Empire Classic
The Empire Classic is an annual college basketball event played in November at the beginning of the season and televised by ESPN.In 2007, Gardner–Webb unexpectedly won at Kentucky, 84–68, and advanced to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden, preventing one of the tournament's marquee teams from playing there.The semifinals and finals were held at Madison Square Garden and the remaining four teams played in a tournament format at a predetermined on-campus site.With the COVID-19 pandemic raging in the United States during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, the Empire Classic was one of the very few multiteam events held during the fall of 2020.Four teams participated, and the event consisted of two doubleheaders played over the course of two days,[3][4] The 2024 Empire Classic will return to a showcase format with Maryland facing Villanova at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.[14][15] [16] The 2020 tournament was held November 25–26 behind closed doors at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut as a result of COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions.[24] Villanova and Maryland will square off in the Showcase Game of the 2024 Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project on November 24, 2024 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Coaches vs. Cancer ClassicClassic EmpireEmpire (1977 video game)College BasketballUnited StatesMadison Square GardenDuke Blue DevilsSaatvaNational Association of Basketball CoachesAmerican Cancer SocietycancerWounded Warrior ProjectBarclays CenterBrooklynBoardwalk HallPrincetonContinental Airlines ArenaNew Jersey MeadowlandsNew York CitySyracuseMemphisGardner–WebbKentucky2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball seasonbehind closed doorsMohegan Sun ArenaUncasvilleConnecticutBaylorScott DrewCOVID-19Rhode IslandT-Mobile ArenaLas Vegas StripLas VegasNevadaPrudential CenterNewark, New JerseyNewark, NJTristen NewtonIndianaLouisvilleNew York, NYSt. John'sAndré CurbeloRichmondTempleBrooklyn, NYLas Vegas, NVVillanovaArizona StateJeremiah Robinson-EarlBoston CollegeUncasville, CTGeorgetownVernon Carey Jr.CaliforniaLuka GarzaOregonProvidenceSaint LouisKyron CartwrightVirginia TechWashingtonMichiganZak IrvinPittsburghMarquetteGrayson AllenWisconsinJonathan HolmesShabazz NapierAlabamaTrevor RelefordOregon StatePurdueMississippi StateArizonaArnett MoultrieTexas A&MAshton GibbsIllinoisMarylandNorth CarolinaWesley JohnsonOhio StateKyle SinglerSouthern IllinoisChris Douglas-RobertsOklahomaMichigan StateD. J. StrawberryFloridaTaurean GreenTexas TechWake ForestHakim WarrickSt. Mary'sJason GardnerKansasKenny GregoryStanfordJarron CollinsLamont BarnesNorth Carolina StateBrian EarlGeorgiaEast Rutherford, NJAtlantic City, NJUncasville, ConnecticutCOVID-19 pandemicUC-IrvineAlcorn StatePrairie ViewPenn StateLa SalleGeorgia TechSaint Joseph'sNC StateGonzagaAlabama A&MBelmontBirmingham–SouthernBucknellFairfieldGeorge Mason