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Talk hoops all year long in Luke Winn's blog, a journal of commentary, news and reader-driven discussions about the college game.
8/17/2007 05:16:00 PM

Converging On The City

See if O.J. Mayo is all he's hyped up to be at the Jimmy V. Classic on Dec. 4 at Madison Square Garden.
Howie McCormick/Icon SMI
New York is not necessarily the best place for a college basketball writer (like myself) to live during January, February and March. Given that none of the city-area teams (St. John's, Seton Hall, Columbia, Manhattan and even Rutgers) is particularly relevant on a national scale, everything requires travel. Trains to D.C. for Georgetown games. Flights to RDU for North Carolina and Duke. Five-hour, cross-country jaunts to LAX for UCLA and USC.

In November and December, however, a wonderful phenomenon occurs: the best of college hoops simply comes to us in Manhattan. I spent this morning -- once I finished my last college football preview piece, that is -- looking through hoops schedules with the intention of returning to regular blogging. And I've come to the pleasant realization that the top three early-season events are all at Madison Square Garden, just a short subway ride away. There's an absurd number of these tournaments/invites/classics in '07-08 -- 23, by my last count, not including the Big Ten/ACC, SEC/Big East and Big 12/Pac-10 jamborees -- and I've ranked them in order of quality:

1. JIMMY V CLASSIC, Dec. 4, Madison Square Garden
Games: Kansas State vs. Notre Dame, USC vs. Memphis

This is the premier freshmen showcase -- basically, the '07-08 equivalent of putting Greg Oden, Kevin Durant and Brandan Wright on the same bill in the first month of the season. In forward Michael Beasley (of K-State), O.J. Mayo (of USC) and Derrick Rose (of Memphis), the Jimmy V will boast three top-five picks for '08. The headlining matchup between the Trojans and Tigers, who are both rather freewheeling on offense, could be one of the top games of the non-conference slate.

2. COACHES VS. CANCER CLASSIC, Nov. 15-16, Madison Square Garden
Final Four picks: Kentucky, Memphis, Oklahoma, UConn

The CvC is the closest thing we have to an opening day in college hoops. And this year it'll offer us a number of important, early looks at the following:
- Billy Gillispie's impact on UK, plus super-recruit Patrick Patterson
- Memphis' chances for a title run, as well as if Rose's skills live up to Joey Dorsey's billing
- Oklahoma's freshman savior, Blake (little bro of Tyler) Griffin- The progress of UConn center Hasheem Thabeet, who could be a lottery pick if he develops even a minimal offensive repertoire.

3. NIT SEASON TIP-OFF, Nov. 21 and 23, Madison Square Garden
Final Four picks: Syracuse, Ohio State, Washington, Texas A&M

The preseason NIT was memorable as the stage for Butler's coming-out party in '06. But this time around, rather than a mid-major surprise, we're more likely to get an idea of whether Syracuse, with its talented underclassmen trio of Johnny Flynn, Paul Harris and Donte Greene, is ready to contend in the Big East or is still another year away.

4. CBE CLASSIC, Nov. 19-20, Kansas City, Sprint Center
Final Four picks: UCLA, Maryland, Michigan State, Missouri

At this summer's Pan American Games trials, I had hoped to see UCLA's Darren Collison square off against MSU's Drew Neitzel in a battle of All-America-caliber point guards. Alas, Neitzel was the only one of the two invited to camp, and he, Villanova's Scottie Reynolds and Washington State's Derrick Low handled floor-general duties in Brazil. We'll have to settle for a Darren-vs.-Drew battle in KC, with both teams likely ranked in the top 10 of the polls.

5. LEGENDS CLASSIC, Nov. 23-24, Newark, N.J., Prudential Center
Final Four picks: New Mexico State, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia

The title game of this first-year tourney should pit the Vols against the Longhorns, and considering what happened the last time they met -- a 111-105 win by Tennessee in overtime, with Chris Lofton scoring 35 -- it will be a must-watch game. Even with Kevin Durant gone to the NBA.

