Ann Arbor, MI – For the second year in a row, the Concordia Invitational Tournament (CIT) has been canceled (as announced on Friday, January 7th). 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 this year. Concordia University, Nebraska was scheduled to host what would have been the 70th annual CIT on Jan. 28-29, 2022. Instead, Concordia Nebraska will serve as the host in 2023. All pre-ordered online ticket sales for the now canceled 2022 CIT will be reimbursed by Jan. 15.
The decision to cancel CIT was made in order to diminish as much exposure to COVID-19 as possible and ease team, student, and fan travel concerns and protocols. With the exception of CIT, all previously slated games and events remain on schedule for the Concordia Ann Arbor's men's and women's basketball, cheer and dance teams.
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 Ann Arbor cheer team 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 2023 Concordia Invitational Tournament in Seward are Jan. 27-28. 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 basketball 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.
