Note: Graphics and tables may not appear optimally when viewing on a mobile device.

All field graphics by Chris Dobbertean using logos from Sportslogos.net, except for Louisiana (Matt Sullivan, Louisiana Athletics) and Tulane (TulaneGreenWave.com).

TV/streaming info from the event websites and MattSarzSports.com. All times are Eastern.

Sunday Recap

The Michigan Wolverines (5-0) obliterated their second Big East opponent in a five-day span, the Providence Friars (3-2), by a 66-47 count to claim the Air Force Reserve Tip-Off’s Naismith Bracket title. While John Beilein’s team wasn’t quite as dominant as they were in taking apart Villanova Wildcats on Wednesday, especially on the offensive end, the Wolverines still spectacular at times.

As for the Springfield consolation game, things didn’t go so well for the George Washington Colonials (0-5).

The South Carolina Gamecocks (3-2) ended up winning by slightly less than than their halftime margin of 38, 90-55.

The event’s Springfield Bracket title went to the Holy Cross Crusaders (3-2), their first title since surprisingly claiming the Patriot League’s auto bid in 2016. Bill Carmody’s team defeated the Siena Saints (2-2), a team they’ll meet again in Worcester on December 22nd, 57-45. (Yes, with Stony Brook visiting Norfolk State, both of the visitors’ bracket finals will be replayed later this season. Such is mid-major scheduling in 2018.) Odd statistical nugget about that game:

In the Jamaica Classic’s final day, the Loyola Marymount Lions (5-0) defeated the Ohio Bobcats (2-2), 65-56, to win the Montego Bay Division championship. At 5-0, Mike Dunlap’s squad is off to the program’s best start since 2003-04.

Meanwhile, the Georgetown Hoyas (4-1) took down the South Florida Bulls (3-1), 76-73, to leave Montego Bay with a win.

The Campbell Fighting Camels (3-2) won their first meeting of the season with the Austin Peay Governors (2-3), 78-72, to win the Jamaica visitors’ bracket.

The Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (3-2) also return to the U.S. with a victory, as they handed the Florida A&M Rattlers (2-2) a second consecutive loss, 89-75.

The inaugural Myrtle Beach Invitational closed with a 78-62 UCF Knights (4-1) triumph over the WKU Hilltoppers (3-2). Johnny Dawkins’ squad used a big second half to overturn a 32-28 halftime deficit to secure the trophy. Aubrey Dawkins led the Knights with 21, while Tacko Fall scored 13 and pulled down seven boards, though I think he got at least three of those on this sequence.

Third place went to West Virginia Mountaineers (2-2), 97-90 victors over Saint Josephs Hawks (3-2), though Phil Martelli’s team’s performed impressively even with Charlie Brown and Lorenzo Edwards fouling out with plenty of time left in the second half. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-1) won the morning fifth-place game, 69-63, over the Valparaiso Crusaders (2-2). In the seventh-place game that followed, the Big West’s last NCAA rep, the Cal State Fullerton Titans (2-3) kept the Monmouth Hawks (0-6) winless, 87-63.

The Virginia Tech Hokies (4-0) took the Charleston Classic title by topping the Purdue Boilermakers (4-1) in an all-ranked matchup, 89-83.

The victory was all the more impressive considering the dunk Carsen Edwards shocked the Hokies with six minutes into the second half.

Unfortunately for the Boilermakers, they don’t award style points during regulation games.

The third-place game, the first of two Northeastern Huskies (2-3)-Davidson Wildcats (4-1) showdowns this week, went to the defending A 10 Tournament champs, 71-59. The CAA favorites will get their chance at revenge on Saturday at Belk Arena. The Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1) also left South Carolina on a high note, following a 90-86 win over the Wichita State Shockers (2-3) in the fifth-place game. Meanwhile, the Ball State Cardinals (2-3) needed OT to top the Appalachian State Mountaineers (1-4) in the seventh-place game, 94-86.

The Islands of the Bahamas Showcase final between the Georgia Southern Eagles and favored Montana Grizzlies was the wildest game the fewest people saw this weekend.

The Eagles soared to 5-0, while the Grizzlies will head back to their cave in Missoula at 4-1.

The Pepperdine Waves (3-2) surfed past the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (2-3) to third place, 86-80. The FAU Owls (4-1) flew past the Incarnate Word Cardinals (4-3), 71-68, in the avian matchup for fifth. In the first game of the day, the North Dakota State Bison (2-3) routed the Towson Tigers (1-4), 76-51, in the battle to avoid an 0-3 trip.

