In-Season Tournaments

Poll: Who Will Win the Old Spice Classic?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:29:59 -0500

CBE Classic Preview

Kevin McNeill — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:47:53 -0500

CBE Classic (Nov 24-25)

Syracuse vs. Florida

Kansas vs. Washington

Before you turn on the TV for this tournament, do yourself a favor. Forget about last season. None of these teams resemble what you saw a year ago.

National champion Kansas lost no less than eight players from their roster, five of them to the NBA Draft. For just about any other program this would mean a dreadful rebuilding year. Not Kansas.

Coach Bill Self has yet again proven why he is one of the very best recruiters anywhere. Not only has he landed a stellar freshmen class, but also welcomes JuCo transfer Mario Little, who could well wind up as a first team all-conference guard (though he's unfortunately out for the first month). Throw in the fact that Sherron Collins will be back (already scoring 20 ppg), and that they will be playing in Kansas City, the Jayhawks could walk away from this tournament seemingly not missing a beat from seven months earlier.

Interestingly enough, should Kansas get by Washington, they could face a rematch of the 2003 title game with Syracuse, a game that could almost be as good as the last one.

Before the start of last season, Syracuse was not only hungry to avenge their NCAA Tournament snub, but had their sights set on a low seed. Then their go-to shooters each blew out a knee and were lost for the season. Soon after, troubled guard Josh Wright left the team mid-season, leaving the Orange with all of seven scholarship players, forcing just about every starter - especially freshmen Jonny Flynn and Donte Green - to play as much as 38 to 40 minutes a game. The team wore down faster than the season, and Syracuse once again ended up in the NIT, only this time it was no snub.

Now Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins are back and healthy, and ready to boost emerging star Flynn in the backcourt. Greene is off to play for pay, but this still looks like a team that can contend in the Big East, especially if the development of junior bruisers Paul Harris and Arinze Onuaku continue on the path they have been.

Contrary to popular belief, Washington will not be counting entirely (just mostly) on senior Jon Brockman, who led the team in scoring and had twice as many rebounds as anyone else on the roster, to help them put together a winning season this time around. No, this year, they are putting their faith in a freshman.

Isaiah Thomas, a 5-8 guard from South Kent in Connecticut, is one on the most hyped freshmen ever to come to Seattle. His incredible speed and scoring ability is expected to bring back the high-flying, up-tempo style Washington loves to play. This should be an improved team from the one that lost in the first round of something called the College Basketball Invitational last year.

Florida will be the one team that bears the closest resemblance to the team they fielded last season, returning all their starters except Marreese Speights, who left for the NBA. Still, this team should be greatly improved as their incredible freshman class from a year ago gets ready to take the next step, especially Nick Calathes, who could well be the player of the year in the SEC. The Gators also feature no less than six freshmen on the roster, with a couple of 6-10 forwards - Eloy Vargas and Kenny Kadji - leading the way. It would be shocking if Florida does not find itself deep into the NCAA Tournament next March.

Poll: Who Will Win the Maui Invitational?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:50:12 -0500

Maui Invitational Preview: Can Someone Stop UNC?

Kevin McNeill — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:21:05 -0500

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EA SPORTS Maui Invitational (Nov 24-26)

Key Games:

- Texas / St. Joseph's winner vs. Indiana / Notre Dame winner

- UNC vs. Alabama / Oregon winner

- Championship game

Once again, Maui showcases a little bit of everything. The country will get a good look at three teams contending for their respective conference titles, two of the most underrated freshmen in the country in Michael Dunigan and JaMychal Green, along with returning stars such as Tyler Hansbrough, Tajuan Porter, Luke Harangody and the great tandem of AJ Abrams and Damion James.

You also have the dueling storylines of a tradition-rich program primed for a run at the national title, along with a tradition-rich program just trying to get through one of their most challenging seasons ever.

North Carolina starts the season the same way they started the last one, as the top ranked team in the nation. This time however, there is a noticeable gap between the Tar Heels and everyone else. Not only do they return the reigning Wooden award winner (not to mention the other five national POY awards), but also feature Wayne Ellington, Danny Green and Ty Lawson - all of whom pulled out of the NBA draft to come back for a title run.

Marcus Ginyard will be in street clothes for the tournament, which is a huge setback, especially on defense, but the Heels still tower over everyone else and should be the favorite to leave the island with the championship. Even though Tyler Hansbrough is still recovering from a stress reaction in his shin, he should be more than effective in Hawaii.

