Purdue, Texas Tech, Memphis and Wake Forest set to compete at 2025 Baha Mar Championship

NASSAU, The Bahamas – High-caliber men’s college basketball returns to the amazing Baha Mar resort this Thanksgiving holiday season when preseason Top-10 squads Purdue and Texas Tech join Memphis and Wake Forest to compete in the Baha Mar Championship, Nov. 20-21, at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center. Veteran promoter bdG Sports announced the four-team field Wednesday.

CBS Sports Network will televise all four contests of the event beginning Thursday, Nov. 20 with Purdue taking on Memphis at 6 p.m. ET followed by Texas Tech battling Wake Forest at 8:30 p.m. The consolation game on Friday, Nov. 21 begins at 7 p.m., followed by the championship game at 9:30 p.m.

Purdue, the preseason fourth-ranked team in the country per CBSSports.com, has proven itself as one of the sport’s winningest teams over the past decade. The Boilermakers welcome back reigning Big Ten Player of the Year and consensus All-American guard Braden Smith, along with First Team All-Big Ten selection forward Trey Kaufman-Renn and sharp-shooting guard Fletcher Loyer. Head Coach Matt Painter’s team was runner up in the 2024 national title game. Last season, Purdue posted a 24-12 record overall, advancing to its sixth Sweet 16 in the past eight years before losing a 62-60 heartbreaker to eventual national runner-up Houston.

“We are thrilled to be heading to the Bahamas this November for the Baha Mar Championship,” Painter said. “Memphis, Texas Tech and Wake Forest are all outstanding programs led by outstanding coaches who have had success at their respective institutions. I know our fans are excited to head to the Baha Mar resort and our team is looking forward to the challenge.”

Texas Tech, ranked No. 7 in the preseason by CBSSports.com, is coming off a stellar 2024-25 campaign, highlighted by an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, a 28-9 overall mark and second-place finish in the Big 12 Conference. Head Coach Grant McCasland and Red Raider fans are excited about the return of star forward JT Toppin, the Big 12 Player of the Year and probable preseason All-American. Guard Christian Anderson is back as well after earning All-Big 12 Freshman Team accolades. Forward Le Juan Watts (Washington State) and guard Donovan Atwell (UNCG) were key additions from the transfer portal in the offseason.

“We’re excited about being in the Bahamas and competing in the Baha Mar tournament against a really strong field,” McCasland said.

Memphis is coming off its best season under eighth-year head coach Penny Hardaway. The Tigers dominated the American Athletic Conference, sweeping both the regular-season and tournament crowns, earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament and finished with a 29-6 overall record in 2024-25. With zero players returning from a year ago, Hardaway responded in the offseason with a major portal haul, landing 10 transfers. Leading the charge are standout guards Dug McDaniel (Kansas State), Zachary Davis (South Carolina), sharpshooter Sincere Parker (McNeese State), along with floor general Curtis Givens III (LSU) and dynamic big man Aaron Bradshaw (Ohio State).

“We’re excited to be part of the 2025 Baha Mar Championship — this is exactly the kind of stage we want to be on,” Hardaway said. “We’ve got a brand-new group this year, and going up against some of the top teams in the country early will be a monster test, but that’s how you find out what you’re made of. I’ve always believed in challenging our guys right out of the gate, and this tournament gives us the perfect opportunity to grow, compete, and show what Memphis basketball is all about.”

Wake Forest posted its best finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference since 2008-09 last season, tying for fourth in the league at 13-7. The Demon Deacons recorded a 21-11 overall mark and ranked among the nation’s Top 20 in field goal percentage defense. Head Coach Steve Forbes returns his top rebounder from 2024-25 in forward Tre’Von Spillers and also brings back guard Juke Harris and forward Omaha Biliew. Welcomed portal additions include forward Cooper Schwieger (Valparaiso) and guards Mekhi Mason (Washington), Myles Colvin (Purdue), Nate Calmese (Washington State) and Sebastian Akins (Denver).

“We are very excited to represent the ACC in this year’s Baha Mar tournament,” Forbes said. “The field of participants is elite, making it one the most competitive events in all of college basketball. We are looking forward to the challenge.”

