Happening Hoops CBI/The Basketball Classic Bracketology #8
By: Ethan Hennessy
Conference tournaments are well underway! The list of teams committed to the 2022 College Basketball Invitational or Basketball Classic is growing by the day. If you are new here I predict the fields of the College Basketball Invitational and CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournaments. This is my fifth season doing this. I have a career 87% accuracy rate (111/128).
Yearly breakdown
2018: 75% (27/36)
2019: 93% (39/42)
*2020: 88% minimum *It was later determined three days from Selection Sunday (at the time of the cancelations) I had already correctly predicted 37 of the would-be 42 teams confirmed in the fields.
2021: 100% (8/8)
2022: TBD
*Teams that have captured the one seed in their conference tournament in their respective conference standings are not included in the CBI/CIT Bracketology because they receive their league’s automatic NIT bid in the event they do not win their conference tournament.
CBI (16 Teams Daytona Beach Florida March 19-23)
- Bellarmine (19-13 ASUN)
- Tulane (13-13 American)
- Eastern Washington (17-14 Big Sky)
- UNC Ashville (16-14 Big South)
- UC Irvine (15-9 Big West)
- Rice (15-15 CUSA)
- FAU (18-13 CUSA)
- Monmouth (19-12 MAAC)
- Buffalo (19-10 MAC
- Howard (16-12 MEAC)
- Morehead State (23-11 OVC)
- VMI (16-15 SoCon)
- Western Illinois (16-14 Summit)
- Portland (18-13 WCC)
- California Baptist (17-14 WAC)
- Abilene Christian (20-9 WAC)
The Basketball Classic (32 Teams Campus Sites)
East
- UMBC (16-13 America East)
- New Hampshire (15-12 America East)
- Delaware (19-12 CAA)
- Cornell (15-10 Ivy)
- Wagner (21-5 NEC)
- Boston (21-11 Patriot)
Midwest
- Youngstown State (18-14 Horizon)
- Fort Wayne (21-10 Horizon)
- Kent State (21-9 MAC)
- Southern Illinois (16-15 MVC)
- South Dakota (18-11 Summit)
South
- Liberty (22-11 ASUN)
- Jacksonville (21-9 ASUN)
- East Carolina (15-14 American)
- Oklahoma State (15-15 Big 12)
- Winthrop (23-8 Big South)
- UNCW (21-8 CAA)
- Charlotte (17-13 CUSA)
- South Carolina State (15-15 MEAC)
- UNCG (17-14 SoCon)
- Samford (21-10 SoCon)
- Texas Southern (14-12 SWAC)
- App State (19-13 Sun Belt)
- South Alabama (19-11 Sun Belt)
- Georgia State (16-10 Sun Belt)
- Stephen F Austin (22-8 WAC)
West
- Southern Utah (20-10 Big Sky)
- Weber State (20-11 Big Sky)
- CSU Fullerton (18-10 Big West)
- UC Riverside (16-11 Big West)
- UTEP (18-12 CUSA)
- Seattle (23-8 WAC)
*Oklahoma State is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament or NIT, but they are eligible for other postseason tournaments. The Basketball Classic is run by the same organization (college insider) that put on the CIT, but since “The Basketball Classic” is an entirely new tournament I was informed they will not be adhering to the previous rule that prohibits high major teams from participating in their tournament.
I strive to predict these brackets as accurately as possible if you are associated with a program and have information about a team’s status regarding the CBI or The Basketball Classic feel free to DM me on Twitter @HappeningHoops or email me at HappeningHoops@gmail.com All tips are considered off the record.
Happening Hoops 
8 Comments
What happened to the love for Stony Brook?
Are you sure Oklahoma State is eligible for the CBI and TBC? Quoting from the Decision of the Infractions Appeals Committee: “postseason ban for 2020-21 academic year, where the men’s basketball team shall
end its season with the last regular-season contest and shall not participate in postseason
conference or NCAA tournament competition” See https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/infractions/decisions/Nov2021D1INF_OklahomaStateUniversityAppealsDecision.pdf
LikeLiked by 1 person
Coach Ford told me they will not be continuing the season. They have had some difficult circumstances there on Long Island. As for Oklahoma State NCAA postseason bans apply to the NCAA Tournament and NIT. I got confirmation from one of the tournaments the cowboys are eligible for both tournaments.
LikeLike
Sad to hear Stony Brook is shutting it down. Those kids deserve better. Not sure going to the Colonial is the best move for them anyway, particularly since they already play Colonial football. I follow Stony Brook (since 2001), Hofstra (since 1994) and Delaware (since 2015) closely, and I’m concerned Stony Brook risks slipping into Hofstra’s shadow. Hofstra leaving the America East and opening up a spot for Stony Brook was the best thing that could have happened to the Seawolves at the time. The team looked a bit out of focus after learning of the AmEast Tourney ban, but they got over it. I wish I could see what they would do in the postseason.
Oklahoma State (followed by me since 1983) deserves something more as well. They proved that with their win over Texas Tech. They’re being punished for a crime of the past, and no one with the team now is guilty. The severity of the penalty par outstrips that of the infraction. So, I’m delighted they’ll have a chance to keep playing. Like Stony Brook, they sometimes looked as though they had trouble focusing (as well as finding a reliable scorer), but they can play with anybody, when they are on their game.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How about the Ohio Bobcats? With the current losing streak, the team may have played themselves out of the NIT tourney. Do you see them playing in the CBI or CIT?
LikeLike
I think it is unlikely they would play in anything below the NIT after talking with someone close to the program.
LikeLike
I hope Oklahoma State chooses to accept a bid to the CBI. The Pokes got a raw deal from the NCAA. Coach Mike B. & his crew deserve to play, if they wish.
LikeLike
I would assume they have a bid if they want it.
LikeLike
As an Oklahoma State Alum and Fan, I would love to see them take such a bid. I have checked a few websites but I do not see much chatter about it. Does anyone have some insight from inside the program?
LikeLike