Why the College Basketball Invitational?

This year, the first ever College Basketball Invitational will be played. What is it, you ask?

Well, for those who can't quite make it into the battle of the 65 best teams in the nation, there's the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) for the 66th.

Now for the teams who can't make that particular tournament, there's the CBI which helps us find the 98th best team in the country.

Thank God.

For years, I have been preaching a need for this. Sure, we have tournaments for the 97 best teams in the country, but what about those teams that are so sorry that they can't even crack the top 100? They deserve a post season tournament too. Thus, the CBI.

According to the CBI's Web site, "The CBI will provide a meaningful opportunity for teams that are deserving of a postseason experience." 

Well said.

I can't think of anyone who is more deserving of a "postseason experience" than the 13-18 Cincinnati Bearcats.

Sure, they may have been five games under .500 on the season, but they were only two games under .500 in the Big East. AND they beat four teams that made the NCAA Tournament. How did they not get an at-large bid?

Seriously though, isn't this a little overkill? The games are televised on Fox College Sports. Does anyone even have this channel? I have over 200 in my house and would be hard pressed to find the epic Ohio v. Bradley Quarterfinal matchup.

Bradley? This is bad. Have you no pride? Can't these teams say "No Thanks" to the CBI?

What is going through the heads of these players? How can they willingly play in the battle for the 98th best team in the nation? I guess they want to be the first ever College Basketball Invitational Champion.

That's history, baby.