Coconut Hoops tips off inaugural season at FGCU’s Alico Arena on Thanksgiving week

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Elite men’s and women’s college basketball action takes center stage in the City of Palms during Thanksgiving Week when the inaugural Coconut Hoops tips off beginning Monday, Nov. 24 at FGCU’s Alico Arena. Veteran promoter bdG Sports announced event details, including both fields Tuesday.

The event formerly known as the Gulf Coast Showcase was played at Hertz Arena the past 12 seasons.

“We have had terrific success in Fort Myers since 2013, highlighted by the very best women’s teams, including UConn, South Carolina and Iowa, men’s champions like FGCU and Houston, and superstars like A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark, but now we have an opportunity to elevate the event even further with our move to Alico Arena,” said Brooks Downing, founder and president of bdG Sports, the event organizer. “FGCU owns a terrific venue for basketball, and I want to thank Director of Athletics Colin Hargis for sharing the vision of playing host to what will become one of the best events in the sport.”

For the November 2020 event, Alico Arena served as one of the host sites for the women’s tournament, given the requirements to create a “bubble environment” to keep both fans and participants safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“We are excited to partner with bdG Sports and welcome numerous high-caliber programs and their fan bases to Alico Arena,” said Hargis. “This tournament presents an exciting opportunity for FGCU and the Southwest Florida community to create memorable experiences for student-athletes and fans from across the country while elevating college basketball.”

The agreement is for three years with an option for both parties to extend. Plans call for the FGCU men and women to compete every other year that they are eligible. For this November, the FGCU men, champions of the 2022 event, will participate in a highly competitive Tarpon Bay Division, a “round-robin” four-team event that includes Kennesaw State (19-14, 10-8 Conference USA), Rice (12-19, 4-14 American Conference) and Oral Roberts (7-23, 3-13 Summit League).

In addition, a four-team men’s “tournament-style” event will be played on the same dates. The Royal Palm Division includes Troy (23-11, 13-5 Sun Belt Conference), who advanced to the first round NCAA Tournament, NCAA-regulars Belmont (22-11, 13-7 Missouri Valley Conference) and Toledo (18-15, 10-8 Mid-American Conference) along with Saint Francis (16-18, 8-8 Northeast Conference).

Action in the Royal Palm Division begins Monday, Nov. 24 with Toledo taking on Troy at 11 a.m. ET followed by Belmont facing Saint Francis at 1:30 p.m. The division’s consolation game tips at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 26 followed by the championship game at 1:30 p.m.

Play in the Tarpon Bay Division spans three days, beginning Monday, Nov. 24 when Rice battles Kennesaw State at 4:30 p.m., after which Oral Roberts tangles with FGCU at 7 p.m. On Tuesday, Nov. 25, Oral Roberts plays Kennesaw State at 4:30 p.m., and Rice plays FGCU at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, Nov. 26, Oral Roberts takes on Rice at 4:30 p.m., followed by Kennesaw State vs. FGCU at 7 p.m.

The women’s event includes two, four-team divisions set to crown two separate champions. Games will be played Friday, Nov. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 30.

Oklahoma, Florida State, Indiana and Iowa State headline a challenging list of women’s teams participating in the event. All eight teams advanced to postseason play last season.

The complete women’s field features Oklahoma (27-8, 11-5 Southern Conference), Florida State (24-9, 13-6 Atlantic Coast Conference), Indiana (20-13, 10-8 Big Ten Conference), Iowa State (23-12, 12-6 Big 12 Conference), Gonzaga (24-11, 17-3 West Coast Conference), Missouri State (26-9, 16-4 Missouri Valley Conference), Marquette (21-11, 12-6 Big East Conference) and Coppin State (19-15, 8-6 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference).

Oklahoma (Sweet 16), Florida State (second round), Indiana (second round) and Iowa State (second round) all advanced to the 2025 NCAA Tournament while Gonzaga (quarterfinals), Marquette (second round) and Missouri State (second round) each appeared in the WBIT. Coppin State advanced to the second round of the WNIT. Seven of the eight teams in the field won 20 or more games last season.

