One of the highlights of the beginning of college hoops season are the early basketball tournaments. Teams can make a name for themselves and pick up some quality wins that could help them out on Selection Sunday. Since I'm such a nice guy, I've compiled a list of what should be the top ten early season tournaments, as well as making some predictions for each.
If you didn't see your favorite team, or you're just curious about what's going on in the other tournaments not mentioned, here's a link to a complete list of the early season tournaments. Click Here.
*Times are subject to change and are listed in Eastern Time.
10. CBE Hall of Fame Classic
Dates - 11/21-11/22
Location - Kansas City, Missouri
Semi-Final Matchups (Winner in Bold) - 11/21
George Washington vs Georgia (7 PM ESPN U)
Kansas vs UAB (9 PM ESPN 2)
Consolation Game - 11/22
George Washington vs UAB (7:30 PM ESPN 3)
Championship Game - 11/22
Georgia vs Kansas (9:30 PM ESPN 2)
Most Interesting Matchup - George Washington vs Georgia (Semi-Final Game)
George Washington is year-in-year-out a solid mid-major team who has given power conference teams problems, while Georgia is a team that always seems to be on the cusp of being a very competitive team.
Most Interesting (Potential) Matchup - Georgia vs Kansas (Championship Game)
I do not expect either of the final matchups to be overly competitive matchups, so this game was almost chosen by default, since it is the championship game.
9. Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament
Dates - 11/19-11/20
Location - Uncasville, Connecticut
Semi-Final Matchups (Winner in Bold) - 11/19
Duke vs Penn State (12:30 PM ESPN 3)
Cincinnati vs Rhode Island (3 PM ESPN 3)
Consolation Game - 11/20
Penn State vs Rhode Island (3:30 PM ESPN 2)
Championship Game - 11/20
Duke vs Cincinatti (1 PM ESPN)
Most Interesting Matchup - Duke vs Penn State (Semi-Final Game)
I entirely expect Duke to win by double digits, but a Penn State team that continues to improve every year should give them all they can handle.
Most Interesting (Potential) Matchup - Duke vs Cincinnati (Championship Game)
Again, I entirely expect Duke to pull this one out, but Cinci should put up a good fight against the Blue Devils.
8. 2K Classic
Dates - 11/17-11/18
Location - New York City, New York
Semi-Final Matchups (Winner in Bold) - 11/17
Pittsburgh vs SMU (7 PM ESPN 2)
Michigan vs Marquette (9:30 PM ESPN 2)
Consolation Game - 11/18
SMU vs Marquette (4:30 PM ESPN 2)
Championship Game - 11/18
Pittsburgh vs Michigan (7 PM ESPN 2)
Most Interesting Matchup - Michigan vs Marquette
Most games in this tournament should be entertaining, but the matchup of Michigan and Marquette should be a battle.
Most Interesting (Potential) Matchup - Pittsburgh vs Michigan (Championship Game)
These are two teams that would benefit from having an extra win over a power conference team at the end of the year, so they'll both be playing hard to get it.
7. Emerald Coast Classic
Dates - 11/25-11/26
Location - Niceville, Florida
Semi-Final Matchups (Winner in Bold) - 11/25
Virginia vs Iowa (6 PM CBS Sports Network)
Providence vs Memphis (8:30 PM CBS Sports Network)
Consolation Game - 11/26
Iowa vs Providence (3 PM)
Championship Game - 11/26
Virginia vs Memphis (6PM CBS Sports Network)
Most Interesting Matchup - Virginia vs Iowa
Two of the better coaches in the nation get to face off in the first round of this tournament.
Most Interesting (Potential) Matchup - Iowa vs Providence (Consolation Game)
Two teams that have lost key players since last year get to try to prove they can move on from those loses.