North of the border, the Washington Huskies (3-1) and Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-0) opened the TCL Vancouver Showcase with victories. In game one, the Santa Clara Broncos (0-3) provided little resistance to the Huskies, falling 82-68. In the nightcap, the Golden Gophers survived a late rally by struggling Texas A&M Aggies (1-3), prevailing by just five—69-64. On Tuesday, Minnesota takes on Santa Clara, while Washington meets its second SEC opponent of the young season, A&M.

Tip Time Schedule

Gulf Coast Showcase Quarterfinals

South Dakota State Jackrabbits (3-1) vs. Tulane Green Wave (1-1), 11 a.m. (BD Global stream ($))
UC Irvine Anteaters (4-0) vs. UTSA Roadrunners (0-3), approx. 1:30 p.m. (BD Global stream ($))
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (1-2) vs. Colorado State Rams (3-0), 5 p.m. (BD Global stream ($))
FGCU Eagles (2-2) vs. Toledo Rockets (2-1), approx. 7:30 p.m. (BD Global stream ($))

Full bracket

This season’s Gulf Coast Showcase is serving as a subregional for the NIT Season Tip-Off, as Louisiana was originally supposed to visit Tennessee and Kansas in that event before playing two other mid-majors in on-campus games. But the NIT struggled to fill its field this year, so the Ragin’ Cajuns got to travel to Southwest Florida instead. UC Irvine’s Thanksgiving week travel plans also changed, as the Anteaters were originally supposed to travel to Canada for the Vancouver Showcase. In fact, Russell Turner’s team has already won at both Texas A&M and Santa Clara in what were supposed to be their on-campus games for that event. But since BD Global, who runs both the Gulf Coast and Vancouver Showcases, had trouble getting mid-majors to go to Canada, the Anteaters were moved to sunny Estero.

As a result, this is an impressive field of mid-majors (and Tulane, though this site counts the American as a power conference), as UC Irvine and South Dakota State look like conference favorites at this point, while Louisiana, Toledo, and UTSA could all projected to contend in their respective leagues. So is the team playing in its backyard, FGCU. The Eagles are the lone 2018 Gulf Coast Showcase participant making a return trip, as they finished second to Green Bay in 2014. The Eagles also knocked off South Dakota State by an 84-78 score on Friday night in the only non-bracketed game for this event featuring two D1 teams.

Cayman Islands Classic Quarterfinals

Akron Zips (3-0) vs. Clemson Tigers (3-0), 11 a.m. (Stadium on Facebook Live)
Georgia Bulldogs (2-1) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (2-1), approx. 1:30 p.m. (Stadium on Facebook Live)
St. Bonaventure Bonnies (1-2) vs. Georgia State Panthers (2-1), approx. 5 p.m. (Stadium on Facebook Live)
Boise State Broncos (1-1) vs. Creighton Bluejays (2-1), approx. 7:30 p.m. (Stadium on Facebook Live)

Downloadable bracket

Since I saw this question asked a lot during baseball season, I’m going to make the answer clear right now—in a big, obnoxious manner—since it applies to the Cayman Islands Classic coverage.

You do NOT need a Facebook account to watch games on Facebook Live.

However, you will likely have to log in if you want to watch on a device like an Apple TV as opposed to just on the web.

Since that bit of business is out of the way, the second Cayman Islands Classic (there are indeed no returnees here) features some teams who probably wish they were making this trip last season (St. Bonaventure, Creighton) or next (Georgia). Clemson looks like a heavy favorite to go 3-0, particularly with Illinois State not quite living up to some lofty expectations early on. Not only did the Redbirds struggle with Chicago State in their mainland game, winning by just four, they lost by 11 at Belmont, surrendering 100 points in the process.

In the bottom half of the bracket, I’d keep an eye on Georgia State, who has only lost to Big Sky favorite Montana in Missoula so far. The other two 2018 NCAA qualifiers in that portion of the draw look to be rebuilding, as St. Bonaventure lost in OT to Bucknell in their home opener and at Niagara a week ago. Meanwhile, Creighton fell to visiting Ohio State in the Gavitt Games on Thursday, a result that followed a pair of close wins over Western Illinois and ETSU.

