Fox Sports and AEG have teamed up to create a new postseason college basketball tournament called the College Basketball Crown, scheduled to take place 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 of which have previously hosted college basketball games, including the Pac-12 tournaments.
The College Basketball Crown is poised to be the primary competitor to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), which is currently run by the NCAA. While some schools declined invitations to participate in the NIT this season, eight schools from power conferences chose not to compete in the 32-team event.
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.
The NIT has roots dating back to 1938 when games were held at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. While last year’s final four took place in Las Vegas, this year’s event is set to occur this week in Indianapolis. 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.