The Maui tournament is also a great test for North Carolina, not only for the high caliber of the field, but for the fact that it also prepares the Heels for a big test at Michigan State. They should be more than ready for the start of ACC play come January.

On the other end of the spectrum sits Indiana. They will field a team with all but two players from last season's roster having either transferred or been booted, a lame duck Athletic Director, an entirely new coaching staff, a self-imposed penalty limiting contact with recruits and a loss of a scholarship - all due to the still-lingering effects of the Kelvin Sampson call scandal.

Better yet, Indiana still awaits word on the NCAA's ruling over the charge of "failure to monitor," indicating that the school didn't do enough to watch Sampson's calls and activities in regard to recruits. Indiana angrily, and repeatedly, denied the charge over the summer, but soon after Sampson helpfully issued a statement saying he never concealed his illegal calls from university officials. Besides, the NCAA rarely likes to admit they were wrong.

So, in a perfect world, the end result would be that Indiana wouldn't have to suffer any more indignities than they already have, and Kelvin Sampson wouldn't be allowed within 100 yards of so much as a NAIA job. Which means of course that it may be safe to predict that Indiana will find itself facing a postseason or television ban, and Sampson will be back in college again by this time next year (following his foray into the NBA as an assistant).

But we move on. The Maui Invitational could well feature back to back matchups of Top 10 teams, should Texas play Notre Dame, with the winner facing the top ranked Tar Heels in the title game. That alone makes it once again the preseason's best tournament.

Another thing to look out for are the two aforementioned freshmen - Michael Dunigan for Oregon and JaMychal Green for Alabama. It wasn't that long ago that we didn't put much stock in freshmen play in November since they are just getting their first glimpse of the college game. No more. Dunigan is already averaging 13 & 8 down low, while Green tries to replace Richard Hendrix by chipping in 15 & 10.

Finally, one last note. The tournament first began on the 20^th anniversary of the greatest upset in sports history, Division II school Chaminade's victory over Ralph Sampson and #1 Virginia in 1982. They play the Tar Heels in the first round this year. If a miracle happens, would this be a bigger upset?

Poll: Who Will Win the Coaches vs Cancer Tournament?

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:40:25 -0500

NIT Season Tip-Off Preview: OU, Davidson, Purdue, Arizona

Kevin McNeill — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:12:51 -0500

Usually, with all the hope and excitement that naturally accompanies the start of yet another great season, college basketball fans anxiously gather around their sets in November to take in all the...blowouts.

Whether you're awaiting Duke's season opener against the always dangerous Presbyterian College Blue Hose, or mighty UConn testing their mettle against the likes of Bryant and Delaware State, there doesn't seem to be much to look forward to in the very early season.

But there is. The early season tournaments are getting better and better, and this year's might be the best in a long while. So here's a preview of what's to come, and proof that November basketball might not be so bad after all.

2008 Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament (Regionals Nov 17-18, Semifinal and Final Nov 26 and 28)

Key Games (assuming no unexpected upsets in the first round):

Oklahoma vs. Davidson
Arizona vs. UAB / Santa Clara winner
Purdue vs. Georgia
Boston College vs. St. Johns / Cornell winner

Possible Semifinals:

Purdue vs. Boston College
Oklahoma vs. Arizona / UAB

Call this the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately tournament. Just about every participating team was a complete surprise last season...or a disappointment.

Arizona, ranked 17th in the preseason polls, ended up with a 19-15 record, a NCAA Tournament berth, and their very own reality show when it came to their head coach. First, Hall of Fame Coach Lute Olson took a leave of absence from the program just before the start of the season, catching the entire University by surprise. Turns out he was battling a particularly ugly divorce. He left assistant Kevin O'Neill in charge, going so far as to label him the "coach-in-waiting" for when the 74 year old legend decided to gracefully exit the stage, to try to create some semblance of stability.

Then things got interesting. After the Wildcats got off to a mediocre start, several credible reports claimed that Olson was holding private team meetings with the players, more or less to tell them that their "coach-in-waiting" couldn't coach. Olson all but confirmed his impression of O'Neill by refusing to let him have his old job back on the sideline as an assistant when he returned.

But hope was running high in Tucson. Chase Budinger decided to come back. Arizona received commitments from some of the top prospects in the nation to come to Tucson. Lute Olson said he was "excited" and energized to be coaching again (and getting married again). Then, just as practice was underway, Olson abruptly retired due to health reasons, once again throwing the program into disarray right before the start of the season.

