Ann Arbor, MI – For the first time since 1975-76, the Concordia Invitational Tournament (CIT) has been canceled (as announced on Tuesday, August 25th). In a joint decision made by the presidents of the competing institutions, one of the nation's longest running basketball tournaments will not be taking place in order to diminish as much exposure to COVID-19 as possible. Concordia University, Nebraska was scheduled to host what would have been the 70th annual CIT on Jan. 29-30, 2021. Instead, Concordia Nebraska will serve as the host in 2022.
A number of factors resulted in the cancellation of CIT, which features the Concordias of Ann Arbor, Chicago, Nebraska and Wisconsin. As members of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Division III), Concordia-Chicago and Concordia-Wisconsin were mandated to postpone all fall semester athletic contests and to begin again after Jan. 1, condensing their basketball regular seasons to the spring semester. The NAIA and conferences for Concordia Nebrasksa (GPAC) and Concordia Ann Arbor (WHAC) have not made any decisions or announcements about winter sports.
The tournament began in 1951 for the men's portion of the competition. Women's basketball first became part of CIT in 1973 while enhancing the storied tournament. Cheer and dance competitions were also added to CIT beginning in 2018. In January 2020, the event took place in River Forest, Ill., where the CUAA's women's team took second place, while the men's team finished in third place. The defending NAIA national champion cheer team for the Cardinals also won their portion of the weekend for the third year in a row. The Cardinals' dance team finished in third place.
Dates for the 2022 Concordia Invitational Tournament in Seward are Jan. 28-29. CUNE last hosted the event in 2017. The Cardinals have won CIT 5 times since joining the tournament in 2002, with the men winning three championships and the women with two. CUAA's last championship victory came in 2018 as the men's team beat CUNE in the semifinal with a buzzer beater and took down the hosting Falcons from CUW.
