The CBI provided our young core of players with valuable postseason experience in 2022. I’m a firm believer that experience helped catapult our program to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
- Dusty May, FAU (2022)

This does a lot for our program (winning the CBI). We were able to get some exposure through ESPN. We were able to get some of our young guys, who didn’t play as much, some time and they stepped up in a major way. And for our older guys, to go out as champions and get more exposure as they get ready to turn pro, I thought that was huge. It does wonders for our program and gives us a lot of momentum going in to the off-season. There were nothing but positives coming here. What a great tournament and well-run tournament.
- Takayo Siddle, UNCW (2022)

The CBI is one of the best experiences I had in basketball - to win a championship here - and we're about to cut down some nets. It was better than I could've imagined this year... and this is just the beginning
- Grant McCasland, North Texas (2018)

Before we even played a game in the CBI, what we did was we talked about what coach Rodney Terry had done with this Fresno State team (advancing to the 2014 CBI finals and winning the 2016 Mountain West Conference title). We used that to try to get our guys a little bit energized. Our players were disappointed that we weren't able to make the NCAA Tournament and then, realistically, we came up a little bit short, bviously, for the NIT...We had to get our guys motivated. We also talked about VCU propelling themselves nto a Final Four after winning the CBI. So there are a lot of great examples for how teams can use this to kick start. Without a question, Fresno State and what Coach Terry has done is something that spring-boarded our attitudes going into this.
- Eric Musselman, Nevada (2016)

Anytime you can keep playing, keep practicing in March, experience that “win or go home” feeling, it’s a positive. I have not had that “Here we go again” feeling one time this season. These guys expect to win. That’s another sign that the culture is changing.
- Porter Moser, Loyola Chicago (2015)

(2015 CBI champions on building a winning culture heading into 2018 Final Four) You know, like you know from being there in Chicago, it was a grass-roots rebuild. But the dynamics changed when you jump to the Missouri Valley, when we jumped. The first year we took a step back, and then that second year in the Valley, we won 24 games, and we won the CBI tournament. And we’ve just kind of been building and getting our arrow going up. And I think - I hope we’re an example of, you know, it takes time. I get it. I’ve been there. Fans, administrations, they want it so fast, and it’s tough. Whether you're in the NCAA Tournament, the NIT, or the CBI, you still have the opportunity to play for a championship. We made the decision to treat the CBI as our NCAA Tournament that year. The experience definitely helped our program grow. The freshmen on our CBI team in 2015 who got that taste of postseason success were our senior leaders on last year's club that reached the Final Four.
- Porter Moser, Loyola Chicago (2018)

(On winning the 2010 CBI and advancing to the 2011 Final Four) There's a perception that tournament is not where you want to be, you want to be in the NCAA Tournament, but it was a chance to keep gaining experience. The biggest thing is we were able to go from there and have a successful year.
- Shaka Smart, VCU (2010)

There’s been a lot said about VCU and how it benefited them. Missouri State won a championship last year, and it benefited them this year. You’re playing basketball when no one else is playing. You’re practicing when no one else is practicing.
- Greg McDermott, Creighton (2011)


I felt the more games these guys play, the more they play together, the better they would get.
- Bob Huggins, West Virginia (2019)

We looked at it like we wanted to keep getting better…We wanted to finish on a high note. We wanted to get guys experience. We have to keep working for next year, keep preparing for next year to become better players.
- Tray Woodall, Pittsburgh junior (2012)

First of all, it gives us some experience playing in the postseason. Secondly, it allows us to keep playing. We are one of the few teams still playing and that is terrific for the program... it is terrific for our confidence... it is a terrific overall experience. And finally, we have access to our players on a full-time basis right now which helps with player development, strategies for next year and builds our confidence level heading into the spring, when we need that extra work. This is a wonderful tournament and great opportunity for our program.
- Craig Robinson, Oregon State (2009)

