Final field and pairings announced for 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship

NASSAU, The Bahamas – UNC Greensboro joins seven other Division I men’s basketball teams set to compete in the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship, Nov. 24-26, at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center.

The eight-team field features Brown, Delaware, George Washington, UIC, Kansas City, Middle Tennessee, UNC Greensboro and Ohio.

Four games will be played during each of the three days of the event.

Action starts Friday, Nov. 24 with the following matchups:

  • UNC Greensboro vs. Kansas City – 11 a.m. ET
  • Brown vs. Delaware – 1:30 p.m.
  • Middle Tennessee vs. UIC – 4:30 p.m.
  • Ohio vs. George Washington – 7 p.m.

Game times for Saturday and Sunday will be the same with semifinal games on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday’s championship game will tip at 7 p.m.

All games will be streamed live by FloHoops.

Five teams that competed in the 2022 event went on to post at least 20 victories this past season, highlighted by Vermont qualifying for the NCAA tournament, North Texas winning the postseason NIT and San Jose State appearing in the CBI.

Past winners of the event include Toledo (2021) and UNC Wilmington (2022).

MORE THAN BASKETBALL AWAITS AT THE BEAUTIFUL BAHA MAR RESORT

The remarkable Baha Mar resort serves as the backdrop to this basketball showcase. Anchored by Grand Hyatt and featuring SLS Baha Mar and Rosewood Baha Mar, the resort is situated on 1,000 acres overlooking Nassau’s famous turquoise ocean waters. The destination resort boasts more than 2,300 rooms, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a $200 million luxury water park, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA Spa and a collection of more than 45 restaurants and lounges.

VIP PACKAGES AND TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Basketball fans interested in attending the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship can purchase VIP packages available online at www.bahamarhoops.com. Amenities include a four-night stay at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, two courtside tickets to all 12 games of the Nassau Championship, round-trip ground transportation from the airport and resort, two daily breakfast voucher and personal concierge service. (Airfare not included in the packages.)

Fans wishing to purchase tickets and rooms separately can do so at www.bahamarhoops.com.

Rivalry renewed as Cincinnati and Dayton announce December match-up at Heritage Bank Center

CINCINNATI – Longtime local men’s basketball rivals meet for the first time since 2010 when Cincinnati and Dayton battle in the Hoops Classic presented by altafiber on Saturday, Dec. 16 at the newly renovated Heritage Bank Center. The matchup was announced Wednesday by veteran event promoter, bdG Sports.

Tip time and television information will be announced later.

The matchup between Cincinnati and Dayton is contracted as a one-year agreement with an option for a second year.

“It’s exciting to re-ignite this rivalry with two programs that have experienced a lot of success in college basketball,” said Brooks Downing, President & CEO of bdG Sports. “Both coaches deserve a big thank you for their willingness to start this series.”

“We’re happy to partner with bdG Sports, which will facilitate a community engagement aspect around a big-time college basketball game in our city,” UC head coach Wes Miller said.

UC added seven newcomers this season, including four high-impact transfers this spring as it competes in its first Big 12 season. The Bearcats saw a five-win improvement from Year 1 to Year 2 under Wes Miller, including its 40th 20-win season en route to the NIT Quarterfinals. UC’s 77.1 ppg were up 7.7 from the previous year and its most since 2001-02.

“We are excited about the opportunity to compete in the Hoops Classic,” Dayton head coach Anthony Grant said. “This game will be a showcase of two tradition-rich programs with very passionate fan bases. It certainly makes for a very attractive matchup in non-conference play.”

Dayton was 22-12 in 2022-23, with second-place finishes in the Atlantic 10 in both the regular season and post-season tournament.  The Flyers return three starters, including junior forward DaRon Holmes II, a two-All-Atlantic 10 pick and the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 A-10 tournament.

Cincinnati and Dayton have met 91 times prior with the Bearcats holding a 60-31 advantage. The rivalry is the third longest in program history for both schools. Cincinnati has played only Miami (Ohio) [149 games] and Louisville [99] more times while Dayton has faced only Xavier [159] and Miami (Ohio) [132] more often.

The Bearcats won the last meeting with Dayton, a 68-34 decision on Nov. 27, 2010 at the Queen City’s downtown arena. Dayton’s last victory over Cincinnati came the season prior, an 81-66 NIT quarterfinals result at Fifth Third Arena on March 22, 2010.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets go on public sale starting Wednesday, July 26 at 10 a.m. ET at HeritageBankCenter.com, Ticketmaster.com or through the Ticketmaster app.