6. MAUI INVITATIONAL, Nov. 19-21, Lahaina Civic Center
Field: Arizona State, Duke, Illinois, LSU, Marquette, Oklahoma State, Princeton, Chaminade.

This is a far cry from the Maui field of 2005, which was won by a loaded UConn team and included an epic battle between Adam Morrison and Michigan State. While it could still provide a decent finale between the Dukies and Golden Eagles, it's tough to see anyone knocking off Marquette. The Blue Devils' perimeter posse of Greg Paulus, Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler will be decent -- but can they really play enough D to stop Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wes Matthews, who took down Coach K's boys last season in Kansas City?

7. LAS VEGAS INVITATIONAL, Nov. 17-24, Las Vegas
Field: BYU, Hartford, Iona, Jackson State, Louisville, North Carolina, Old Dominion, South Carolina State

The overall strength (or lack thereof) of the Vegas field is irrelevant: the whole point is to generate a UNC-vs.-Louisville title game on Thanksgiving weekend.
Most of us pundits have been speculating, based on their late-season surge and near-upset of Texas A&M in the NCAA tournament, that Edgar Sosa and the Cards could be a Final Four team. But can they run with a Carolina squad that has all the pieces in place to win a national title? This could be a near-equivalent of the Florida-Kansas bout in Vegas last November -- and Louisville's prime opportunity to jump into the top five of the polls.

8. OLD SPICE CLASSIC, Nov. 22-25, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Field: Villanova, Central Florida, George Mason, Kansas State, N.C. State, Penn State, Rider, South Carolina

The deodorant/aftershave invitational does not have a real headliner, but some intriguing storylines may develop. There's a chance N.C. State could emerge looking like the favorite to finish second -- ahead of Duke, Virginia or Virginia Tech -- in the ACC. And this would also be a nice stage for South Carolina's backcourt transfer duo of Devan Downey (Cincinnati) and Zam Frederick (Georgia Tech) to remind the nation of their talents, and establish the Gamecocks as a darkhorse in the SEC.

9. HALL OF FAME CLASSIC, Dec. 1, Boston
Games: UConn vs. Gonzaga, Providence vs. Boston College

Gonzaga consistently has more cojones than any other team when it comes to non-conference scheduling, last year taking on Duke, Washington State, Texas and North Carolina out of conference, to name a few. Throttling UConn on the Huskies' home coast -- something the Zags are capable of doing with Josh Heytvelt in the lineup -- would go a long way in justifying their return to the top 25 after a turbulent down year.

THE REST

10. GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT, Nov. 20-24, Anchorage, Alaska (Alaska-Anchorage, Butler, Eastern Washington, Gonzaga, Michigan, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, Western Kentucky)

11. WOODEN TRADITION, Dec. 15, Indianapolis (Purdue vs. Louisville, Butler vs. Florida State)

12. PARADISE JAM, Nov. 16-19, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Illinois-Chicago, Charlotte, Winthrop, Baylor, Wichita State, Monmouth)

13. ANAHEIM CLASSIC, Nov. 22, 23, 25, Anaheim Convention Center (USC, San Diego, Mississippi State, UC Irvine, Southern Illinois, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Miami of Ohio, Southern Alabama)

14. CHICAGO INVITATIONAL CHALLENGE, Nov. 23-24, Hoffman Estates, Ill. (Coppin State, Kent State, Illinois State, Indiana, Longwood, Southeast Missouri State, UNC Wilmington, Xavier)

15. LAS VEGAS CLASSIC, Dec. 22-23, Las Vegas (Alabama, Bethune Cookman, Iowa State, Missouri State, Purdue, Texas Southern, UT Pan American, Wofford)

16. GLENN WILKES CLASSIC, Nov. 16-18, Daytona Beach, Fla. (Cleveland State, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Georgia Southern, Rhode Island, Stetson, UAB, USF)

