KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan basketball team will appear in a postseason tournament for the first time since the 2004-05 season, accepting an invitation to appear in, and host a first round game for, the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) at University Arena on Wednesday, March 16 against Tennessee Tech (20-12) at 7 p.m.

For the Broncos, it is the first time participating in the CIT.  WMU (20-12) last participated in a postseason tournament in 2004-05 when the Broncos were in the field of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), defeating Marquette on the road (54-40) before falling to TCU, 78-76 in overtime, at University Arena.

“We are very excited to continue our 2010-11 season in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament and are equally excited to host a first round game in front of our fans at University Arena,” commented WMU head coach Steve Hawkins.  “I want to thank the CIT selection committee for including our team in the 2011 field and our administration for diligently working towards securing a home game in the opening round.”

“Knowing that we have the opportunity to play in University Arena in front of Bronco fans at least one more time this season makes this opportunity all the more special.”

Western Michigan captured its sixth Mid-American Conference West Division title in program history in 2010-11, securing its fifth division title under Hawkins.  WMU also enjoyed the eighth 20-win season in program history with four of those coming with Hawkins on the bench leading the Broncos.  WMU advanced to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament for the second-straight season defeating Bowling Green, 67-56, in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual tournament champion Akron.

“We are very proud to be selected to the 24-team field of the 2011 CIT and hosting an opening round game will only add to the experience for our fans, our University, as well as our alumni, coaches and student-athletes,” commented WMU athletic director Kathy Beauregard.  “With the success our team has experienced this year they deserve the opportunity to continue into the postseason, and what better place for our our great fans to cheer them on than University Arena.”

The CIT began in 2009 with 16 teams. The field has been expanded to 24 teams in 2011.  Old Dominion was crowned the champion of the inaugural tournament and the following season the Monarchs advanced to the NCAA Tournament and defeated Notre Dame. Missouri State won the 2010 CIT.

The 2011 CIT format will see all 24 teams play first round games at campus sites.  Once the field has been widdled down to 12 teams, the four highest ranked teams will be seeded accordingly and will receive a buy into the quarterfinals.  The remaining eight teams will match up and play one another at campus sites with the four winning teams moving on to face the top four seeds.  All games will be played at campus sites through the championship game.

CollegeInsider.com, which has been in existence since 1996, has established seven prestigious awards since its inception. The Ben Jobe Award, Hugh Durham Award, Jim Phelan Award, Lefty Driesell, Lou Henson, Lute Olson and Skip Prosser Award are presented annually at the Final Four.  It has also ran the Mid-Major Top 25 for the past 10 seasons, ranking teams that are not affiliated with the “big six” conferences.  WMU entered MAC Tournament week receiving six votes in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll.

THE 2011 CIT SCHEDULE
All times EST

FIRST ROUND
March 14-16

MONDAY
Buffalo (18-13) @ Quinnipiac (22-9) 7:00 pm

TUESDAY
Ohio (18-15) @ Marshall (22-11) 7:00 pm
Furman (22-10) @ East Tennessee State (22-11) 7:00 pm
Jacksonville (19-11) @ East Carolina (18-15) 8:00 pm
Rider (23-10) @ Northern Iowa (19-13) 8:00 pm
North Dakota (19-14) @ Air Force (15-15) 9:00 pm
Northern Arizona (19-12) @ Santa Clara (19-14) 10:00 pm
Portland (20-11) @ Hawaii (18-12) 12:00 am (midnight)

WEDNESDAY
Tennessee Tech (20-12) @ Western Michigan (20-12) 7:00 pm
Iona (22-11) @ Valparaiso (23-11) 8:00 pm
Oral Roberts (19-15) @ SMU (17-14) 8:00 pm
Idaho (18-13) @ San Francisco (17-14) 10:00 pm


SECOND ROUND
March 18-19


QUARTERFINALS
March 21-22


SEMIFINALS
March 25


2011 CIT CHAMPIONSHIP
March 30

Note: 12 teams will advance. 4 will receive a bye into the quarterfinals. Seeding, which will be based on RPI, strength of schedule, conference ranking and geographical location, will determine the byes.