# Chicago Invitational Challenge

The Chicago Invitational Challenge was an annual early-season NCAA Division I college basketball tournament held around Thanksgiving 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. In 2009 the village of Hoffman Estates acquired the Sears Centre Arena through a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure process; because of this, that iteration was moved to UIC Pavilion (currently named Credit Union 1 Arena) in Chicago, Illinois.
The tournament was owned and operated by Basketball Tournaments, Inc.

## Tournament History
### Champions

| Year | Teams |
| 2006 | Illinois |
| 2007 | Xavier |
| 2009 | Northwestern |
| 2010 | Richmond |
| 2011 | Wisconsin |

## 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 Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Bradley | 66 |
| Bradley | 68 | Wofford | 70 |
| UMKC | 58 | | |
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | | 11 | Wisconsin | 77 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 69 | | UMKC | 31 |
| | Wofford | 33 | | | |
| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | BYU | 90 |
| BYU | 92 | Prairie View A&M | 51 |
| Longwood | 60 | | |
| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Nevada | 80 |
| Nevada | 60 | Longwood | 78 |
| Prairie View A&M | 47 | | |
First and Second Round Game played at on campus sites

##### Championship Round

| Upper Bracket November 23 | Upper Bracket November 23 | Upper Bracket November 23 | First Place Game November 24 | First Place Game November 24 | First Place Game November 24 |
| | Bradley | 44 | | | |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 66 | | | |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 66 | 11 | Wisconsin | 73 |
| | | | | BYU | 56 |
| BYU | BYU | 76 | | BYU | 56 |
| Nevada | Nevada | 55 | 3rd place game November 24 | 3rd place game November 24 | 3rd place game November 24 |
| | | | Bradley | Bradley | 59 |
| | | | Nevada | Nevada | 64 |
| Lower Bracket November 23 | Lower Bracket November 23 | Lower Bracket November 23 | Fifth Place Game November 24 | Fifth Place Game November 24 | Fifth Place Game November 24 |
| Longwood | Longwood | 70 | | | |
| Prairie View A&M | Prairie View A&M | 67 | | | |
| Prairie View A&M | Prairie View A&M | 67 | Longwood | Longwood | 53 |
| | | | UMKC | UMKC | 93 |
| UMKC | UMKC | 64 | UMKC | UMKC | 93 |
| Wofford | Wofford | 58 | Seventh Place Game November 24 | Seventh Place Game November 24 | Seventh Place Game November 24 |
| | | | Prairie View A&M | Prairie View A&M | 49 |
| | | | Wofford | Wofford | 56 |

### 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 Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | | 14 | Purdue | 82 |
| 10 | Purdue | 87 | | Oakland | 67 |
| | Austin Peay | 65 | | | |
| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Southern Illinois | 85 |
| Southern Illinois | 72 | Charleston Southern | 67 |
| Austin Peay | 65 | | |
| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Richmond | 81 |
| Richmond | 82 | Southern | 40 |
| Charleston Southern | 71 | | |
| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Wright State | 66 |
| Wright State | 82 | Southern | 43 |
| Austin Peay | 79 | | |
First and Second Round Game played at on campus sites

##### Championship Round

| Upper Bracket November 26 | Upper Bracket November 26 | Upper Bracket November 26 | First Place Game November 27 | First Place Game November 27 | First Place Game November 27 |
| 10 | Purdue | 79 | | | |
| | Southern Illinois | 60 | | | |
| | Southern Illinois | 60 | 10 | Purdue | 54 |
| | | | | Richmond | 65 |
| Richmond | Richmond | 71 | | Richmond | 65 |
| Wright State | Wright State | 61 | 3rd place game November 24 | 3rd place game November 24 | 3rd place game November 24 |
| | | | Southern Illinois | Southern Illinois | 56 |
| | | | Wright State | Wright State | 50 |
| Lower Bracket November 26 | Lower Bracket November 26 | Lower Bracket November 26 | Fifth Place Game November 27 | Fifth Place Game November 27 | Fifth Place Game November 27 |
| Austin Peay | Austin Peay | 70 | | | |
| Charleston Southern | Charleston Southern | 64 | | | |
| Charleston Southern | Charleston Southern | 64 | Austin Peay | Austin Peay | 70 |
| | | | Oakland | Oakland | 78* |
| Oakland | Oakland | 105 | Oakland | Oakland | 78* |
| Southern | Southern | 53 | Seventh Place Game November 27 | Seventh Place Game November 27 | Seventh Place Game November 27 |
| | | | Charleston Southern | Charleston Southern | 89 |
| | | | Southern | Southern | 54 |

### 2009

With the temporary closing of Sears Centre Arena on October 1, 2009, The fourth annual Chicago Invitational Challenge was moved to UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois. Northwestern defeated Iowa State 67–65 in the championship game.