17. BLUE RIBBON CHALLENGE, Nov. 9-22, Gainesville, Fla., and New Brunswick, N.J. (Florida, North Carolina Central, North Dakota State, Rutgers, Tennessee Tech)

18. SOUTH PADRE INVITATIONAL, South Padre Island, Texas, Nov. 23-24 (Vanderbilt, Iowa, Austin Peay, Bradley, Valparaiso, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Florida Gulf Coast, Utah State)

19. RAINBOW CLASSIC, Dec. 19-22, Honolulu (East Tennessee State, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana-Lafayette, Ohio, St. John's, St. Mary's, Tulane)

20. TOP OF THE WORLD CLASSIC, Nov. 15-18, Fairbanks, Alaska (Alaska-Fairbanks, Akron, Colorado State, IUPUI, Oregon State, Tennessee State, South Carolina Upstate, Portland State)

Check back to see if these yet-to-be-filled-out events are worth roadtripping (or turning on the tube) for: PUERTO RICO CLASSIC (Arkansas, College of Charleston, Marist, Miami, Providence, Temple, Virginia Commonwealth, eighth team TBA), BB&T CLASSIC (Maryland, George Washington, George Mason, plus three more TBA), WOODEN CLASSIC (UCLA vs. Davidson, other game TBA)

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posted by SI.com | View comments (10) |

10 Comments:

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Posted: 10:48 PM   by Anonymous Anonymous
Don't underestimate Fordham, they have a real shot at winning the A-10.
Posted: 8:27 AM   by Anonymous Anonymous
Let's not forget the Blue Ribbon Challenge, featuing the two-time defending national champion Florida Gators playing a good Rutgers team.
Posted: 10:35 PM   by Anonymous Anonymous
Don't forget about the Chicago Invitational Challenge at the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Nov. 23-24, 2007. The field includes Indiana University, Xavier University, Illinois State University, Kent State University, the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, Longwood University, Southeast Missouri State University and Coppin State University. It could feature a title game of Indiana who is supposed to compete in the Big Ten this year and Xavier who nearly upset Ohio State last year in the NCAA tournament and should be ranked this year
Posted: 12:18 AM   by Blogger pete ginder
Am surprised that you failed to mention the Great Alaska Shootout in your piece on exempt pre-season men's tournaments. Hope that this was an oversight.This is the oldest of the pre-Christmas exempt tournaments (30 years and counting) and easily the event with the richest history. This year's field includes Gonzaga, Butler, Virginia Tech, Texas Tech,Michigan, Western Kentucky, Eastern Washington and host school Alaska-Anchorage. Believe that this field is as good or better than many of those which you mentioned in your recent article. Do enjoy your column and, like you, am looking forward to a terrific college hoops season. Pete Ginder
Posted: 11:53 AM   by Blogger Luke Winn
Pete + the anons: Sorry for the omission of the Great Alaska + Chicago Events. They've been added into the post, along with a few others, bringing the total to 21 events. - Luke
Posted: 3:51 PM   by Blogger pete ginder
Luke-thanks for the update to your list-should be a great tournament.
Posted: 10:30 PM   by Anonymous Anonymous
Hey Luke -

Its not Cameron Indoor but take Metro North up to the Bronx to watch NCAA tourney legend Derek Whittenburg coach Fordham sometime this winter. Best team in NYC....
Posted: 11:40 PM   by Anonymous Anonymous
Don't be so sure that Seton Hall isn't relevant. Bobby Gonzalez is doing a heck of a job and they will shock some people this year.
Posted: 12:52 AM   by Anonymous jonwin
luke, don't count bruce weber and a much maligned ill team out. lots of potetial here. j. winn(relation?)troy il.
Posted: 10:08 AM   by Blogger Luke Winn
to the Fordham commenters: I apologize for the indirect insult, and promise to pay attention ...

also: A couple of extra tournaments have been added to the post, including the incomplete Puerto Rico field and the filled-out Rainbow Classic. That brings our total to 23.
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