Thanksgiving Saturday Feast Week Viewing Guide

In Friday afternoon’s first championship, the Villanova Wildcats (6-0) became the first team to ever win the Battle 4 Atlantis twice. Jay Wright’s team did it in style, knocking off the UNI Panthers (5-2), 64-50. In the nightcap, the seventh-place game, the second-ranked Arizona Wildcats (3-3) went #Oh4Atlantis, and might just drop out of the polls entirely. The Purdue Boilermakers (5-2) dominated the Cats, 89-64, to salvage something from their trip.

In the Atlantis Mainland bracket, the host UMBC Retrievers (3-3) won an 89-88 thriller over the Nicholls State Colonels (3-3) to claim the title.

While Arizona is struggling, the Wildcats’ archrivals from Tempe are soaring. The Arizona State Sun Devils (6-0) ran away from the favored Xavier Musketeers (5-1), 102-86, to take the Las Vegas Invitational title. The visitors’ bracket went to the Rider Broncs (5-1), who defeated the Hampton Pirates (2-5) for the second time this season.

The Virginia Cavaliers (6-0) had little trouble in dispatching the Rhode Island Rams (3-2), 70-55, to win the NIT Season Tip-Off in Brooklyn.

Sunday’s four finals are set:

• The ACC’s two entrants in the Phil Knight Invitational—the North Carolina Tar Heels (5-0) and Duke Blue Devils (7-0) advanced to the event’s twin title games, thanks to their respective wins over the Arkansas Razorbacks (4-1) and Texas Longhorns (4-1). However, the Blue Devils needed OT to drop the ‘Horns down to the third-place game. North Carolina will face the Michigan State Spartans (41) in the Victory Bracket final after Sparty pulled away late to defeat the UConn Huskies (4-1), 77-57. Meanwhile, Duke gets to take on the Florida Gators (5-0), 111-105 victors over the Gonzaga Bulldogs (4-1) in a second Motion bracket semifinal that took two overtimes to determine a winner—and which didn’t end until after 2 a.m. on the East Coast.
• As expected, the AdvoCare Invitational championship will feature the West Virginia Mountaineers (5-1), easy 83-45 winners over the UCF Knights (4-1), and Missouri Tigers (5-1), who knocked off the St. John’s Red Storm (5-1), 90-82, in the very first game of the day.
• On the other side of the country, the Wooden Legacy final features a surprise contestant—the Washington State Cougars (5-0)—who shocked 21st-ranked Saint Mary's Gaels (5-1), 84-79. Ernie Kent’s squad will meet the San Diego State Aztecs (4-1), 75-68 winners over the Georgia Bulldogs (4-1).

Saturday’s slate features four championship games (and a fifth game that functions as another).

For a full lineup of non-tournament games, check out MattSarzSports.com’s Daily Schedule.

Emerald Coast Classic Finals

Visitors’ Bracket

Emerald Coast TV on YouTube will stream both games.

Consolation: Omaha Mavericks (0-6) vs. Jackson State Tigers (1-4), 11 a.m.
Championship: Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (5-1) vs. Maryland Eastern Shore Fighting Hawks (2-3), approx. 1:30 p.m.

Hosts’ Bracket

Consolation: New Mexico Lobos (2-3) vs. Maryland Terrapins (5-1) , 4 p.m. (Emerald Coast TV on YouTube)
Championship: TCU Horned Frogs (5-0) vs. St. Bonaventure Bonnies (3-1), approx. 6:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

While the Horned Frogs managed to escape their semifinal against the Lobos, 69-67, the Terps weren’t so lucky. The Bonnies, still without star Jaylen Adams, shocked Maryland, 63-61. Given the rest of the Terrapins’ non-conference slate, they’ll need to do a lot of work in Big Ten play to earn an at-large—provided they defeat the Syracuse Orange on Monday night.

Savannah Invitational Day 2

Visitors’ Round-Robin at Birmingham, Ala.

Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils (0-5) vs. Southeastern Louisiana Lions (3-3), 2 p.m.

Yesterday afternoon, the Lions handed the host Samford Bulldogs (1-5) their fourth straight loss, 77-71

Hosts’ Showcase

Loyola of Chicago Ramblers (6-0) vs. Kent State Golden Flashes (3-2), 5 p.m.
Valparaiso Crusaders (6-0) vs. UNCW Seahawks (2-2), approx. 7:30 p.m.

Both MVC sides rolled on day one, with the Ramblers hanging 102 on the Seahawks, who only managed 78, while the Crusaders dropped the Golden Flashes, 77-67.

Barclays Center Classic Presented by Continental Tire Hosts’ Day 2

Stadium on Facebook Watch will stream both games.

BYU Cougars (3-2) vs. UMass Minutemen (3-2), 2:30 p.m.
Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-0) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0), approx. 5 p.m.

This event moves to its namesake building after a Friday at LIU, and we have de facto championship and consolation games after yesterday’s results. No. 14 Minnesota had little trouble with UMass, winning 69-51, while No. 25 Alabama took down BYU, 71-59.

GCI Great Alaska Shootout Finals

FloHoops.com ($) will stream and GCI channel 907 (Alaska only) will air all four games.

7th/8th Place: Sam Houston State Bearkats (2-3) vs. Santa Clara Broncos (1-4), 4 p.m.
4th/6th Place: College of Charleston Cougars (3-2) at Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (4-3, DII), approx. 6:30 p.m.
3rd/5th Place: Cal Poly Mustangs (3-3) vs. Idaho Vandals (3-2), 9:30 p.m.
Championship: Central Michigan Chippewas (4-1) vs. Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (4-2), approx. 12 a.m. 11/25

The final Great Alaska Shootout championship game will add one last new name to the event’s roster of champions. Meanwhile, the host Seawolves will get to play pre-tourney favorite College of Charleston in the fourth-place game. UAA last won two Shootout games back in 2012.

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