The CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament isn’t flashy, but if you’re hard up for college basketball in the run-up to NCAA and NIT action, it will get the job done. The fourth-tier postseason destination doesn’t feature a single major-conference participant this spring — 23-9 UNC-Asheville is the tourney’s headliner — and will scour leagues from the MAC to the MAAC to crown a champion.
CIT 2017: Bracket, schedule, live stream info, and scores
Don’t think of it as a fourth-tier tournament. Think of it as an opportunity.
Action on the ninth-annual tournament will tip off Monday when Norfolk State, one win from a trip to the Big Dance and a 16 seed, takes on Liberty in the Coach John McLendon Classic. From there, a dozen more games will unfold, including five unfortunate matchups that directly clash with the opening Thursday of the NCAA tournament and will quickly be forgotten.
That should serve as motivation for 2017-18 and beyond as these hopeful teams work to set the foundation for next season. A big run through the CIT could be the spark (and extra practice time) that keys a trip to college basketball’s promised land. It worked for Old Dominion, which won the inaugural CIT in 2009, then ran all the way to the second round of the NCAA tourney the following year.
There is no set bracket for the CIT, which uses a dynamic schedule to pair opponents based on matchups and availability. With a flexible broadcast schedule — everything up to the final four will be streamed through Facebook — the fate of the second-round games won’t be locked in until the first round comes to an end.
TV & online streaming
All games of the CIT will be streamed online via Facebook Live. The semifinals and championship game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.
Schedule
First round
Monday, March 13
Liberty 73, Norfolk State 64
Tuesday, March 14
Saint Francis 78, Jacksonville 76 (Hugh Durham Classic)
Campbell 98, Houston Baptist 79
Samford 78, Canisius 74
Wednesday, March 15
Fort Wayne 88, Ball State 80 (Lou Henson Classic)
UMBC 88, Fairfield 83
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 80, Georgia State 64
Idaho 73, Stephen F. Austin 50
Thursday, March 16
Saint Peter 59, Albany 55
Furman 79, USC Upstate 57
UT Martin 89, UNC Asheville 75
Texas State 70, Lamar 60
Weber State 80, Cal State Fullerton 76 (Riley Wallace Classic)
Second round
Saturday, March 18
UMBC 87, Saint Francis 79
Monday, March 20
Campbell 73, UT Martin 56
Liberty 66, Samford 58
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 82, Weber State 73
Wednesday, March 22
Texas State 64, Idaho 55
Quarterfinals
Saturday, March 25
Furman 79, Campbell 64
Saint Peters 49, Texas State 44
Sunday, March 26
UMBC 80, Liberty 68
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 78, Fort Wayne 62
Semifinals
Wednesday, March 29
Semifinal 1, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Semifinal 2, 9 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Championship
Friday, March 31
Semifinal winners, 9 p.m, CBS Sports Network
See More:
