[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "what%20is%20the%20crown%20college%20basketball%20tournament"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here\u2019s a rundown of what the **College Basketball Crown** is\u2014the new postseason (i.e., post-March Madness) men\u2019s college basketball tournament launched in 2025.\n\n---\n\n### What is the College Basketball Crown?\n\n- It\u2019s a men\u2019s NCAA Division I postseason basketball tournament featuring teams **not selected for the NCAA Tournament**.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_College_Basketball_Crown?utm_source=openai))  \n- Founded by **FOXSports** and the **Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG)**, the tournament aims to provide more high-level postseason matchups and offer NIL (name, image, likeness) opportunities for players.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_Basketball_Crown?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n### Format & Logistics\n\n**Inaugural Tournament (2025):**\n\n- **Field size**: 16 teams.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_College_Basketball_Crown?utm_source=openai))  \n- **Structure**: Single-elimination bracket.([sports.yahoo.com](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/college-basketball-crown-2025-field-145333808.html?utm_source=openai))  \n- **Dates**: March 31 to April 6, 2025.([globenewswire.com](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/06/3022034/0/en/Inaugural-College-Basketball-Crown-Releases-Ticket-Television-Schedule.html?utm_source=openai))  \n- **Venues**: All games in Las Vegas (Paradise, NV); first round & quarterfinals at MGM Grand Garden Arena, semifinals & final at T-Mobile Arena.([globenewswire.com](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/06/3022034/0/en/Inaugural-College-Basketball-Crown-Releases-Ticket-Television-Schedule.html?utm_source=openai))  \n- **TV coverage**: First two rounds (FS1), semifinals & final (FOX).([sports.yahoo.com](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/college-basketball-crown-2025-field-145333808.html?utm_source=openai))  \n\n**For 2026:**\n\n- The field will shrink to **8 teams**.([foxnews.com](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/college-basketball-crown-releases-dates-2026-tournament?utm_source=openai))  \n- Eligible teams will include the top two from each of the **Big East, Big Ten, and Big 12** that missed the NCAA Tournament, plus two wild-card teams chosen by committee.([foxnews.com](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/college-basketball-crown-releases-dates-2026-tournament?utm_source=openai))  \n- Dates for 2026: April 1 - April 5, still in Las Vegas, same venues.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_College_Basketball_Crown?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n### Teams & Selection\n\n- The 2025 field was a mix of automatic qualifiers (Big Ten, Big East, Big 12) and at-large teams from other conferences.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_College_Basketball_Crown?utm_source=openai))  \n- Key schools in 2025 included Nebraska (who won the championship), UCF, Villanova, Boise State, Arizona State, Georgetown, Colorado, USC, etc.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_College_Basketball_Crown?utm_source=openai))  \n- Criteria: The tournament takes teams that missed the NCAA Tournament. For conferences with contracts, certain schools commit to accepting invitations. A selection committee also fills remaining slots.([ucfknights.com](https://ucfknights.com/news/2025/03/17/mens-hoops-to-participate-in-inaugural-college-basketball-crown?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n### Stakes: Championship, Prize, NIL\n\n- The winner of the 2025 College Basketball Crown: **Nebraska**, defeating UCF 77-66.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_College_Basketball_Crown?utm_source=openai))  \n- NIL incentive: In 2025, there was a **$500,000 NIL prize pool**:  \n  \u2022 $300,000 for the champion  \n  \u2022 $100,000 for the runner-up  \n  \u2022 $50,000 each for the two losing semifinalists.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_College_Basketball_Crown?utm_source=openai))  \n\n- 2026 also promises NIL opportunities, though specific amounts or structure might shift.([foxnews.com](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/college-basketball-crown-releases-dates-2026-tournament?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n### Why It Matters & How It Differs from Other Tournaments\n\n- The Crown positions itself as a competitor/follow-up to other postseason tournaments like the **NIT**, offering similarly competitive games for teams that just missed the NCAA cut.([fox5dc.com](https://www.fox5dc.com/sports/college-basketball-crown-tournament-how-watch-2025?utm_source=openai))  \n- Because it\u2019s backed by major media (FOX) and has sponsor interests, it has features designed for visibility\u2014centralized location (Las Vegas), national broadcasts, and big NIL stakes.([globenewswire.com](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/06/3022034/0/en/Inaugural-College-Basketball-Crown-Releases-Ticket-Television-Schedule.html?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n### Summary\n\nThe College Basketball Crown gives quality Division I programs that didn\u2019t make March Madness a meaningful, televised, high-stakes postseason opportunity\u2014with built-in player-earning components through NIL. It launched in 2025 with 16 teams, but is scaling down a bit in 2026 to 8, focusing on teams from Big East, Big Ten, Big 12 plus wild cards.\n\nIf you want, I can pull up the 2026 participant list or how teams are preparing differently now that the field is smaller."