Past winners of the Baha Mar Championship include Louisville (2021), UCF (2022), Miami (2023) and Tennessee (2024).

VIP PACKAGES AND TICKETS ON SALE NOW

A limited number of Baha Mar Championship VIP packages are currently available through participating schools. Amenities of the VIP packages include a three-night stay at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, two general admission tickets to all games of the Baha Mar Championship, two tickets to the tournament’s VIP reception (Nov. 19) with dinner and open bar included, round-trip ground transportation from the airport and resort, two daily breakfast vouchers, welcome gifts and personal concierge service. (Airfare not included in the packages.) General admission tickets and hotel rooms can be purchased separately from the VIP packages at www.bahamarhoops.com beginning Tuesday, July 1.

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.

Indiana-Louisville set to clash in ‘CareSource Invitational Indianapolis – Supporting Mental Health’ on Dec. 6

INDIANAPOLIS – Traditional men’s basketball powers collide in Circle City when Indiana battles Louisville on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The event, sponsored by CareSource, highlights the importance of promoting mental health conversations and resources. Veteran event promoter bdG Sports made the announcement Thursday.

The matchup will be televised by CBS and streamed live on Paramount+ with a scheduled start time of 2 p.m. ET.

The atmosphere inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, promises to be electric with the two fan bases seated in separate halves of the arena. The “split the house” ticket allotments will initially be sold through the ticket offices at both Indiana and Louisville. For the latest information, fans can visit www.CareSourceInvitational.com or follow @bdglobalsports on social media.

“We are excited to add Louisville to our non-conference slate,” Indiana head coach Darian DeVries said. “Playing this game in front of the Indianapolis fan base should provide an amazing atmosphere to showcase a great rivalry.”

DeVries has found success in the transfer portal since taking reigns of the program in mid-March. The Hoosiers’ portal class ranks 10th-best in the nation according to 247 Sports, highlighted by the additions of guards Tucker DeVries (West Virginia) and Lamar Wilkerson (Sam Houston State) and forward Reed Bailey (Davidson).

“We’ve focused on building a strong, competitive non-conference schedule and the addition of a formidable opponent like Indiana was a great fit,” Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey said. “Indianapolis, like Louisville, is a basketball-rich city and playing the game in Gainbridge Fieldhouse is sure to create an elite atmosphere that both fanbases can enjoy. I’m excited for our team to be part of this event come December.”

Kelsey, who became Louisville’s head coach prior to last season, earned Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year accolades in 2024-25 while directing the Cardinals to a 27-8 overall mark and a tie for second place in the league. He garnered high praise for retooling Louisville’s roster for the coming season with a portal class that ranks third best in the nation. Guards Ryan Conwell (Xavier), Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State) and Isaac McKneely (Virginia) highlight the incoming group.

In addition, the game will feature mental health messaging and share ways to support related organizations and resources available in the area.

Indiana holds a 12-10 advantage in the all-time series with Louisville. The Cardinals claimed an 89-61 victory over the Hoosiers last season at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. Indiana’s last win in the series came via a 74-66 decision during the 2023-24 campaign in a third-place matchup of the Empire Classic in New York. The storied programs have faced off three times in Indianapolis with Louisville earning two victories, including, most recently, a 77-62 result on New Year’s Eve 2016.

“CareSource is thrilled to be a part of a regular-season matchup between two powerhouse programs at such an elite venue,” said Scott Markovich, CareSource Executive Vice President. “Our involvement is driven by the opportunity to amplify awareness and support for adolescent and young adult mental health and suicide prevention.”

A portion of ticket sales will benefit mental health organizations, including Jay’s Light, begun by Dayton Coach Anthony Grant and wife Chris to help families find resources to help with mental health struggles. Their daughter Jayda died in 2022 at the age of 20, as a result of mental illness.

BDG Sports partners with Las Vegas Aces to launch franchise’s first Fantasy Camp

LAS VEGAS (May 19, 2025) — The Las Vegas Aces are proud to unveil the launch of the franchise’s first-ever Fantasy Camp for adults 21+, a groundbreaking experience that brings fans closer to the game than ever before. As the two-time WNBA champions, the Aces are offering the ultimate opportunity for basketball enthusiasts to go behind the scenes of a championship-caliber organization at the forefront of women’s professional sports.  

