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Schedule and TV/streaming info from MattSarzSports.com.

Chronological Schedule

Myrtle Beach Invitational Quarterfinals

Villanova Wildcats (2-1, Big East) vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (3-1, C-USA), 11:30 a.m. (ESPN2)
Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-0, SEC) vs. Tulane Green Wave (3-0, American), approx. 2 p.m. (ESPNU)
Ohio Bobcats (3-1, MAC) vs. Baylor Bears (2-1, Big 12), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Utah Utes (3-0, Pac-12) at Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (2-2, Sun Belt), approx. 7 p.m. (ESPN News)

(PDF Bracket)

Even with Tulane’s unexpected 3-0 start under new coach Ron Hunter and Coastal Carolina’s impressive 93-72 home victory over Middle Tennessee in non-bracketed action on Monday, Villanova, Miss. State, Baylor, and Utah are heavily favored to feature in Friday’s championship semifinals. Since this is only the second edition of the Myrtle Beach Invitational, none of these eight teams have participated previously. However, Villanova did win the 2009 Puerto Rico Tip-Off title, and this new event is its de facto replacement.

Yes, Coastal Carolina will play three home games at the HTC Center as part of their participation. However, since the Chanticleers are not an Alaska or Hawai’i-based team, they may only play in this tournament once every four seasons per the exempt event rules.

Charleston Classic Quarterfinals

Graphic by Chris Dobbertean using logos from SportsLogos.net

Missouri State Bears (2-2, MVC) vs. Miami Hurricanes (3-1, ACC), 11:30 a.m. (ESPNU)
Florida Gators (2-2, SEC) vs. Saint Joseph’s Hawks (2-2, A 10), approx. 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
Xavier Musketeers (4-0, Big East) vs. Towson Tigers (2-2, CAA), 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
Buffalo Bulls (2-1, MAC) vs. UConn Huskies (2-1, American), approx. 9:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

(PDF Bracket)

Miami heads to Charleston looking for its third Classic title in as many appearances, following wins in 2009 and 2014. And the Hurricanes’ chances might be better than anticipated when the bracket came out. Preseason MVC favorite Missouri State hasn’t looked like it so far and neither has preseason No. 6 Florida. Then there’s Saint Joe’s, who won at UConn in a non-bracketed game, and then promptly lost at Loyola Chicago. So, the afternoon doubleheader features a whole lot of question marks.

Xavier looks like the clear favorite for the event at this point, though Towson is likely to test the Musketeers in the first game of the evening twin bill. While the Tigers are 1-2 against D1 opposition, the two losses came by a total of 10 points, with the defeat at the hands of Kent State coming in OT. UConn should get by Buffalo, who is struggling post-Nate Oats. I’m curious to see how good the Huskies really are, but we might not get an answer to that until a possible meeting with their future conference rivals from Xavier on night two.

By the way, I will be at TD Arena for this tournament, so I’ll be tweeting updates throughout the weekend.

2K Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project Semifinals

ESPN2 will air both games.

Georgetown Hoyas (3-1, Big East) vs. Texas Longhorns (4-0, Big 12), 7 p.m.
Duke Blue Devils (4-0, ACC) vs. California Golden Bears (4-0, Pac-12) , approx. 9:30 p.m.

(Full Schedule PDF)

Not surprisingly, Duke is heavily-favored to win two further games at Madison Square Garden this week (following their Champions Classic victory over Kansas on November 5th). Cal, fresh off a four-point triumph over Prairie View A&M in an on-campus game Monday night, shouldn’t provide the Blue Devils with much trouble in the nightcap in New York. In game one, Texas, which has the second-best win this quartet has picked up so far (at Purdue), likely won’t have an easy time with Georgetown, even if the Hoyas’ lone defeat was a disappointing blowout at the hands of Penn State in D.C.

Duke has won this event twice (2008 and 2015), while Texas claimed the 2014 title with a win over Cal.

Junkanoo Jam Day 1

FloHoops.com ($) will stream both games.

Loyola Marymount Lions (1-2, WCC) vs. Air Force Falcons (2-2, MW), 4 p.m.
Duquesne Dukes (3-0, A 10) vs. Indiana State Sycamores (0-3, MVC), approx. 6:30 p.m.

Duquesne, which is playing seven non-conference neutral-site games due to renovations at the Palumbo Center, has a great chance at going 3-0 in this event. Air Force is the only other member of this group to record a D1 win this season, having knocked off Texas at home and Army West Point away. LMU and Indiana State will look to pick up their first top-tier wins this evening in the Bahamas.

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