#### First and Second Rounds

| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Iowa State | 84 |
| Iowa State | 96 | Tennessee State | 53 |
| Mississippi Valley State | 55 | | |
| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Northwestern | 69 |
| Northwestern | 69 | Tennessee State | 62 |
| Liberty | 53 | | |
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | | Notre Dame | 80 |
| 23 | Notre Dame | 91 | Kennesaw State | 62 |
| | Liberty | 72 | | |
| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Saint Louis | 75 |
| Saint Louis | 76 | Mississippi Valley State | 39 |
| Kennesaw State | 66 | | |
First and Second Round Game played at on campus sites

##### Championship Round

| Upper Bracket November 27 | Upper Bracket November 27 | Upper Bracket November 27 | First Place Game November 28 | First Place Game November 28 | First Place Game November 28 |
| Iowa State | Iowa State | 65 | | | |
| Saint Louis | Saint Louis | 54 | | | |
| Saint Louis | Saint Louis | 54 | Iowa State | Iowa State | 65 |
| | | | Northwestern | Northwestern | 67 |
| | Northwestern | 72 | Northwestern | Northwestern | 67 |
| 23 | Notre Dame | 71 | 3rd place game November 28 | 3rd place game November 28 | 3rd place game November 28 |
| | | | | Saint Louis | 52 |
| | | | 23 | Notre Dame | 64 |
| Lower Bracket November 27 | Lower Bracket November 27 | Lower Bracket November 27 | Fifth Place Game November 28 | Fifth Place Game November 28 | Fifth Place Game November 28 |
| Kennesaw State | Kennesaw State | 67 | | | |
| Tennessee State | Tennessee State | 73 | | | |
| Tennessee State | Tennessee State | 73 | Tennessee State | Tennessee State | 60 |
| | | | Liberty | Liberty | 63 |
| Liberty | Liberty | 72 | Liberty | Liberty | 63 |
| Mississippi Valley State | Mississippi Valley State | 53 | Seventh Place Game November 24 | Seventh Place Game November 24 | Seventh Place Game November 24 |
| | | | Kennesaw State | Kennesaw State | 85 |
| | | | Mississippi Valley State | Mississippi Valley State | 68 |

### 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 Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Auburn | 61 |
| Auburn | 74 | Bethune–Cookman | 46 |
| Mercer | 78 | | |
| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Dayton | 71 |
| Dayton | 78 | Mercer | 53 |
| Bethune–Cookman | 38 | | |
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | | 15 | Marquette | 85 |
| 15 | Marquette | 106 | | Texas Southern | 68 |
| | Chicago State | 87 | | | |
| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Northern Iowa | 74 |
| Northern Iowa | 81 | Texas Southern | 67 |
| Chicago State | 70 | | |
First and Second Round Game played at on campus sites

##### Championship Round

| November 28 | November 28 | November 28 |
| Dayton | Dayton | 60 |
| Auburn | Auburn | 59* |
| 15 | Marquette | 73 |
| | Northern Iowa | 43 |
| November 29 | November 29 | November 29 |
| Northern Iowa | Northern Iowa | 67 |
| Auburn | Auburn | 61 |
| | Dayton | 89 |
| 15 | Marquette | 75 |
| Lower Bracket November 28 | Lower Bracket November 28 | Lower Bracket November 28 | Fifth Place Game November 29 | Fifth Place Game November 29 | Fifth Place Game November 29 |
| Bethune-Cookman | Bethune-Cookman | 64 | | | |
| Chicago State | Chicago State | 79 | | | |
| Chicago State | Chicago State | 79 | | Chicago State | 77 |
| | | | | Mercer | 88 |
| Mercer | Mercer | 71 | | Mercer | 88 |
| Texas Southern | Texas Southern | 68 | 3rd place game November 27 | 3rd place game November 27 | 3rd place game November 27 |
| | | | | Bethune-Cookman | 68 |
| | | | | Texas Southern | 61 |