U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Finals

7th/8th Place: Kennesaw State Fighting Owls (1-4) vs. Eastern Kentucky Colonels (2-3), 1 p.m. (FloHoops.com ($))
4th/6th Place: Old Dominion Monarchs (2-2) vs. UNI Panthers (2-2), approx. 3:30 p.m. (FloHoops.com ($))
3rd/5th Place: Oregon State Beavers (3-1) vs. v, approx. 6 p.m. (FloHoops.com ($))
Championship: Missouri Tigers (3-1) vs. Kansas State Wildcats (4-0), approx. 8:30 p.m. (FloHoops.com ($))

Downloadable bracket

In Sunday’s semifinals, Mizzou held off Oregon State by a 69-63 count, thanks to 21 from Jordan Geist, with 18 of those coming in the second half, and 17 from Kevin Puryear. The Tigers will reunite with former Big 12 rival K-State in the final, as the Wildcats ended Penn’s unbeaten start, 64-48, thanks to 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists by Dean Wade. The Tigers and Wildcats last met in the semifinals of the 2015 CBE Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, an easy 66-42 victory for Kansas State.

Today’s fourth-place game will be the first of two ODU-UNI contests this week. They’ll play a non-bracketed game in Norfolk on Friday. That’s the second time in three seasons the Panthers have found themselves in this situation, and they’ll hope to improve upon 2016’s sweep at the hands of Xavier in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

MGM Resorts Main Event Semifinals

Middleweight Bracket Semifinals

Hartford Hawks (1-3) vs. Utah Valley Wolverines (1-3), 2 p.m. (BD Global stream ($))
Iona Gaels (1-1) vs. Long Beach State 49ers (1-3), 5 p.m. (BD Global stream ($))

Heavyweight Bracket Semifinals

Saint Mary’s Gaels (3-0) vs. Utah State Aggies (4-0), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Arizona State Sun Devils (3-0) vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-0), approx. 11 p.m. (ESPNU)

Full bracket and schedule

Both of the Main Event’s boxing-themed brackets feature quartets of teams making their first appearances in this Vegas tournament. Iona, the three-time defending MAAC champions, were another team rumored to be spending its Thanksgiving week elsewhere, as the Gaels were connected to the Vancouver Showcase. But BD Global placed them in Vegas to toughen up a decent Middleweight Bracket, though Tim Cluess’ squad won’t play any on-campus games as part of its participation. Those went to McNeese State, who visited both Saint Mary’s and Arizona State and will complete their event schedule with a pair of non-D1 home games that will open the Cowboys’ new on-campus arena.

While you might be tempted to anoint the Arizona State-Miss. State semifinal as a de facto championship game, thanks to all of the talent Saint Mary’s lost after a 30-6 campaign, don’t sleep on the Gaels. They have the best win this group has collected so far, Wednesday’s 73-58 hammering of New Mexico State in Las Cruces.

Maui Jim Maui Invitational Quarterfinals

Auburn Tigers (3-0) vs. Xavier Musketeers (2-1), 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Duke Blue Devils (3-0) vs. San Diego State Aztecs (2-0), approx. 5 p.m. (ESPN2)
Arizona Wildcats (3-0) vs. Iowa State Cyclones (3-0), 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
Gonzaga Bulldogs (3-0) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (1-1), approx. 11:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Downloadable bracket

With host Chaminade now only playing Mainland games in even-numbered years, 2018’s Maui field is the most loaded ever. This season’s eight participants head to Lahaina with a combined record of 20-2, with the two losses coming in the Gavitt Games series (Xavier to Wisconsin and Illinois to Georgetown—both at home, curiously). Both the Musketeers and Auburn are making their Maui debuts this season, while Iowa State is making its first appearance since 1990. Duke heads to Hawai’i in search of a sixth championship. Arizona (twice), Gonzaga, and Illinois (once each) have also won Maui titles previously.

Everyone but Iowa State and Illinois reached the NCAAs a season ago, while Duke was the only one of those six that failed to win either a conference regular season or tournament title.

Thanks to the early performances of the Blue Devils’ loaded freshman class, Mike Krzyzewski’s squad is heavily favored to win yet another title. However, I do believe that Auburn, a team eager to establish itself as the SEC favorite, should push them in a potential semifinal on Tuesday. As for the bottom half of the bracket, Gonzaga looks like Duke’s most likely opposition in Wednesday afternoon’s (yes, you’re reading that right) title game, even without Killian Tillie in the lineup. Illinois is still very much rebuilding, while Arizona and Iowa State both head to Maui with significant questions to answer.

