It’s not the NCAA tournament, or even the NIT. But for teams such as Virginia and Washington, it’s one more chance to keep playing.
The Cavaliers and Huskies were among the 16 teams picked for the first College Basketball Invitational, a postseason tournament that hopes to one day challenge the NIT for the best teams left out of the NCAA tournament - but for now is relegated to No. 3 status.
The CBI announced its field early Monday, about five hours after the NIT made its choices and long after the NCAA selection committee trumpeted its bracket, giving a total of 113 teams a reason to return to practice.
“Any time you have the opportunity in postseason to continue playing, as a coach that should excite you, as a player that should excite you and as a fan that should excite you,” said Virginia coach Dave Leitao.
The Cavaliers (15-15), whose RPI of 126 is the second worst in the field, will host Richmond in an opening round game Tuesday, with the winner playing either Old Dominion or Rider. Washington (16-16) will host Valparaiso on Wednesday, with the winner of that game playing either Nevada or Houston.
The other games include UTEP against Utah, with the winner playing either Tulsa or Miami of Ohio, and Bradley hosting Cincinnati. The winner of that game gets either Ohio or Brown.

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