun to watch.
Mid-major teams
The College Basketball Invitational is an annual event for mid-major teams to develop momentum and experience in the postseason. This year’s event was a success, with Oregon and West Virginia being invited to participate. First-year coaches and players get a chance to adjust to their new jobs and shine on a postseason stage. While mid-major teams may not have as much hype as big-name programs, this tournament offers the opportunity for a new generation of coaches and players to shine on a big stage.
While the two top-seeded teams are both in their first-year appearances in the CBI, the most exciting team is probably the defending champions, Drake University. While this is a bit of a stretch, the Spartans are still a fun, competitive team that has the potential to take home a CBI championship. A team like Northern Colorado could make the tournament a real party. Daylen Kountz was a unanimous first-team selection this season and almost won the Big Sky Tournament earlier this month.
Another team with high hopes is the Houston Cougars. They’ve won six straight games and have remained undefeated since a potential fourth-seed eliminated them. The Cougars will play the Memphis Tigers on Sunday, where they’ll try to complete the season sweep. Meanwhile, SMU hosts Tulane, which has a chance to finish above. But no matter who wins the first round, the American Athletic will likely be an intriguing game.
The CBI tournament began in 2008, when it was still just a small postseason option for mid-major colleges. ESPN televised the championship series this year. Its games were previously aired on AXS TV and HDNet. In the previous two years, it was televised on CBS Sports Network. However, no team has won the CBI twice. Until now, it has never reached the NCAA Finals, so this year’s title game is a must-see for all mid-major basketball fans.
Daytona Beach location
The College Basketball Invitational will be returning to Daytona Beach next season, March 19-23, as the Ocean Center will host the tournament. It was previously held on campus sites, but last season, the effects of the COVID-19 virus forced the tourney to move to a single venue. This year, the 16-team event will be played at the Ocean Center, and the tournament will feature a single-elimination format. Last year’s event was won by Pepperdine University.
This year’s tournament will feature the Boston Terriers, who last played in the CBI in 2010. In that year, they advanced to the semifinals where they defeated Morehead State and Oregon State. The Terriers went on to win the America East conference and qualify for the NCAA tournament that same year. You can purchase tickets online or at the Ocean Center box office on game day. There are special hotel rates for this event at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort.
The CBI will feature 16 teams this year, with the first four games being played on March 19 and Sunday. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship will be played on March 22 and 23. All games will be played at the Ocean Center, and the championship will air on ESPN. The top four seeds are Drake, Pepperdine, Duke, and UNC Asheville. If you’re betting on CBI, it’s a good idea to check out the odds.
Ticket prices
The cost of CBI Tournament tickets varies depending on where you sit. As a general rule, the more expensive seats in the front row are located closer to the court. For a cheaper view of the court, consider sitting on the upper level of the arena. If you don’t want to pay hundreds of dollars per ticket, you can also get tickets in the lower levels. To find out the exact price of a ticket, check TicketSmarter. The website will show you the price range available for each ticket type.
The best time to purchase CBI Tournament tickets is three to seven days before the game. While waiting for a few days is a smart idea, it will increase the risk of missing the show. TicketSmarter will help you find the lowest prices and best selection for your budget. However, you may be missing the best time to purchase your ticket. To save more money on CBI Tournament tickets, be sure to shop around.
The CBI is a single elimination tournament for teams that are not selected to play in the NCAA Tournament. The tournament will feature 16 teams. The tickets are approximately 10-15% cheaper than competition. For game day ticket sales, you can purchase your tickets on Ticketmaster. The Daytona Beach Ocean Center will serve as the venue for the CBI. There are special hotel rates for those attending the tournament. If you want to enjoy the competition, buy tickets to the CBI basketball tournament and watch your favorite teams compete. You can also buy tickets for other NCAA tournament games.
Depending on the location of your seat, CBI tickets can be priced anywhere from $15 to $172. The lowest price is for upper level seats at Madison Square Garden. If you want to attend a session of the tournament, you can buy cheap tickets to the lower level. If you’d prefer the upper level, you can get tickets for as little as $15 to $50. The cost for tickets to the first round usually varies from one game to another.
