University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Bears Accept Invitation to Play in CBI
3/23/2024 10:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After a historic 19-win regular season, Northern Colorado earned an invitation to compete in the 2024 Ro College Basketball Invitational Friday.
The Bears, seeded eighth, open the tournament against No. 9 Cleveland State Sunday, March 24 at 9 a.m. MT, tournament officials announced Sunday night.
This is UNC's second trip to the exclusive mid-major postseason tournament in the last three seasons. The Bears will know their opponent and seeding when the full field is announced Sunday evening.
UNC's 19 wins this season tied for the sixth most in a single season in school history, while the second place in the Big Sky Conference matched the best mark for a Bears' squad. They spent the majority of the 2023-24 campaign with a Net Ranking better than any mark over the last four seasons.
UNC returns to the postseason for the fifth time in program Division I history and the first time since the 2021-22 campaign, when the Bears competed in the College Basketball Invitational. They made two appearances in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, competing in the 2010 and 2014 tournaments before winning the 2018 CIT.
Following the 2021-22 campaign, the Bears defeated FAU 74-71, before an 87-84 triumph over UNC Ashville in the quarterfinals of the CBI before falling to eventual champion UNC Wilmington in the semifinals. FAU went on to advance to the NCAA Final Four last season.
The Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida, plays host to all 15 games. Streaming is available on FloSports for the first two rounds, with the semifinals and championship game on ESPN2.
ROUNDBALL CLUB
Fans who want to help the team cover travel expenses can donate to the Roundball Club at https://www.give2unc.org/roundballclub, with all donations received between now and the end of the tournament directly going to cover team travel expenses. Coach Smiley is personally kicking things off with a $1,000 donation. Join him in supporting these talented student-athletes!
THE CBI FORMAT
The current format of the CBI features 16 mid-major college basketball teams playing in a single-elimination tournament over five days. The opening round will take place on both March 23 and 24, with the quarterfinals March 25, followed by the semis March 26 and the championship March 27.
The Bears, seeded eighth, open the tournament against No. 9 Cleveland State Sunday, March 24 at 9 a.m. MT, tournament officials announced Sunday night.
This is UNC's second trip to the exclusive mid-major postseason tournament in the last three seasons. The Bears will know their opponent and seeding when the full field is announced Sunday evening.
UNC's 19 wins this season tied for the sixth most in a single season in school history, while the second place in the Big Sky Conference matched the best mark for a Bears' squad. They spent the majority of the 2023-24 campaign with a Net Ranking better than any mark over the last four seasons.
UNC returns to the postseason for the fifth time in program Division I history and the first time since the 2021-22 campaign, when the Bears competed in the College Basketball Invitational. They made two appearances in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, competing in the 2010 and 2014 tournaments before winning the 2018 CIT.
Following the 2021-22 campaign, the Bears defeated FAU 74-71, before an 87-84 triumph over UNC Ashville in the quarterfinals of the CBI before falling to eventual champion UNC Wilmington in the semifinals. FAU went on to advance to the NCAA Final Four last season.
The Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida, plays host to all 15 games. Streaming is available on FloSports for the first two rounds, with the semifinals and championship game on ESPN2.
ROUNDBALL CLUB
Fans who want to help the team cover travel expenses can donate to the Roundball Club at https://www.give2unc.org/roundballclub, with all donations received between now and the end of the tournament directly going to cover team travel expenses. Coach Smiley is personally kicking things off with a $1,000 donation. Join him in supporting these talented student-athletes!
THE CBI FORMAT
The current format of the CBI features 16 mid-major college basketball teams playing in a single-elimination tournament over five days. The opening round will take place on both March 23 and 24, with the quarterfinals March 25, followed by the semis March 26 and the championship March 27.
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