Cayman Islands Classic Mainland Semifinals

Jackson State Tigers (0-3) vs. Sam Houston State Bearkats (2-3), 4 p.m. (No TV/streaming)
Chicago State Cougars (0-5) at ETSU Buccaneers (2-2), 7 p.m. (ESPN+)

Steve Forbes’ Buccaneers, host for this season’s Mainland event, look to be heavy favorites to go 2-0, particularly after they played both Georgia State and Creighton close during the on-campus rounds. ETSU’s win at Winthrop on Saturday was the first Division I victory claimed by any of the four participants this season.

GotPrint.com Legends Classic Presented by Old Trapper Subregional Semifinals

Bowling Green Falcons (2-2) vs. Hampton Pirates (1-2), 5 p.m. (FloHoops.com ($))
Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds (1-3) at Detroit Mercy Titans (0-3), approx. 7:30 p.m. (FloHoops.com ($))

Downloadable bracket and schedule

Host Detroit saw the second of its Legends Classic road games, at Cal, canceled due to the fires currently plaguing the Bay Area. Even though Mike Davis’ Titans have yet to win a game this season, they’ll attempt to use their home court advantage to pick up a pair of victories against this underwhelming field.

Bimini Jam Day 4

High Point Panthers (1-3) vs. Air Force Falcons (2-2), approx. 6 p.m. (FloHoops.com ($))
UMBC Retrievers (4-1) vs. South Dakota Coyotes (2-2), approx. 8:30 p.m. (FloHoops.com ($))

Downloadable schedule

As the only team with a 2-0 record in this half of the Junkanoo/Bimini Jam, UMBC is in the driver’s seat for the championship. Air Force beat South Dakota, 65-62, on Sunday, so the Coyotes head in today’s closing doubleheader as the lone winless team involved.

The Junkanoo Jam half of the event concluded yesterday with the Central Michigan Chippewas (4-1) edging the San José State Spartans (1-4), 76-74, and the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (3-2) slipping by the Weber State Wildcats (3-2), 68-67.

While SJSU went 0-3 in the event, the other three teams all left the Bahamas with a pair of wins and a single defeat.

Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans Fort Myers Tip-Off Semifinals

Loyola Chicago Ramblers (3-1) vs. Richmond Spiders (2-1), 6:30 p.m. (FS1)
Boston College Eagles (2-1) vs. Wyoming Cowboys (1-3), approx. 9 p.m. (FS1)

The early days of the season have not been kind to the four host teams for this new event. Let’s take a look at the losses the quartet have racked up so far:

• Wyoming has dropped home contests to UC Santa Barbara and Niagara, along with a road trip to Oregon State.
• BC struggled in its first on-campus game in this event, defeating St. Francis-Brooklyn by just five, before losing its second to IUPUI, by seven.
• Richmond dropped its season opener to a Longwood team that went 7-26 a season ago (though they are 4-0 so far this season).
• And, most notably, Loyola saw its Final Four banner raising ruined by Furman, 60-58, on November 9th. Of course, that defeat doesn’t look quite so bad now that the Paladins won on the National Champions’ home floor on Saturday.

GotPrint.com Legends Classic Presented by Old Trapper Semifinals

St. John’s Red Storm (3-0) vs. California Golden Bears (1-1), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Temple Owls (4-0) vs. VCU Rams (3-0), approx. 9:30 p.m. (ESPN3)

Downloadable bracket and schedule

VCU is the only one of the four teams that will take the floor for the semifinals in Brooklyn which has participated in the Legends Classic previously, as the Rams lost to Villanova then defeated Oregon to finish third in the 2014 edition. Mike Rhoades’ team will hope to do a bit better this season against a very open field, though semifinal opponent Temple looks revitalized early in Fran Dunphy’s final season at the helm. Local favorite St. John’s really needs to win both of their games in Brooklyn to beef up a non-conference slate that’s not really at-large worthy otherwise.

Hall Of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker Semifinals

Missouri State Bears (3-0) vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0), 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-0) vs. USC Trojans (2-1), approx. 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

While Nebraska and USC have never participated in this tournament before, it’s been a long time since Missouri State and Texas Tech have traveled to Kansas City for it. The Red Raiders finished fourth in 2006, while the Bears took third in 2003, when they were still known as ‘Southwest Missouri State’!

While Texas Tech made the Elite Eight a season ago, they might not be the favorite to go 2-0 at Sprint Center. That’s because Nebraska has looked rather impressive in its first three games, holding Mississippi Valley State to 37 in a nice 69-point Opening Night win, Southeastern Louisiana to 35 in a mere 52-point triumph, and Seton Hall to 57 in a 23-point Gavitt Games triumph.

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