Ivy League runner-up Brown was invited to participate in The Gazelle Group’s inaugural College Basketball Invitational. The Bears have accepted the bid and are awaiting news of their Opening Round opponent on either Tuesday, March 18, or Wednesday, March 19. The other teams reportedly taking part in the tournament include Virginia, Ohio, Houston, UTEP, Washington, Richmond, Bradley, and Nevada. An announcement of the full field and the bracket is expected late Sunday night or early Monday morning.

Slant: It’s been five years since the league’s last two-bid postseason — also Brown in the 2003 Postseason NIT. The NIT’s decision to shrink its field from 40 to 32 teams make postseason spots much more competitive, so the addition of the CBI has been a welcome development for teams looking to continue their seasons. The Bears almost certainly will be heading on the road, but it’s great recognition for a very good season for the Brown program.