The Basketball Classic

Last updated
The Basketball Classic
Sport Basketball
Founded2022
Founder Collegeinsider.com
Inaugural season 2021–22
No. of teams32
CountryUnited States
TV partner(s) ESPN+
Related
competitions
NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
National Invitational Tournament
College Basketball Invitational
Official website Website

The Basketball Classic is a single-elimination, fully-bracketed men's college basketball postseason tournament created in 2022 as a successor to the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, featuring up to 32 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams not selected to participate in the NCAA tournament, the NIT, or the CBI. In lieu of a traditional bracket, The Basketball Classic uses the old NIT model in which the matchups are set after each round. The Basketball Classic was founded by Collegeinsider.com to replace the former CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, which was discontinued after its scheduled 2020 and 2021 tournaments were cancelled.

Contents

No tournament was held in 2023, and the future of the tournament is unknown. [1]

Format

Games are held on campuses of participating schools. All gate receipts will be collected by The Basketball Classic. Schools can host games in the tournament without the responsibility of an additional financial commitment.

Broadcast

ESPN+ has broadcast rights for all games of The Basketball Classic. [2] The following is an overview and list of the announcers and television networks to broadcast The Basketball Classic:

YearNetworkPlay-by-PlayColor analystSideline
2022 ESPN+ Noah FraryNate Ross

Champions

YearChampionRunner-upMVP
2022 Fresno State Coastal Carolina Orlando Robinson

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References

  1. "Announcement Regarding Happening Hoops CBI/Basketball Classic Bracketology" . Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  2. "The Basketball Classic presented by Eracism" (PDF) (Press release). The Basketball Classic. Retrieved February 9, 2022.