“We are excited and proud to showcase a top-tier brand of hoops in Florida once again as we continue to grow and expand women’s basketball and our events,” college basketball analyst and event contributor Debbie Antonelli said. “I’m proud of the quality programs, coaches and student-athletes competing in this event. I’m sure their experience will be first class and help aid in their team development as conference play nears.”

Action gets underway Friday, Nov. 28, in the Blue Heron Division when Marquette battles Iowa State starting at 11 a.m. ET followed by Gonzaga taking on Indiana at 1:30 p.m. The consolation game will start at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30 prior to the championship game scheduled to tip at 1:30 p.m.

The Great Egret Division takes place during the evening on those dates with Missouri State facing Florida State at 4 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 28, before Coppin State takes on Oklahoma at 6:30 p.m. The consolation game will begin at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30 prior to the championship game tipping off at 6:30 p.m.

All games will be streamed live on FloHoops.

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.coconuthoops.com. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 12 p.m. ET.

2025 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship field and pairings announced

NASSAU, The Bahamas – The beautiful Baha Mar resort welcomes a competitive eight-team college women’s basketball field for the 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship, Friday, Nov. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 30 at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center. Veteran sports promoter bdG Sports announced the field Friday.

The eight-team field will be divided into separate, four-team brackets that will crown two champions.

Arkansas State, Houston, Kent State and Tulsa will battle each other in the four-team Goombay Division that tips off play each day. Action starts Nov. 28 with Kent State taking on Tulsa at 11 a.m. ET followed by Houston against Arkansas State at 1:30 p.m. The consolation game will start at 11 a.m. on Nov. 30 with the championship game to follow at 1:30 p.m.

Clemson, Michigan State, Temple and Western Carolina compete in the four-team Junkanoo Division that continues basketball action into the afternoon and evening each day. Play starts Nov. 28 with Clemson facing Western Carolina at 4 p.m., followed by Michigan State vs. Temple at 6:30 p.m. The consolation game will start at 4 p.m. on Nov. 30 with the championship game set to start at 6:30 p.m.

Streaming details will be announced later.

“We are excited and proud to showcase a top-tier brand of hoops in the Bahamas once again as we continue to grow and expand women’s basketball and our events,” college basketball analyst and event contributor Debbie Antonelli said. “I’m proud of the quality programs, coaches and student-athletes competing in this event. I’m sure their experience will be first class and help aid in their team development as conference play nears.”

Arkansas State earned the program’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2024-25, winning its first Sun Belt Conference Tournament title. Head coach Destinee Rogers’ Red Wolves, who led the nation in 3-pointers per game (10.4) last season, finished second in the Sun Belt at 15-3 and 21-11 overall.

Head coach Shawn Poppie continues to rebuild the Clemson program after posting a 14-17 overall mark in his initial season with the Tigers. He won 48 games with a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in two seasons at Chattanooga prior to last season.

The Matthew Mitchell era is in its first season at Houston. Mitchell formerly coached at Kentucky from 2007-2020, leading the Wildcats to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, three Elite Eight showings and 10, 20-plus win seasons.

A year removed from appearing in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Todd Starkey’s Kent State Flashes registered their third consecutive 20-plus win campaign last season with a 21-12 overall mark and fourth-place finish in the Mid-American Conference at 12-6.

Michigan State has registered back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances since head coach Robyn Fralick took over the head coaching position in East Lansing prior to the 2023-24 campaign. Last season saw the Spartans post a 22-10 overall mark while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Temple looks for its third consecutive 20-win season under head coach Diane Richardson in 2025-26. The Owls earned a 20-11 overall record and 13-5 league mark and fourth-place finish in the American Athletic Conference last season.

Tulsa made its third postseason appearance in four seasons under head coach Angie Nelp, advancing to the WNIT a year ago. The Hurricane registered a 17-15 overall mark and 11-7 showing in the American Athletic Conference in 2024-25.