### 2007

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

#### First and Second Rounds

| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Illinois State | 90 |
| Illinois State | 89 | Southeast Missouri State | 71 |
| UNC Wilmington | 73 | | |
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | | 8 | Indiana | 95 |
| 8 | Indiana | 100 | | UNC Wilmington | 71 |
| | Longwood | 49 | | | |
| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Kent State | 80 |
| Kent State | 74 | Longwood | 62 |
| Coppin State | 51 | | |
| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Xavier | 90 |
| Xavier | 98 | Southeast Missouri State | 59 |
| Coppin State | 49 | | |
First and Second Round Game played at on campus sites

##### Championship Round

| Upper Bracket November 23 | Upper Bracket November 23 | Upper Bracket November 23 | First Place Game November 24 | First Place Game November 24 | First Place Game November 24 |
| | Illinois State | 57 | | | |
| 8 | Indiana | 70 | | | |
| 8 | Indiana | 70 | 8 | Indiana | 65 |
| | | | | Xavier | 80 |
| Kent State | Kent State | 65 | | Xavier | 80 |
| Xavier | Xavier | 78 | 3rd place game November 24 | 3rd place game November 24 | 3rd place game November 24 |
| | | | Illinois State | Illinois State | 59 |
| | | | Kent State | Kent State | 65 |
| Lower Bracket November 23 | Lower Bracket November 23 | Lower Bracket November 23 | Fifth Place Game November 24 | Fifth Place Game November 24 | Fifth Place Game November 24 |
| Coppin State | Coppin State | 102 | | | |
| Southeast Missouri State | Southeast Missouri State | 99 | | | |
| Southeast Missouri State | Southeast Missouri State | 99 | Coppin State | Coppin State | 57 |
| | | | UNC Wilmington | UNC Wilmington | 78 |
| Longwood | Longwood | 65 | UNC Wilmington | UNC Wilmington | 78 |
| UNC Wilmington | UNC Wilmington | 80 | 3rd place game November 24 | 3rd place game November 24 | 3rd place game November 24 |
| | | | Southeast Missouri State | Southeast Missouri State | 59 |
| | | | Longwood | Longwood | 65 |

### 2006

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

#### First and Second Rounds

| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Bradley | 81 |
| Bradley | 107 | UIC | 72 |
| Florida A&M | 75 | | |
| Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Rutgers | Rutgers | 70 |
| Jackson State | Jackson State | 71 |
| Finals | Finals |
| Illinois | 84 |
| Florida A&M | 63 |
| Finals | Finals |
| Illinois | 76 |
| Jackson State | 55 |
| November 23 | November 23 |
| Illinois | 81 |
| Savannah State | 34 |
| First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | Miami (Ohio) | 72 |
| Miami (Ohio) | 52 | UIC | 61 |
| Florida A&M | 33 | | |
First and Second Round Game played at on campus sites

##### Championship Round

| Upper Bracket November 24 | Upper Bracket November 24 | Upper Bracket November 24 | Championship Game November 25 | Championship Game November 25 | Championship Game November 25 |
| Bradley | Bradley | 101 | | | |
| Rutgers | Rutgers | 72 | | | |
| Rutgers | Rutgers | 72 | Bradley | Bradley | 71 |
| | | | Illinois | Illinois | 75 |
| Illinois | Illinois | 51 | Illinois | Illinois | 75 |
| Miami (Ohio) | Miami (Ohio) | 49 | 3rd place game November 25 | 3rd place game November 25 | 3rd place game November 25 |
| | | | Rutgers | Rutgers | 44 |
| | | | Miami (Ohio) | Miami (Ohio) | 57 |
| Lower Bracket November 24 | Lower Bracket November 24 | Lower Bracket November 24 | Fifth Place Game November 25 | Fifth Place Game November 25 | Fifth Place Game November 25 |
| Florida A&M | Florida A&M | 57 | | | |
| UIC | UIC | 75 | | | |
| UIC | UIC | 75 | UIC | UIC | 68 |
| | | | Jackson State | Jackson State | 71 |
| Jackson State | Jackson State | 72 | Jackson State | Jackson State | 71 |
| Savannah State | Savannah State | 71 | Seventh Place Game November 24 | Seventh Place Game November 24 | Seventh Place Game November 24 |
| | | | Florida A&M | Florida A&M | 74 |
| | | | Savannah State | Savannah State | 65 |