6. Wooden Legacy
Dates: 11/24-27
Location - Anaheim, California
Quarter-Final Matchups (Winner in Bold) - 11/24
Texas A&M vs CSUN (2 PM ESPN 3)
New Mexico vs Virginia Tech (4:30 PM ESPN)
Dayton vs Nebraska (8:30 PM ESPN U)
Portland vs UCLA (11 PM ESPN 2)
Consolation Semi-Final Games - 11/25
CSUN vs New Mexico (3 PM ESPN U)
Nebraska vs Portland (9:30 PM ESPN 3)
Championship Semi-Final Games - 11/25
Texas A&M vs Virginia Tech (5:30 PM ESPN 2)
Dayton vs UCLA (Midnight ESPN 2)
7th-8th Place Game - 11/27
CSUN vs Portland (11 PM ESPN U)
5th-6th Place Game - 11/27
New Mexico vs Nebraska (2 PM ESPN U)
3rd-4th Place Game - 11/27
Virginia Tech vs Dayton (4 PM ESPN U)
Championship Game - 11/27
Texas A&M vs UCLA (8:30 PM ESPN)
Most Interesting Matchup - New Mexico vs Virginia Tech
VT should be much improved coming into this season, while New Mexico remains one of the tougher mid-major outs.
Most Interesting (Potential) Matchup - Virginia Tech vs Dayton (3rd-4th Place Game)
The more improved VT team gets to play one of the most consistent mid-major teams around.
5. AdvoCare Invitational
Dates - 11/24-11/27
Location - Orlando, Florida
Quarter-Final Matchups (Winner in Bold) - 11/24
Indiana State vs Iowa State (12:30 PM ESPN or ESPN U)
Stanford vs Miami (2:30 PM ESPN or ESPN U)
Gonzaga vs Quinnipiac (6:30 PM ESPN 2)
Seton Hall vs Florida (8:30 PM ESPN 2)
Consolation Semi-Final Games - 11/25
Indiana State vs Miami (1 PM ESPN 3)
Quinnipiac vs Seton Hall (7:30 PM EPSN 2)
Championship Semi Games - 11/25
Iowa State vs Stanford (11 AM ESPN 2)
Gonzaga vs Florida (9:30 PM ESPN 2)
7th-8th Place Game - 11/27
Indiana State vs Quinnipiac (11 AM ESPN 3)
5th-6th Place Game - 11/27
Miami vs Seton Hall (7 PM ESPN U)
3rd-4th Place Game - 11/27
Stanford vs Florida (4:30 PM ESPN 2)
Championship Game - 11/27
Iowa State vs Gonzaga (1:30 PM ESPN)
Most Interesting Matchup - Stanford vs Miami
This was one of the hardest games for me to pick, and I could easily see it going to opposite way, which I have it picked.
Most Interesting (Potential) Matchup - Iowa State vs Gonzaga (Championship Game)
If this ends up being the finals of this tournament, get ready for an offensive war between two of the country's best scoring teams.
4. Legends Classic
Dates - 11/21-11/22
Location - Brooklyn, New York
Semi-Final Matchups (Winners in Bold) - 11/21
Notre Dame vs Colorado (7 PM ESPN 2)
Texas vs Northwestern (9:30 PM ESPN 3)
Consolation Game - 11/22
Colorado vs Northwestern (3:30 PM ESPN U)
Championship Game - 11/22
Notre Dame vs Texas (6 PM ESPN 2)
Most Interesting Matchup - Texas vs Northwestern
Texas is looking to make a big leap forward under Shaka Smart, and Northwestern is looking to continue to steadily improve under Chris Collins.
Most Interesting (Potential Matchup) - Notre Dame vs Texas (Championship Game)
Notre Dame has been consistently good over the past few years, while Texas plays a highly aggressive style that's hard to handle.
3. Tire Pros Puerto Rice Tip-Off
Dates - 11/17-11/20
Location - Orlando, Florida
Quarter-Final Matchups (Winner in Bold) - 11/17
Clemson vs Davidson (11 AM ESPN U)
Xavier vs Missouri (1 PM ESPN U)
Northern Iowa vs Arizona State (4:30 PM ESPN U)
Tulane vs Oklahoma (7 PM ESPN 2 or ESPN U)
Consolation Semi-Final Games - 11/18
Davidson vs Missouri (11:30 AM ESPN U)
Arizona State vs Tulane (5 PM ESPN U)
Championship Semi-Final Games - 11/18
Clemson vs Xavier (1:30 PM ESPN U)
Northern Iowa vs Oklahoma (7 PM ESPN U)
7th-8th Place Game -11/20
Missouri vs Tulane (Noon ESPN 3)
5th-6th Place Game - 11/20
Davidson vs Arizona State (2:30 PM ESPN U)
3rd-4th Place Game - 11/20
Clemson vs Northern Iowa (5 PM ESPN U)
Championship Game -11/20
Xavier vs Oklahoma (7:30 PM ESPN 2)
Most Interesting Matchup - Northern Iowa vs Arizona State
UNI played two of the most entertaining games of March Madness last season, and Arizona State looks to continue to improve in their second season under Bobby Hurley.
