Chicago Invitational Challenge
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The Chicago Invitational Challenge was an annual early-season
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tournament held around
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week. The first offering was during the 2006–07 season with the last occurring during the 2011–12 season. For the format of the tournament, the first two games were hosted at on-campus venues, with the semifinal and final rounds being contested as two distinct four-team brackets (designated as Upper and Lower, with both a championship and consolation game held for each) at a central location. Throughout the duration of the challenge (excluding 2009) the semifinal and final rounds were held at the Sears Centre Arena (currently named NOW® Arena) in
Hoffman Estates, Illinois Hoffman Estates is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 52,530. The village previously served as the headquarters for Transform Holdco L ...
. In 2009 the village of Hoffman Estates acquired the Sears Centre Arena through a Deed in Lieu of
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process; because of this, that iteration was moved to UIC Pavilion (currently named
Credit Union 1 Arena Credit Union 1 Arena (previously known as UIC Pavilion) is a multi-purpose arena located at 525 S. Racine Avenue on the Near West Side in Chicago, Illinois. It opened in 1982. Description and history Credit Union 1 Arena is located on the campu ...
) in
Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
. The tournament was owned and operated by Basketball Tournaments, Inc.


Tournament History


Champions


Brackets

* – Denotes overtime period


2011

Eleventh ranked Wisconsin won the final edition of the tournament 73–56 victory over BYU.


First and Second Rounds

''First and Second Round Game played at on campus sites''


=Championship Round

=


2010

Richmond was crowned champions of the 2010 Chicago Invitational Challenge as the Spiders upset tenth ranked Purdue 65–54.


First and Second Rounds

''First and Second Round Game played at on campus sites''


=Championship Round

=


2009

With the temporary closing of
Sears Centre Arena The Now Arena (originally known as the Sears Centre, Sears Centre Arena and stylized as NOW Arena) is a multi-purpose arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb from Chicago, near land which formerly contained the Poplar Creek Music ...
on October 1, 2009, The fourth annual Chicago Invitational Challenge was moved to
UIC Pavilion Credit Union 1 Arena (previously known as UIC Pavilion) is a multi-purpose arena located at 525 S. Racine Avenue on the Near West Side in Chicago, Illinois. It opened in 1982. Description and history Credit Union 1 Arena is located on the campu ...
in
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
,
Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
. Northwestern defeated Iowa State 67–65 in the championship game.


First and Second Rounds

''First and Second Round Game played at on campus sites''


=Championship Round

=


2008

The third Chicago Invitational Challenge was held in a non-bracket format for the upper bracket, with matchups set prior to the tournament, the lower bracket was still held as a four team tournament.


First and Second Rounds

''First and Second Round Game played at on campus sites''


=Championship Round

=


2007

Xavier won the second Chicago Invitational Challenge defeating eighth ranked Indiana 80-65 in the championship game.


First and Second Rounds

''First and Second Round Game played at on campus sites''


=Championship Round

=


2006

Illinois won the inaugural Chicago Invitational Challenge defeating Bradley 75–71 in the championship game.


First and Second Rounds

''First and Second Round Game played at on campus sites''


=Championship Round

=


References

{{Reflist College men's basketball competitions in the United States Hoffman Estates, Illinois Basketball competitions in Chicago 2006 establishments in Illinois Recurring sporting events established in 2006 2011 disestablishments in Illinois