TicketsMarch 16, 2008
CBI Tournament Bracket
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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati continues the 2007-08 men's basketball season on Wednesday, March 19 when it travels to Peoria, Ill. to face Bradley in the first round of the inaugural postseason College Basketball Invitational (CBI).
Former Missouri Valley Conference rivals, Cincinnati (13-18, 8-10 BIG EAST) owns a 19-13 lead in the all-time series against Bradley (17-15, 9-9 MVC). Although the two sides have not faced off since Dec. 21, 1981, UC has won each of the last three meetings. That last matchup was a historic 75-73 seven-overtime victory at Robertson Fieldhouse. Bradley owns a 10-5 advantage on its home floor against Cincinnati, but Wednesday's game is the first meeting at Carver Arena.
UC student-athletes are in final exams this week and the UC Administration is working with the tournament management to secure travel that fits around the exam schedules.
The CBI features 16 teams and secures an important opportunity for deserving programs to have a postseason experience. Participating teams are being invited based upon their performance during their conference and non-conference schedules. All the games, which begin Tuesday, will be played on the campuses of the higher-seeded teams. The tournament's champion will be determined by a best-of-three series scheduled for March 31, April 2, and April 4.
All of the games will be televised nationally by FOX College Sports.
"Obviously we are excited to be playing in the postseason" says second-year head coach Mick Cronin. "This is a tribute to the tough schedule that we played over the course of the season and to the strength of the BIG EAST. More than 40 percent of our games this season were played against NCAA Tournament teams. Our kids are excited for the opportunity to represent UC again on the floor and will make the most of this experience."
UC played 14 of its 31 games this season against teams that made the NCAA Tournament's field of 65. The Bearcats went 4-10 in those games, with the wins coming over , , and Villanova. Nine of their 31 games were against teams that received a No. 4 seed or higher.
dropped its first-round game in the BIG EAST Tournament to eventual tournament champion , 70-64, despite 30 points from first-team all-BIG EAST performer Deonta Vaughn.
The Gazelle Group, producers of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, the O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic, and the Legends Classic, is the sponsoring body for the new tournament. For more information please log onto the web at http://www.gazellegroup.com/cbi/index_main.htm.