Most Interesting (Potential) Matchup - Xavier vs Oklahoma (Championship Game)
A game between a final four team and one of last year's biggest surprises. We'll have to see if Xavier can equal last year's success, and how Oklahoma bounces back after losing a lot of experience from last year's team.
2. Battle 4 Atlantis
Dates - 11/23-11/25
Location - Paradise Island, Bahamas
Quarter-Final Matchups (Winner in Bold) -11/23
Witchita State vs LSU (Noon ESPN 2)
Baylor vs VCU (2:30 PM ESPN 2)
Michigan State vs St. John's (7 PM AXS TV)
Old Dominion vs Louisville (9:30 PM AXS TV)
Consolation Semi-Final Games - 11/24
St. John's vs VCU (7 PM AXS TV)
LSU vs Old Dominion (9:30 PM AXS TV)
Championship Semi-Final Games - 11/24
Michigan State vs Baylor (Noon ESPN)
Witchita State vs Louisville (2:30 PM ESPN)
7th-8th Place Game - 11/25
St. John's vs Old Dominion (9:30 PM AXS TV)
5th-6th Place Game - 11/25
VCU vs LSU (7 PM AXS TV)
3rd-4th Place Game - 11/25
Baylor vs Witchita State (1 PM ESPN or ESPN 2)
Championship Game - 11/25
Michigan State vs Louisville (3:30 PM ESPN or ESPN 2)
Most Interesting Matchup - Baylor vs VCU
This will be a matchup between two teams that are normally among the most athletic in the nation.
Most Interesting (Potential) Matchup - Michigan State vs Louisville (Championship Game)
For fans of early season battles between consistent powerhouse programs, this game should be a must-watch.
1. Maui Invitational
Dates - 11/21-11/23
Location - Maui, Hawai'i
Quarter-Final Matchups (Winner in Bold) -11/21
Tennessee vs Wisconsin (2:30 PM ESPN 2)
Georgetown vs Oregon (4:30 PM ESPN 2)
Oklahoma State vs UCONN (9 PM ESPN U)
North Carolina vs Chaminade (11:30 PM ESPN 2)
Consolation Semi-Final Games - 11/22
Tennessee vs Georgetown (1:30 PM ESPN 2)
Oklahoma State vs Chaminade (3:30 PM ESPN 2)
Championship Semi-Final Games - 11/22
Wisconsin vs Oregon (8 PM ESPN 2)
UCONN vs North Carolina (10:30 PM ESPN)
7th-8th Place Game - 11/23
Tennessee vs Chaminade (2 PM ESPN U)
5th-6th Place Game - 11/23
Georgetown vs Oklahoma State (4:30 PM ESPN 2)
3rd-4th Place Game - 11/23
Oregon vs UCONN (7:30 PM ESPN 2)
Championship Game - 11/23
Wisconsin vs North Carolina (9:30 PM ESPN 2)
Most Interesting Matchup - Georgetown vs Oregon
The Maui Invitation is insanely tough this year. There are three games in the opening day that I could have picked, but I think these two teams match up well against each other and should make for an entertaining game.
Most Interesting (Potential) Matchup - Wisconsin vs Oregon (Semi-Final Game)
Again, there are so many games I could have put in this spot, but a matchup of two preseason top ten teams in the semi-finals is too good to pass up. If you're a basketball fan, you better be watching on days two and three of this tournament.
EmerPenn St. Loser vs Cincinnati/Rhode Island Lose
No comments:
Post a Comment