Tournament Thread Charleston Classic

[ericd7633]

Thursday, November 17th
First Round:

Game 1: Western Michigan vs. Villanova - 11:30am(ESPN2)
Game 2: UTEP vs. Wake Forest - 2:00(ESPN3)
Game 3: Mississippi State vs. UCF - 5:00(ESPN2)
Game 4: Boise State vs. Charleston - 7:30(ESPN3)

Friday, November 18th
Semifinals:

Game 6: Western Michigan/Villanova vs. UTEP/Wake Forest - 1:30(ESPN2)
Game 7: Mississippi State/UCF vs. Boise State/Charleston - 9:30(ESPNU)

Sunday, November 20th
Championship Game - 9:30(ESPN2)

http://espnevents.com/charleston-cl...09/2016-Gildan-Charleston-Classic-Bracket.pdf

 

[ericd7633]

Charleston doesn't usually doesn't produce a field like Maui or Battle 4 Atlantis, but this is a solid field none the less and probably the best field the tournament has ever produced, headlined with the reigning national champs in Nova. I think Mississippi State has a chance to make the tournament, and Wake killed it last year in the non conference portion of the schedule, so they won't be an easy out either. Boise State is a bubble team and UCF and Western Michigan should be improved from where they were a year ago. Will be interesting to see what type of team Johnny Dawkins has in year 1.

 

[jontaejones]

Definitely Nova's tournament to lose.

Charleston doesn't usually doesn't produce a field like Maui or Battle 4 Atlantis, but this is a solid field none the less and probably the best field the tournament has ever produced, headlined with the reigning national champs in Nova. I think Mississippi State has a chance to make the tournament, and Wake killed it last year in the non conference portion of the schedule, so they won't be an easy out either. Boise State is a bubble team and UCF and Western Michigan should be improved from where they were a year ago. Will be interesting to see what type of team Johnny Dawkins has in year 1.

Decent field. Definitely Villanova's tourney to lose.

 

[ericd7633]

Definitely Nova's tournament to lose.


Decent field. Definitely Villanova's tourney to lose.

Oh yeah, I would agree, they are clearly the favorite, and a heavy favorite at that. My guess is Wake Forest would provide the best challenge to Nova. Mississippi State has a lot of talent, but it's all freshman and a couple sophomores. I think they will be better later on in the year than they will be at the beginning of the year. With that said they are still the favorites to get to the title game out of the bottom of the bracket.

 

[ericd7633]

Bump...Tournament gets started Thursday.

 

[Hitman Hart]

FWIW, 8 of 13 Wake's scholarship players are Freshmen and Sophomores.

Wake is improved this year, but I see Villanova taking this one.

 

[ericd7633]

FWIW, 8 of 13 Wake's scholarship players are Freshmen and Sophomores.

Wake is improved this year, but I see Villanova taking this one.

Yeah pretty much Nova's to lose at this point. Their combination of experience and talent is going to be tough for teams like Wake Forest and Miss State, who have talent but it's relatively younger. Starting 3 seniors in this day and age in college basketball is almost unheard of for a team that's in the top 5. Sometimes that's the benefit of not recruiting one and dones, but still get guys in the 50-100 range.

 

[Hitman Hart]

This probably means nothing, but Mississippi State only beat Norfolk State by 4 points. First game for a young team, so shit happens. However, it is something to keep an eye on.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

What the hell is nova doing in a tourney like this?

 

[ericd7633]

What the hell is nova doing in a tourney like this?

It's definitely not Maui or Battle 4 Atlantis good, but looking through the tournaments history, it's grown leaps and bounds. Maybe having local College of Charleston back in the tournament will help with the atmosphere?

 

[Hitman Hart]

It really isn't that unusual. Virginia won the Charleston Classic last year by defeating George Mason.

 

[ericd7633]

It really isn't that unusual. Virginia won the Charleston Classic last year by defeating George Mason.

That tournament could have been so much better if not for a couple upsets. Seton Hall getting upset and losing to LBSU and avoiding UVA really stunk. That would have been a great semifinal for a tournament like this.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

It's definitely not Maui or Battle 4 Atlantis good, but looking through the tournaments history, it's grown leaps and bounds. Maybe having local College of Charleston back in the tournament will help with the atmosphere?

Yeah that's true.

It also seems(could be way wrong) that Nova isn't in many of the big tourneys each year. Even if it's like Orlando or Puerto Rico or that cali one.

Kinda odd since they are always good.

 

[ericd7633]

Yeah that's true.

It also seems(could be way wrong) that Nova isn't in many of the big tourneys each year. Even if it's like Orlando or Puerto Rico or that cali one.

Kinda odd since they are always good.

I do know they were in the Battle for Atlantis a couple years ago, and without looking I think they may be in Maui or Atlantis next year. Outside of that though I can't recall them being in any other early season tournaments.

 

[Hitman Hart]

A Charleston/Villanova final here is the safe bet.

 

[ericd7633]

A Charleston/Villanova final here is the safe bet.

That would be pretty awesome. I think the bottom of the bracket is WIDE open. Sucks Wake Forest isn't in the bottom half. I think they are pretty clearly the 2nd best team in the field.

 

[Hitman Hart]

That would be pretty awesome. I think the bottom of the bracket is WIDE open. Sucks Wake Forest isn't in the bottom half. I think they are pretty clearly the 2nd best team in the field.

I think they are a very improved team this year, but I don't blame the bracket makers on this one. Wake did go 11-20 last year.

 

[ericd7633]

I think they are a very improved team this year, but I don't blame the bracket makers on this one. Wake did go 11-20 last year.

Do you think Wake will have a good turnout as far as attendance? I don't know how these early season tournaments work in terms of an allotment of tickets or anything, but I think if Wake were to win that first game, there could be a bunch of people making the drive from Winston-Salem to Charleston for that game against Nova.

 

[Hitman Hart]

Do you think Wake will have a good turnout as far as attendance? I don't know how these early season tournaments work in terms of an allotment of tickets or anything, but I think if Wake were to win that first game, there could be a bunch of people making the drive from Winston-Salem to Charleston for that game against Nova.

After our wins over Indiana, UCLA (who didn't turn out to be so good) and LSU w/ Ben Simmons (who also didn't turn out to be very good) in the OOC last year, crowds were pretty hyped for the Xavier game, as well as the early portion of the ACC schedule. Reminded me of the good old days. After that, however, the wheels came off the bus, as they were destined to, because Wake had a pretty shit roster last year.

Wake will be much improved this year, imo, because team chemistry is better, Devin Thomas and Miller-McIntyre are gone, and Manning has brought in some pretty good players. They're going to have prove it on the court, though.

Its also important to remember that right now Wake only has wins over Radford and Bucknell. After last year's collapse, I just don't see the fans coming down to Charleston for this one. Until they start winning ball games, they will continue to have the rightfully deserved reputation of being a bad team.

 

[ericd7633]

Bump for the tournament starting tomorrow.