The CBI was an instrumental step in our journey at Stetson, helping our young team gain valuable postseason experience and confidence. Competing in 2021 and 2023 taught us what it takes to succeed in high-stakes games and prepared us to elevate our program. That growth paved the way for our historic 2024 NCAA Tournament appearance.
- Donnie Jones, Stetson (2021, 2023)

North Texas gained some positive momentum going into the season this year. They were the winners of the CBI tournament. While the CBI is not the NCAA Tournament...it is still a great step in the right direction for a program like North Texas, who is trying to rebuild. The Mean Green also gained valuable tournament experience playing in the CBI. The tournament experience is going to help this team immensely once conference play starts.
- Bryan Mauro, Fansided (2018)


This was the right thing to do. Overall, it will be good competition for our players...There are a lot of advantages.
- Steve Pederson, Pittsburgh director of athletics (2012)

It’s a blessing to get a chance to play after your season is really supposed to be over. A lot of teams once they lose that last game, it’s over. We’re just blessed to be able to continue to play basketball with this team. It’s been fun being with this team this year. We’ve built so many relationships and so many bonds on the bus, locker room, and on the court. We all love each other and we’ve built a good brotherhood this year.
- Kaleb Hunter, UNCG Grad Student (2022)

The experience we’re gaining from playing in this with a younger team, the extra practice time, and for our guys to realize the little things that you need to do to be successful in the postseason, is going to pay big dividends down the road for our program.
- Brian Gregory, South Florida (2019)

In some ways what (Bob Huggins) did for (WVU) might be better than even a one- and-done in either the NCAA or the NIT, for this late-blooming group had to have had its confidence shaken and ego crushed by being part of a...season with some really ugly performances.
- Bob Hertzel, WV News (2019)

These guys need more opportunities in postseason play to understand that it’s a di!erent mindset. It doesn’t get to the point where it’s another game. It’s postseason. You’re vying for a championship. Our guys need this experience to be better able to handle playing in postseason play.
- Allen Edwards, Wyoming (2017)

What I like about (the CBI) for our program is the exposure. It’s there. There’s not going to be 64 teams playing in this tournament or that tournament. It’s down to the championships and national television is going to be there. It’s a week of basketball and we get to share that stage. I think that’s huge.
- Cliff Ellis, Coastal Carolina (2017)

There’s always going to be somebody on the other team who wants to play at this level and that’s why the CBI is a great tournament. That’s why some of those big schools who didn’t come, I think some of them are making mistakes because some of them haven’t been to the NCAA in 30 years. What do they think they are going to do, magic carpet ride it there?...You should go to the CBI and try to win a few games. And then maybe the NIT before you get fired. “But I just want to go to the NCAA or bust.” I don’t believe in that and I’m really appreciative to Siena and the CBI…But some of those big schools who didn’t feel like playing, instead of whining and staying at home, come out and play basketball.
- Jimmy Patsos, Siena (2016)

I was at UTEP and we played the first year (of the CBI) and lost. Then the second year we played in it and we made it to the championship against Oregon State. We had such a young team those two years. The next year we made the NCAA Tournament. With the team we have here, this is a great experience. All the extra practices and extra games our kids are getting to play, this is what this tournament is about. College basketball is an unbelievable experience for these kids and in an environment like this, it’s outstanding.
- Jimmy Patsos, Siena (2016)

Our basketball team is thrilled to be competing in the CBI. It is an excellent and exciting opportunity for us to continue our season as we seek to build upon a positive basketball year.
- Marty Wilson, Pepperdine (2015)

We are looking forward to the opportunity to play in the CBI. The team is grateful for [the] chance to continue practicing together and ultimately having a chance to compete for a championship.
- Patrick Chambers, Penn State (2014)

You know what, we love the CBI! We’re very appreciative of the CBI and have a chance to lace up and play again, so we’re excited about that.
- Homer Drew, Valparaiso (2008)