Kentucky-Gonzaga clash set for Bridgestone Arena in Nashville

NASHVILLE – Music City will serve as the backdrop for the next matchup in the thrilling Kentucky-Gonzaga men’s basketball series when the two powerhouse programs battle at Bridgestone Arena on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

Tip time and television information will be announced later. Tickets go on-sale to the public on Friday, March 7 at 10 a.m. CT at www.bridgestonearena.com and on the Ticketmaster app.

“We are excited to continue the series with Gonzaga in Nashville next season,” UK head coach Mark Pope said. “I have a ton of respect for Mark Few and his program, which has been one of the best over the last two decades. We want to continue to put our team in challenging situations and provide BBN with opportunities to see Kentucky’s team play across the country. Nashville has been good to BBN over the years, and we look forward to seeing lots of Blue in Bridgestone Arena in December.”

The upcoming meeting in Nashville will mark the fourth in the series between Kentucky and Gonzaga originally announced prior to the 2022-23 campaign. Kentucky rallied from an 18-point deficit to claim a 90-89 overtime win in a matchup of Top 10 teams earlier this season (Dec. 7) in Seattle. Gonzaga won the first two meetings in the current series, 88-72 at the Spokane Arena in Washington in 2022 and an 89-85 decision at Rupp Arena in Lexington in 2024.

The all-time series is tied 2-2, beginning with an 80-72 Kentucky victory in the 2002 Maui Invitational.

The December 2025 Kentucky-Gonzaga contest marks the first regular-season game the Wildcats have played at Bridgestone Arena, which boasts the NHL’s Nashville Predators as its primary tenant. The venue also currently serves as the host site for the Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament through 2035. UK owns a 20-6 all-time postseason record in the arena, including five league tournament titles (2001, 2010, 2015-2017) and two NCAA Tournament game victories (both in 2003).

Sudarshan Yellamaraju earns first Korn Ferry Tour title at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic

Canada’s Sudarshan Yellamaraju earned his first Korn Ferry Tour title Wednesday at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club, closing in 8-under 64 for a comfortable victory at 25-under 263, five strokes clear of Russell Knox and Kensei Hirata.

Yellamaraju, 23, led by one stroke into Wednesday’s final round and pulled away with five birdies in a six-hole stretch to close the front nine. He added birdies at Nos. 14, 16 and 17 to cement a tournament-record 72-hole total by seven strokes; the event dates to 2017.

Hank Lebioda wins The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island with playoff birdie

Hank Lebioda earned his first Korn Ferry Tour title Wednesday at The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island, outlasting S.H. Kim with a birdie on the first playoff hole at The Ocean Course at Atlantis in the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season opener.

Lebioda, 31, earned his first Korn Ferry Tour title in his 62nd start. The Florida State alum played the PGA TOUR full-time from 2019 to 2023; he made 120 starts before losing his card and returning to the Korn Ferry Tour, from which he first graduated in 2018.

Arkansas-Illinois draws 5.1 million viewers for Simple Truth Thanksgiving Classic on CBS

The Simple Truth Thanksgiving Classic presented by 4PT drew a giant television audience on CBS watching Arkansas battle Illinois at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The game averaged 5.1 million viewers, the second-largest regular season college basketball audience since 2008. The Hogs and Illini followed the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions game, which was just the second time a college basketball game was led out of a Thanksgiving NFL game. The Fighting Illini beat the Hogs 90-77 with game MVP Kasparas Jakucionis leading the way with 23 points.

Illinois tops No. 19 Arkansas 90-77 in Simple Truth Thanksgiving Classic presented by 4PT

KANSAS CITY — — Freshman Kasparas Jakucionis scored a season-high 23 points, Tomislav Ivisic had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Illinois beat No. 19 Arkansas 90-77 on Thursday in the Thanksgiving Hoops Showcase.

Jakucionis hit two free throws to give Illinois a double-digit lead with 3:49 remaining in the game. Arkansas had a turnover and a missed jumper on its next two possessions and Jakucionis hit an open 3-pointer to make it 85-71 at 2:42.