The Boise State men’s basketball team will miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021, but their season is set to continue in a unique new event.
On Monday morning, the College Basketball Crown announced its 16-team lineup, with Boise State representing the Mountain West Conference in this inaugural tournament. The Crown will take place from March 31 to April 6 in Las Vegas, scheduled between the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight and national championship games.
The Broncos, who hold a record of 24-10, will begin their play in the Crown at 3:30 p.m. Mountain time on March 31, facing George Washington (21-12) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. George Washington tied for seventh place in the Atlantic 10.
The winner of the Boise State versus George Washington matchup will advance to play against Utah or Butler in the quarterfinals on April 2. The championship game of the Crown is slated for 2:30 p.m. on April 6 at T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.
All games will be broadcast on FS1 or FOX.
The Crown was established through a collaboration between the Big East, Big Ten, and Big 12 conferences, in partnership with FOX. Each conference is required to field at least two teams alongside 10 at-large selections.
Here’s the inaugural lineup for the Crown:
- Arizona State (Big 12)
- Boise State (MWC)
- Butler (Big East)
- Cincinnati (Big 12)
- Colorado (Big 12)
- DePaul (Big East)
- Georgetown (Big East)
- George Washington (Atlantic 10)
- Nebraska (Big Ten)
- Oregon State (WCC)
- Tulane (AAC)
- UCF (Big 12)
- USC (Big Ten)
- Utah (Big 12)
- Villanova (Big East)
- Washington State (WCC)
The Crown will cover all travel expenses for the 16 teams involved and offers an undisclosed NIL prize fund for those reaching the semifinals and finals.
Boise State chose to participate in the Crown instead of the NIT, which includes only three power-conference teams among its 32 participants. The Crown features a stronger representation with five teams from the Big 12, four from the Big East, two from the Big Ten, and future Pac-12 foes Oregon State and Washington State.
The Broncos were among the first four teams left out of the NCAA Tournament, with West Virginia being the first team excluded, followed by Indiana, Ohio State, and Boise State.
The last four teams selected for the tournament were North Carolina, Xavier, Texas, and fellow Mountain West Conference contender San Diego State.
Four Mountain West teams received bids to the NCAA Tournament: New Mexico (10 seed), Utah State (10 seed), San Diego State (11 seed), and Colorado State (12 seed). Of the first four teams left out, only Boise State will be competing in a postseason tournament
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