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "how%20does%20this%20differ%20from%20the%20NIT%20and%20is%20the%20NIT%20still%20going"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here\u2019s how the **NBA vs. CBC** (College Basketball Crown) differ, and the current status\u2014and role\u2014of the **NIT** (National Invitation Tournament).\u2028\n\n---\n\n## What Is the NIT & Is It Still Going?\n\n- The NIT is very much active in 2026. It\u2019s a postseason men\u2019s NCAA Division I basketball tournament for teams that didn\u2019t make the NCAA Tournament. It includes **32 teams** and uses a single-elimination bracket. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_National_Invitation_Tournament?utm_source=openai))  \n- The tournament runs roughly from **mid-March through early April**. Early rounds are played at campus sites, with the semifinal and final rounds played at neutral venues in Indianapolis (Hinkle Fieldhouse and Gainbridge Fieldhouse). ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_National_Invitation_Tournament?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## Key Features of the NIT in 2025\u20132026\n\n- It remains one of the longest-running postseason tournaments (founded in 1938). ([collegefootballnetwork.com](https://collegefootballnetwork.com/mens-college-basketball/college-basketball-crown-vs-nit/?utm_source=openai))  \n- In 2025, the NIT\u2019s field included teams not in the NCAA Tournament, automatically qualifying regular-season conference champs (if they meet certain ranking criteria), plus at-large bids. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_National_Invitation_Tournament?utm_source=openai))  \n- Selection criteria now also involve a \"KNIT\" score, which averages seven metrics like NET, KenPom, Strength of Record (SOR), etc., to help pick and seed teams. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_National_Invitation_Tournament?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## How the College Basketball Crown (CBC) Differs from the NIT\n\nThese are the main ways CBC and the NIT contrast:\n\n| Element | College Basketball Crown | National Invitation Tournament (NIT) |\n|---|---|---|\n| **Inception / history** | New\u2014began in 2025, backed by Fox Sports and AEG. ([es.wikipedia.org](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_Basketball_Crown?utm_source=openai)) | Established in 1938; long tradition. ([collegefootballnetwork.com](https://collegefootballnetwork.com/mens-college-basketball/college-basketball-crown-vs-nit/?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Size of field** | In 2025: 16 teams. In 2026: getting smaller\u2014just 8 teams. ([es.wikipedia.org](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_Basketball_Crown?utm_source=openai)) | Always 32 teams. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_National_Invitation_Tournament?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Where games are played** | All games in Las Vegas (MGM Grand Garden Arena for early rounds, T-Mobile for semis/finals) \u2192 centralized site. ([es.wikipedia.org](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_Basketball_Crown?utm_source=openai)) | Early rounds on many campuses; later rounds at fixed neutral sites (Indianapolis). ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_National_Invitation_Tournament?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Conference commitments & contract terms** | Big Ten, Big East, Big 12 are contractually committed to send teams to the Crown. Teams from those conferences that miss NCAA bids may be forbidden from playing in NIT if they decline or avoid Crown offers. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_College_Basketball_Crown?utm_source=openai)) | No such obligation; but some of their teams are no longer in the NIT because they\u2019re bound to Crown contracts. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_National_Invitation_Tournament?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **NIL incentives / prize money** | Yes\u20142015 (2025) Crown had a **$500,000 NIL pool** for top 4 teams; financial rewards for performances. ([collegefootballnetwork.com](https://collegefootballnetwork.com/mens-college-basketball/college-basketball-crown-vs-nit/?utm_source=openai)) | Traditional tournament; no known centralized NIL prize setup. ([collegefootballnetwork.com](https://collegefootballnetwork.com/mens-college-basketball/college-basketball-crown-vs-nit/?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Purpose & perception** | Aimed at high-major teams that miss NCAA, offering exposure, financial incentives, more visibility. Condensed, more TV-centric. ([si.com](https://www.si.com/college/stanford/basketball/what-is-the-college-basketball-crown?utm_source=openai)) | Established as the fallback postseason tournament for teams just missing March Madness. Prestige among those teams still serious about ending on a strong note. ([collegefootballnetwork.com](https://collegefootballnetwork.com/mens-college-basketball/college-basketball-crown-vs-nit/?utm_source=openai)) |\n\n---\n\n## What\u2019s Changed for Both Tournaments\n\n- **Conference alignment**: With Big Ten, Big 12, Big East tied to the CBC, those conferences are sending some of their teams there rather than to the NIT. That shifts the landscape. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_College_Basketball_Crown?utm_source=openai))  \n- **NIT\u2019s selection changes**: The \u201cexempt qualifier\u201d or automatic bids for regular-season champions have to meet ranking thresholds (KNIT \u2265 ~125) to get in. Also, top 12 conferences by KenPom rating now guarantee spots in the NIT. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_National_Invitation_Tournament?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## Bottom Line\n\n- Yes, the **NIT is still around** and operating in 2026 with a full 32-team field. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_National_Invitation_Tournament?utm_source=openai))  \n- But the new **College Basketball Crown** is reshaping things\u2014especially for high-major conferences\u2014by offering a more exclusive, higher-profile option with financial incentives, centralized venues, and contracts that limit some teams\u2019 ability to do the NIT.  \n- If you follow a particular school, whether it goes to NIT or CBC may depend largely on their conference, their ranking, and whether they\u2019ve made a contractual commitment to Crown selection.  \n\n---\n\nIf you like, I can compare recent champions or show how schools are reacting\u2014some prefer Crown over NIT or vice versa."
    }
]