Men's Basketball Accepts Invitation to Inaugural College Basketball Crown

For the first time since 2017, George Washington University men's basketball is back in the postseason. The Buff & Blue have accepted an invitation to the inaugural College Basketball Crown, held from March 31 to April 6 in Las Vegas.

GW will open the 16-team tournament with a first-round matchup against Boise State at 5:30 p.m. ET on March 31. The Broncos (24-10) advanced to the Mountain West Conference Tournament title game before falling to Colorado State. This will be the first meeting ever between GW and Boise State. The winner will advance to the second round to take on either Utah or Butler.

The entire tournament will air on national television in two world-class venues on The Strip in Las Vegas. The first two rounds (March 31 - April 3) will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and air nationally on Fox Sports 1. The semifinals and championship will air on FOX and take place at T-Mobile Arena April 5-6.

The College Basketball Crown is a first-of-its-kind postseason event that creates more value for the college basketball ecosystem, scheduled between the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament’s rounds of the Elite Eight and the Final Four. The tournament will also feature an NIL prize fund that totals $500,000 for the semifinalists and finalists. The Crown creates an opportunity for many student-athletes to compete in the postseason that didn't previously exist, opening an avenue for greater exposure and to compete on the highest stage in front of a national audience.

The Crown will mark the 20th postseason appearance in GW history and the first since advancing to the second round of the 2017 College Basketball Invitational (CBI). GW holds an 11-18 all-time mark in postseason tournaments, including four NCAA victories, six NIT triumphs and a win in the CBI. The Buff & Blue will be making their first appearance in Las Vegas since taking on Xavier and Kansas State in the 2017 Las Vegas Invitational at the Orleans Arena.

George Washington is in the midst of its best season in nearly a decade, compiling a 21-12 record (9-9 in the Atlantic 10 Conference) and advancing to the A-10 quarterfinals for the first time since 2017. GW secured the 16th 20-win season in program history with its 21 wins being the most since posting 28 in 2015-16 en route to winning the NIT Championship.

Led by Second Team All-Atlantic 10 and All-Defensive team honoree Rafael Castro and All-Rookie selection Christian Jones, the Revolutionaries will look to add to their eight road and neutral site wins already compiled this season. Head Coach Chris Caputo, in his third year with GW, has guided the Buff & Blue this year to the program's highest NET since its inception ahead of the 2018-19 season and highest KenPom ranking since 2016.

Tickets for the Crown are on sale now through the event's official partner, Vivid Seats.