Three of Olson's top recruits immediately de-committed. Assistant coach Mike Dunlap turned down the top job because he didn't want the "interim" label, so the school went instead with assistant coach Russ Pennell. The best part? Before joining Olson's staff, Pennell was an assistant coach for the hated, arch-rival Sun Devils for eight years, and actually provided color commentary for the Arizona State University radio network last season.

Suffice it to say, this tournament will be more than just a challenge for the Wildcats.

Davidson and Purdue were both unranked in the preseason polls, with Purdue not even picked to contend in the Big 10, yet ended the season in the Top 25 (Top 10 for Davidson). As a result, both enter the current season on everyone's radar. For Davidson, they have to manage simply unheard of expectations for them following their Elite Eight run and the surprise return of Stephen Curry. Big 10 Coach of the Year Matt Painter has a loaded team coming back, led by Robbie Hummel, and fans are looking for a breakout year from JaJuan Johnson.

Oklahoma is coming off a 20 win season, but a 30-point thrashing to Louisville in the NCAA Tournament still lingers. However, the unexpected decision by Blake Griffin to turn down NBA lottery riches to return to Oklahoma, in addition to the fanfare surrounding incoming freshman Willie Warren, has created a buzz not felt in Norman since their Final Four season seven years ago. With virtually the entire Kansas national championship team now playing in the NBA, the Sooners are the favorites to win the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles, something they haven't done in 20 years, when the conference was still called the Big 8.

Georgia won the SEC tournament, right after losing 11 out of their last 13 games, and finishing with a 4-12 conference record. To win that automatic bid, all the Bulldogs had to do was beat Ole Miss on a banked buzzer-beater in overtime, and then go on to beat Kentucky and the SEC West's #1 seed Mississippi State on the same day, thanks to a tornado ripping apart the Georgia Dome and sending the tournament to Alexander Coliseum at Georgia Tech. They then beat Arkansas in the final with what seemed to be a formality at that point. With Dave Bliss and Sundiata Gaines gone, this figures to be another long season for the Bulldogs. But hey, there's always the SEC Tournament.

UAB is coming off a disappointing loss in the second round of the NIT, after watching their bubble burst on Selection Sunday. The Blazers are looking for redemption, and a ticket back to the NCAA Tournament, but all that depends on Robert Vaden. He needs to be able to continue his school-record setting ways while staying clear of trouble off the court. Whether or not C-USA is once again a one-bid conference could depend on it.

Boston College posted a 14-17 record last season, and the last time we saw them they were nipped by Clemson in the ACC Tournament 82-48. Yet, with four sophomores returning, the arrival of freshman guard Reggie Jackson, and more importantly, all-everything senior Tyrese Rice, team expectations are focused squarely on a winning ACC record.

An Oklahoma - Purdue title game would obviously be the most anticipated matchup of the NIT, but it will be especially interesting to see whether the much-hyped Warren can hold his own against Curry and the speedy Wildcats should the Sooners face Davidson in the earlier game.

MVC/MWC Challenge Announced

Press Release — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:03:45 -0400

ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Valley Conference and the Mountain West Conference announced today an agreement in principle to the formation of an annual Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge for men’s basketball. All 19 members of both leagues will participate in the Challenge, which will feature head-to-head competition between nine Mountain West and nine Missouri Valley teams annually.

The Mountain West has ranked among the Top 10 in the NCAA’s final RPI report in eight of the last nine years, while the Valley has been among the Top 8 in each of the last four. Teams from the two leagues have squared off 32 times since the inception of the Mountain West in 1999, with MWC teams holding a 17-15 edge in those contests.

“This is a very good match-up between two competitive leagues,” said MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson. “Our coaches and fans have been looking for quality non-conference opponents and this annual competition between two Top 10 RPI leagues will afford us that.”

“The Challenge series is a positive step for both conferences,” says Commissioner Doug Elgin, now in his 21st year with the Missouri Valley Conference. “Tough non-conference scheduling has always been paramount in improving our league’s stature on the national scene. The series helps institutions in both leagues achieve that goal by adding at least one game annually against quality non-conference competition. And it’s great for the fans of the Missouri Valley and the Mountain West as new rivalries are developed with nationally-recognized programs that have a strong history in men’s basketball.”

Specific details regarding the Challenge will be released at a later date. Officials from both leagues are working towards a four-year commitment that could begin as early as November 2009.

