The complete guide to College Basketball Crown's newest tournament
The inaugural College Basketball Crown is set to debut this month, offering a fresh postseason opportunity for teams that missed the NCAA Tournament. Created by Fox Sports and the Anschutz Entertainment Group, this 16-team tournament in Las Vegas aims to establish itself as a significant alternative to the NIT for teams looking to extend their seasons.
The tournament features guaranteed selections from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East conferences, along with teams from the West Coast Conference, Mountain West, Atlantic-10, and American Athletic Conference. The entire event will take place over a single week, strategically scheduled to lead into the Final Four.
Participating Teams
The field includes a mix of power conference teams and strong mid-majors:
- Arizona State
- Boise State
- Butler
- Central Florida
- Cincinnati
- Colorado
- DePaul
- Georgetown
- George Washington
- Nebraska
- Oregon State
- Southern California
- Tulane
- Utah
- Villanova
- Washington State
Tournament Schedule
The College Basketball Crown runs from March 31 through April 6:
First RoundMonday, March 31
- Utah vs. Butler, 3 p.m. ET (FS1)
- George Washington vs. Boise State (FS1)
- Nebraska vs. Arizona State (FS1)
- Georgetown vs. Washington State (FS1)
Tuesday, April 1
- DePaul vs. Cincinnati (FS1)
- Oregon State vs. Central Florida (FS1)
- Colorado vs. Villanova (FS1)
- Tulane vs. Southern California (FS1)
Second Round
- Wednesday, April 2 and Thursday, April 3 (FS1)
Semifinals
- Saturday, April 5 (1:30 p.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET on Fox)
Championship
- Sunday, April 6 (5:30 p.m. ET on Fox)
Venues
The tournament will be played entirely in Las Vegas:
- First and second rounds: MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Semifinals and finals: T-Mobile Arena
How to Watch
All games will be broadcast on Fox networks:
- First and second rounds: FS1
- Semifinals and championship: Fox
This new tournament offers college basketball fans additional postseason action as teams compete for the inaugural College Basketball Crown championship, creating another pathway for programs to end their seasons on a positive note.