Stanford Men's Basketball to compete in College Basketball Crown

Cardinal to face West Virginia in tournament opener with NIL money on the line

Mar. 19, 2026 at 5:13am

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Stanford men's basketball will be playing postseason basketball in the College Basketball Crown, an eight-team tournament held from April 1st to April 5th in Las Vegas. The Cardinal will open up against West Virginia on Thursday, April 2nd at 5:00 PM PT on FS1. Stanford went 20-12 overall and 9-9 in the ACC, missing the NCAA tournament but earning a spot in the new College Basketball Crown, which offers $300K in NIL money for the winner.

Why it matters

The College Basketball Crown provides Stanford a unique opportunity to compete for significant NIL money and gain additional national exposure, despite missing the NCAA tournament. While not as prestigious as the NIT, the Crown offers the Cardinal a chance to face high-major opponents and potentially springboard to greater success next season.

The details

Stanford will open the College Basketball Crown against West Virginia on April 2nd. The tournament winner receives $300K in NIL money, with the runner-up earning $100K and teams winning one game getting $50K. Last year's winner, Nebraska, went on to earn a 4-seed in the following year's NCAA tournament.

  • The College Basketball Crown will be held from April 1st to April 5th in Las Vegas.
  • Stanford will face West Virginia in the tournament opener on Thursday, April 2nd at 5:00 PM PT.

The players

Ebuka Okorie

Stanford's star freshman who will not play in the NCAA tournament but will have a national stage to compete on in the College Basketball Crown.

Kyle Smith

Stanford's head coach, who has the program heading in the right direction after being picked to finish 17th in the ACC.

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What’s next

It'll be interesting to see how this tournament goes for Stanford. The Cardinal will look to use the College Basketball Crown as a springboard to greater success next season.

The takeaway

The College Basketball Crown provides Stanford an opportunity to compete for significant NIL money and gain national exposure, despite missing the NCAA tournament. While not as prestigious as the NIT, the tournament offers the Cardinal a chance to face high-major opponents and potentially build momentum for the following season.