The College Basketball Crown, a new postseason college basketball tournament, is set to take place in Las Vegas from March 31 to April 6, 2025. The tournament will feature 16 teams playing games at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena. Both arenas have previously hosted college basketball games, including the Pac-12 tournaments.
Teams that do not qualify for the NCAA tournament will have a chance to participate in the College Basketball Crown. The Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East conferences will each have two automatic entries, while the remaining teams will be selected by a committee. Fox Sports executive vice president Jordan Bazant expressed excitement about providing more opportunities for student-athletes to compete in high-quality postseason college hoops.
While the NIT is currently run by the NCAA and has roots dating back to 1938 when games were held at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, it recently modified its selection process to include more teams from power-six conferences. However, some schools declined invitations to participate in the 32-team NIT this season. The NIT has been traditionally seen as the primary competitor to the NCAA tournament but with these changes it seems that it may no longer hold that title entirely.
The College Basketball Crown aims to provide an exciting and competitive alternative for teams that do not make the NCAA tournament and enhance the postseason college basketball experience for players and fans alike. With its location in Las Vegas and prestigious history of hosting major events such as Super Bowl and NBA Finals , it’s sure to attract attention from both players and fans alike
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