The College Basketball Crown: A New Postseason Tournament Takes Center Stage
College basketball is set to welcome a fresh addition to its postseason landscape with the inaugural College Basketball Crown, a tournament designed to provide teams that narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament an opportunity to extend their season and compete for a championship title. Orchestrated by Fox Sports and the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), the College Basketball Crown aims to establish itself as a prominent postseason event, offering an alternative platform for deserving teams to showcase their talent and vie for glory.
The tournament, featuring a 16-team field, will be held in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, transforming the entertainment capital into a basketball haven for a week of intense competition. The College Basketball Crown seeks to emulate the success of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) by providing a competitive environment for teams that fall just short of the NCAA Tournament selection, giving them a chance to continue their season and earn recognition on a national stage.
The selection process for the College Basketball Crown guarantees representation from several prominent conferences, including the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East. These conferences, known for their basketball prowess and passionate fan bases, will have guaranteed spots in the tournament, ensuring a high level of competition and drawing significant attention to the event. Additionally, teams from the West Coast Conference, Mountain West, Atlantic-10, and American Athletic Conference will also be included, creating a diverse and competitive field that showcases the breadth of talent across college basketball.
The tournament is strategically scheduled to culminate just before the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four, aiming to capitalize on the heightened interest in college basketball during this period. By positioning itself as a relevant postseason option, the College Basketball Crown hopes to attract viewers and establish itself as a staple in the college basketball calendar.
Tournament Details
The inaugural College Basketball Crown will commence on Monday, March 31, and conclude with the championship game on Sunday, April 6, offering a week of thrilling basketball action. All games will be broadcast on Fox and FS1, ensuring widespread coverage and accessibility for fans across the country.
The tournament will unfold in two phases, with the first and second rounds taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, a renowned venue known for hosting high-profile sporting events. The semifinals and championship game will then shift to T-Mobile Arena, a state-of-the-art facility that provides an ideal setting for the tournament’s climactic stages.
Opening Round Matchups
The tournament’s opening round matchups promise to deliver exciting matchups between teams eager to prove their mettle. The schedule is as follows (all times Eastern):
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Monday, March 31
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Utah vs. Butler, 3 p.m. | FS1
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George Washington vs. Boise State | FS1
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Nebraska vs. Arizona State | FS1
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Georgetown vs. Washington State | FS1
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Tuesday, April 1
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DePaul vs. Cincinnati | FS1
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Oregon State vs. Central Florida | FS1
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Colorado vs. Villanova | FS1
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Tulane vs. Southern California | FS1
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A New Era for Postseason College Basketball
The College Basketball Crown represents a significant development in the college basketball landscape, offering a new platform for teams to compete and gain recognition beyond the NCAA Tournament. By partnering with Fox Sports and AEG, the tournament has the resources and infrastructure to establish itself as a prominent postseason event.
The tournament’s guaranteed selections from major conferences and inclusion of teams from other competitive leagues ensure a high level of competition and diverse representation. The strategic scheduling of the tournament, culminating just before the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four, aims to capitalize on the peak interest in college basketball, attracting viewers and solidifying its place in the college basketball calendar.
The College Basketball Crown has the potential to become a valuable addition to the college basketball ecosystem, providing opportunities for deserving teams to showcase their talent, compete for a championship, and gain exposure on a national stage. As the tournament unfolds in Las Vegas, fans can anticipate a week of thrilling basketball action, marking the beginning of a new era for postseason college basketball.
The tournament aims to provide a competitive and exciting environment for teams that narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament, giving them a chance to continue their season and earn recognition. It is a chance for fans to see exciting matchups and talented players who might not have had the opportunity to shine in the NCAA Tournament.
The College Basketball Crown is poised to become a must-watch event for college basketball fans, offering a unique blend of competition, entertainment, and excitement. The inaugural tournament is sure to be filled with surprises, upsets, and memorable moments, setting the stage for a long and successful future for the College Basketball Crown.
