In the early years of the tournament, participating teams had to finish the regular season with a .500 winning percentage or better to be consdered.

An exception to this rule was providded for the champion of the now-defunct Great West Conference tournament, who was given an automatic bid to play in the CIT, if they did not receive an at-large bid to participate in the NCAA or NIT tournaments.

[6] In 2013, Chicago State won the last Great West Conference tournament and became the first team to participate in the CIT with a losing record (11–21).

This was the first time in NCAA Division I basketball history that a "classic" had been part of a postseason tournament.

[7] In 2013, CBS Sports Network partnered with the CIT, showing only the championship game, with the earlier rounds streamed live online.

All remaining games until the semifinals were moved to CBS' Sports Live streaming service and watchcit.com.

In 2024, games were broadcast or streamed in accordance with the tlevision contracts of the host teams.