SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team has accepted a bid to the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).

This year marks the seventh year of the CIT and it is the first-ever postseason bid for the Cardinals since joining NCAA Division I prior to the 2013-14 season.  The tournament is made up of a 32-team field from non-BCS programs not selected to participate in the NCAA or NIT.  All 31 games are played on campus sites.  In an effort to minimize travel and limit class time missed, the CIT uses the old NIT model, with future round opponents determined by results of the previous round.

"We are extremely excited to be hosting a first round contest in the CIT," said UIW director of athletics John Williams.  "It is a compliment to Coach Burmeister and the UIW Cardinals men's basketball team.  Being in only the second year of the four year transition into Division I and hosting a postseason contest is a great accomplishment."

The Cardinals went 18-10 this year with out of conference victories at Princeton, Nebraska, UMKC and Grand Canyon.  They finished in fifth place in the Southland Conference with a 10-8 record.  UIW is seventh in the nation in scoring at 79.6 points per game.  They are also rank second in free throws made and attempted per game, 29th in steals per game and 30th in field goal percentage.

"This is tremendous exposure for UIW and our men's basketball program," said head coach Ken Burmeister who is in his ninth year with the program.  "It highlights the hard work that our players, staff and fans have put in these last two years to make UIW successful.  We are 24-3 at home over the last two years and that is due to our fans, supporters and players."

UIW is led by high-scoring senior guard Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) who was named first team all-Southland Conference earlier this week.  He is fourth in the nation in scoring at 22.0 points per game while averaging 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.  He has set school records for free throws made in a game, season and career this year and needs two steals to break the single season record.  Junior Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) was an honorable mention all-conference selection after averaging 15.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.  He led the SLC in three-point shooting at 42.2 percent while draining 57 on the year.

Freshmen Jontrell Walker (Aurora, IL/West Aurora HS) and Traylin Farris (Pearland/Manvel HS) are both averaging in double figures.  Walker was averaging 17.0 points per game before suffering an injury.  He still was named the College Hoops Daily Southland Freshman of the Year for his efforts.  Farris averages 10.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 56.0 percent from the field.

"What a postseason does is gives us a second season," said Burmeister.  "This is another opportunity for our players to play in front of the home crowd and brand the university.  We are all very appreciative of (UIW president) Dr. Agnese for allowing us to host a tournament game."

The Cardinals are scheduled to host a first round opponent on Tuesday, March 17.  The opponent will not be determined until after the NCAA and NIT bids are handed out on Sunday night.  The second round of the CIT will be played March 20-21, followed by the quarterfinals on March 24-25.  The March 31 semifinals and April 2 championship game will be televised CBS Sports Network.
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