Charleston Classic Matchups Announced

Press Release — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:44:15 -0400

ESPN Regional Television announced today the schedule of matchups for the inaugural Charleston Classic, set for Nov. 14-16 at the new Carolina First Center in Charleston, S.C.

The event will include 12 games in three days, with six games being broadcast on CSS. The Southern Conference, based in Spartanburg, S.C., will serve as the event's sponsoring conference.

The 2008 Charleston Classic field includes eight teams: College of Charleston, Clemson, East Tennessee State, Hofstra, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Temple, TCU and Western Michigan. Two of the teams, Clemson and Temple, played in the 2007-08 NCAA Tournament.

In the first round of action, beginning Thursday, Nov. 14, TCU will take on Western Michigan in the first game to be played at Carolina First Center. Also in the first round, ETSU will face Temple, SIU-Edwardsville will meet College of Charleston, and Hofstra and Clemson will square off.

"We're pleased to have a competitive field and exciting matchups in the inaugural Charleston Classic," said Pete Derzis, senior vice president and general manager, ESPN Regional Television. "We expect this new event to provide a terrific off-the-court experience for the student-athletes, coaches and staffs while giving fans a great opportunity to watch college basketball in the great destination of Charleston."

Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout the tournament will face off in a championship match Sunday, Nov. 16, at 4 p.m. ET on CSS. Complete matchups are listed below.

"I am very excited about the Charleston Classic opening our new Carolina First Center," said Bobby Cremins, head coach of College of Charleston. "This will bring college basketball to our beautiful Low Country and downtown Charleston area. Clemson will be the headliner, but there are other exciting teams that should challenge them for the first Charleston Classic championship."

Tickets for the tournament will go on sale Sept. 15 at www.CharlestonClassic.com, or by telephone at the Carolina First Center box office at (843) 953-2632. Fans can purchase travel packages to the tournament by going to www.AnthonyTravel.com or by calling 1-800-736-6377.

Arizona, Davidson, Oklahoma Highlight NIT Season-Tip Off Field

Press Release — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:49:11 -0400

NEW YORK - The 16-team field for the 2008 Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament was announced today by C.M. Newton, chair of the NIT Selection Committee.

"Once again, the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament features an outstanding field and we look forward to another exciting start to college basketball," commented Newton.

The 2008 NIT Season Tip-Off teams and brackets are as follows:

The East Regional will take place at Boston College and the Eagles will play Loyola (Maryland) while Cornell squares off against St. John's. In the North Regional, Purdue is the host site for its game against Eastern Michigan and for the Georgia vs. Loyola (Chicago) matchup. Oklahoma is the site for the South Regional, and the Sooners will tip against Mississippi Valley State and James Madison will play Davidson. In the West Regional, Arizona is the host against Florida Atlantic and Santa Clara faces University of Alabama-Birmingham. All first-round games will take place on November 17 with the championship and consolation games of the four regions to follow on November 18.

The NIT Season Tip-Off, which began in 1985, has evolved to an enhanced format this year that guarantees every team four games.

First- and second-round games will be played at the home campus sites of the four highest-seeded teams. The winners of those sites will move onto New York's Madison Square Garden over the Thanksgiving holiday for the semifinal and final doubleheaders November 26 and 28.

The remaining 12 teams will play third- and fourth-round games on November 24 and 25. These games will be played on the home campus sites of the three highest remaining seeds. Participating teams will not play any team twice and third and fourth rounds will be assigned to the most geographically compatible site possible.

ESPN will provide coverage throughout the event; televising games on ESPN2 and ESPNU, with select games also simulcast on ESPN360.com.

2008 Jimmy V Classic Pairings Set

Press Release — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:25:35 -0400

Texas will face Villanova, and Davidson will face West Virginia in the 14^th annual Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 9, ESPN and the V Foundation announced today. The Horns and Wildcats are scheduled to tipoff at 9 p.m. Eastern at Madison Square Garden, while Davidson and West Virginia is slated for a 7 p.m. tip.

Proceeds from the event benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research. The Foundation was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, the Foundation has raised more than $70 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.

Beginning later this month, tickets for the Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster at 212-307-7171, or in person at the Madison Square Garden Box Office.

2008 Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic (Tuesday, Dec. 9)

Madison Square Garden (New York, N.Y.) – All times central

Game 1______________ Davidson vs. West Virginia_________________________________ 6 pm (ESPN)

Game 2______________ TEXAS vs. Villanova_____________________________________ 8 pm (ESPN)