Ball Dawgs Classic at The Dollar Loan Center to be headlined by New Mexico, Toledo men & Stanford, FSU women

HENDERSON, NEV. – Six men’s teams and four women’s programs will descend upon Las Vegas on Thanksgiving week when the Ball Dawgs Classic tips at The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, home of the NBA G League Ignite. The event is managed by veteran Las Vegas promoter bdG Sports which has managed numerous college basketball events across the Las Vegas Valley, including the Big West Championships at The Dollar Loan Center.

The men’s event will feature three games each day on Nov. 21, 22 and 24 featuring:

  • Indiana State (Missouri Valley) – 23-13 record last season
  • New Mexico (Mountain West) – 22-12 record
  • Pepperdine (WCC) – 9-22 record
  • Rice (AAC) – 19-16 record
  • Toledo (MAC) – 27-8 record
  • UC Irvine (Big West) – 23-12 record

NCAA Tournament participants Stanford and Florida State headline the four-team women’s field. The women’s action tips on Nov. 22 with first-round play. Following an off-day on Thanksgiving, consolation and championship games will be played. The women’s field features:

  • Belmont (Missouri Valley) – 23-12 record, Missouri Valley Conference regular season champions
  • Florida State (ACC) – 23-10, NCAA Tournament berth
  • Stanford (Pac-12) – 29-6 record, Pac-12 regular season champions, NCAA Tournament berth
  • Northwestern (Big Ten) – 9-21 record

Pairings for both men’s and women’s games will be announced at a later date.

bdG Sports has partnered with Ball Dawgs, a fast-rising sports content provider with more than 825,000 followers on its social media platforms, to promote the games and showcase the action on the court.

“Our firm has quickly found a home at The Dollar Loan Center as we annually manage the Big West Championships at the site, provide operational support for the Ignite home games and have launched and managed our own events at the arena over the past year,” said bdG Sports President & CEO Brooks Downing. “We look forward to generating excitement and exposure for the teams and players in this event through our partnership with Ball Dawgs and hope that translates to a packed building on Thanksgiving week.”

The Dollar Loan Center opened in March 2022 as home to the Vegas Golden Knights’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights. A product of a public-private partnership between the City of Henderson and a group of investors led by Bill Foley, the 5,567-seat arena is operated by the Foley Entertainment Group. The Dollar Loan Center, also home to the Indoor Football League’s Vegas Knight Hawks, NBA G League’s Ignite, Big West Basketball Championships and the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, sits in the heart of Henderson, a suburb of Las Vegas which has grown to become Nevada’s second largest city with more than 330,000 residents.

FULL SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Nov. 21

Three men’s games starting at 3:30 p.m. PT

Wednesday, Nov. 22

Two women’s games starting at 11 a.m. PT

Three men’s games starting at 4 p.m. PT

Friday, Nov. 24

Three men’s games starting at 11 a.m. PT

Two women’s games starting at 6:30 p.m. PT

Tickets for the event will go on-sale on July 21 at 10 a.m. PT at www.thedollarloancenter.com and www.axs.com. Full event information can be found at www.balldawgsclassic.com and on social media at @VegasMainEvent on all social media channels as well as @BallDawgs on Instagram and @TheBallDawgs on Twitter.

Iona, Louisiana and Hofstra headline 2023 Gulf Coast Showcase men’s field

ESTERO, Fla. – Southwest Florida serves as the backdrop to great college basketball action when eight Division I men’s teams visit for the 11th annual Gulf Coast Showcase, Nov. 20‐ 22, at Hertz Arena. The Thanksgiving Week event is operated by bdG Sports.

Headlined by 2023 NCAA Tournament participants Iona and Louisiana, along with 2023 Colonial Athletic Association regular‐season champion and NIT participant, Hofstra, the field also includes: Buffalo, High Point, Illinois State, Long Beach State and Wright State.

Action starts Monday, Nov. 20 with the following matchups:

  • Iona vs. High Point – 11 a.m. ET
  • Long Beach State vs. Illinois State – 1:30 p.m.
  • Louisiana vs. Wright State – 5 p.m.
  • Hofstra vs. Buffalo – 7:30 p.m.

Game times for Tuesday and Wednesday will be the same with semifinal games on Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday’s championship game will tip at 7:30 p.m. All games will be streamed live by FloHoops.

The Gulf Coast Showcase will continue to support the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The hospital is the only children’s hospital between Tampa and Miami and provides vital health care for the region’s sick and injured children and their families. The hospital’s facility provides 300,000 square feet of space, 128 pediatric and NICU beds, a 17‐bay emergency department, a freestanding pediatric pharmacy and in‐hospital school classroom.

TICKET AND FAN TRAVEL INFORMATION

Fan travel information, including preferred hotel rates at the official tournament resort, and ticket information can be found at the official event website – www.gulfcoastshowcase.com. Tickets go on sale beginning Monday, July 17.