CCIW Presidents Defeat Play-in Proposal for Men’s Basketball Tournament

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Presidents Council, on Tuesday, defeated a proposal from the men’s basketball coaches that would have created a play-in date to determine the four teams who would play in the CCIW men’s basketball tournament. The proposal, supported by the conference athletics directors, would have taken effect during the 2008-09 season.

“For a variety of reasons, the presidents agreed that the proposed format would impact the conference in a negative manner and chose to defeat the play-in date proposal,” CCIW Commissioner Chris Martin said. “The ultimate authority for the operation of all facets of the conference rests with our chief executive officers and, in this case, the group disagreed with the coaches and athletics directors.”

By defeating the proposal, the tournament participants and seeding will continue to be based on the double round robin regular season men’s basketball schedule. The top four teams from the regular season standings will earn the right to play in the conference tournament, which will be held at the site of the regular season champion.

The 2008 CCIW Men’s Basketball Tournament is scheduled for February 29 and March 1 at the site of the regular season champion. The 2008 tournament will be the third such tournament in the history of the CCIW. North Central won the 2005-06 version while Augustana was last year’s champion. The winner of the conference tournament earns the CCIW’s automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.