The women’s basketball program at Western Carolina continues to take shape under second-year head coach Jonathan Tsipis. The veteran mentor formerly led programs at George Washington and Wisconsin and was a top assistant under Muffet McGraw at Notre Dame.

Pairings announced for 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship

NASSAU, The Bahamas – McNeese has joined a challenging women’s basketball field set to compete in the 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship, Nov. 24 and 26 at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center. Veteran sports promoter bdG Sports announced the complete schedule with start times Friday.

McNeese joins Alabama, Belmont, Harvard, Minnesota, Ohio State, South Florida and West Virginia in the event. Seven of the eight teams advanced to postseason play last season.

The eight-team field will be divided into separate, four-team brackets that will crown two champions.

The Goombay Division tips off the event on Monday, Nov. 24 with Ohio State playing Belmont at 11 a.m. ET followed by West Virginia facing McNeese at 1:30 p.m. The consolation game will take place Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 11 a.m., with the championship game to follow at 1:30 p.m.

The Junkanoo Division gets underway on Monday, Nov. 24 with Minnesota taking on South Florida at 4 p.m. followed by Alabama battling Harvard at 6:30 p.m. The consolation and championship games will be played on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at either 4 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. The specific order of those games will be determined following conclusion of first-round play.

Streaming information will be announced later.

Alabama (2022), Ohio State (2023) and USF (2021) are making return trips to Baha Mar after previously competing in the Pink Flamingo Championship when it featured a non-bracketed format.

Eventual national champion UConn and regional finalist LSU each won its separate four-team divisions of the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship last season.

Arkansas-Texas Tech to battle in Revocruit Rematch on Dec. 13 at American Airlines Center

DALLAS – A Texas-sized showdown comes to Dallas when Arkansas battles Texas Tech on Saturday, Dec. 13 at American Airlines Center. The two teams played an epic Sweet 16 game last season which saw the Red Raiders stage a furious comeback before winning 85-83 in overtime. Veteran event promoter bdG Sports announced the event today which is dubbed the “Revocruit Rematch.”

Tip time is slated for 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Networks.

Texas Tech is expected to be a top-10 team entering the new season coming off last season’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight finish. The Red Raiders return JT Toppin who was named the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Year along with Christian Anderson after he earned All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors last season. Tech has bolstered its roster through the transfer portal with the additions of Tyeree Bryan (Santa Clara), LeJuan Watts (Washington State), Donovan Atwell (UNC Greensboro), Josiah Moseley (Villanova) and Luke Bamgboye (VCU) along with freshman Nolan Groves (Long Lake, Minnesota).

“We’re looking forward to returning to downtown Dallas and matching up against Arkansas,” Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland said. “This is a historic series that dates back to the 1940s and always proves to be a great game. I’m excited to play in front of our fanbase at American Airlines Center and to renew the rivalry.”

Excitement is high in Fayetteville once again as Hall of Fame coach John Calipari reloads for his second season with the Hogs. Arkansas welcomes the nation’s No. 3-ranked recruiting class with two recruits in the top-11 of the ESPN 100 in Darius Acuff (No. 7) and Meleek Thomas (No. 11). The Razorbacks return four of their top contributors from last year’s NCAA team in D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile and Billy Richmond III as well as transfers Malique Ewin (Florida State) and Nick Pringle (South Carolina).

“We are excited to return to Dallas,” Arkansas head coach John Calipari said. “Our experience last year in the American Airlines Center was first class and our fans and alums in the Metroplex helped make it great too. Dallas has traditionally been good to the Razorbacks, and we expect nothing different this year. The Arkansas-Texas Tech rivalry means a lot to both fan bases and, if recent history holds true, this game should be a great match-up. We like our team and have great respect for Coach McCasland. This game will help prepare both teams for another NCAA Tournament run.”

Tickets will go on-sale to the public on Friday, Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. CT through Ticketmaster. For the latest information, fans can visit www.revocruitrematch.com or follow @bdglobalsports on social media.

Texas Tech owns a slight 41-40 advantage in the all-time series with Arkansas. The last four meetings between the two programs have either gone into overtime or been decided by three points or less in regulation.