Complete 2016 Legends Classic schedule announced, Bulldogs to open season at Notre Dame
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's basketball team will once again test itself when the 2016-17 campaign tips off, as it competes in the 10th annual Legends Classic (@legendsbball).
Following an NCAA Tournament run to last year's Elite 8, Notre Dame will give the Bulldogs a great opportunity and challenge to begin the season on Nov. 12 at Purcell Pavilion. With a combined 83 NCAA Tournament appearances and six Final Fours among them, the Fighting Irish along with Colorado, Texas and Northwestern will serve as the four regional hosts.
The Bulldogs will take on the Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill. on Nov. 25 in the second regional matchup. Prior to that collision, Bryant will complete the Subregional Rounds, hosted by Eastern Washington. The Bulldogs will play the host Eagles on Monday, Nov. 21, as the Subregional Consolation Game and Championship Game will be played on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Louisiana Monroe and Seattle will join the Eagles and Bulldogs at Reese Court in Cheney, Wash. for the Subregional Rounds.
In the Championship Rounds held at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, Notre Dame will face Colorado in the first semifinal, followed by Texas taking on Northwestern on Nov. 21. The consolation and championship games will take place on Nov. 22. All four games of the Championship Rounds will be televised on ESPN networks.
---- REGIONAL ROUNDS ----
Notre Dame Regional Rounds
Purcell Pavilion – Notre Dame, Ind.
November 12
Bryant at Notre Dame
November 16
Seattle at Notre Dame
Austin Regional Rounds
Erwin Special Events Center – Austin, Texas
November 14
ULM at Texas
November 17
Eastern Washington at Texas
Boulder Regional Rounds
Coors Events Center- Boulder, Colo.
November 14
Seattle at Colorado
November 17
ULM at Colorado
Evanston Regional Rounds
Welsh-Ryan Arena – Evanston, Ill.
November 14
Eastern Washington at Northwestern
November 25
Bryant at Northwestern
---- SUBREGIONAL ROUNDS ----
Cheney Subregional Rounds
Reese Court – Cheney, Wash.
November 21
ULM vs. Seattle
Bryant vs. Eastern Washington
November 22
Subregional Consolation Game
Subregional Championship Game
---- CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS ----
Semifinal Doubleheader
Barclays Center – Brooklyn, N.Y.
November 21
Notre Dame vs. Colorado (ESPN2)
Texas vs. Northwestern (ESPN3)
Championship Doubleheader
Barclays Center – Brooklyn, N.Y.
November 22
Consolation Game (ESPNU)
Championship Game (ESPN2)
Notre Dame (Head Coach: Mike Brey, Atlantic Coast Conference) – The only team in the nation to reach the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season … The Mike Brey Era has been one of the most successful in the illustrious history of Notre Dame basketball…in his 16 seasons, Brey has guided the Irish to 356 wins and 11 NCAA Tournament appearances… Despite losing top scorers Demetrius Jackson to the draft and Zach Auguste to graduation, Notre Dame returns 12 of 14 players next season, including guard Steve Vasturia and forward V.J. Beachem…the Fighting Irish have been to 35 NCAA Tournaments and one Final Four…this will be Notre Dame's first Legends Classic appearance.
Texas (Head Coach: Shaka Smart, Big 12 Conference) – Head coach Shaka Smart completed his first season at Texas in 2015-16…after six years at VCU, where his teams never won fewer than 26 games in a season and advanced to the 2011 Final Four, Smart guided the Longhorns to 20 wins and the NCAA Tournament…seven players return for Texas next season, led by the back court of Eric Davis, Jr., and Kerwin Roach, Jr….joining the Longhorns are a pair of McDonald's All-Americans in forward Jarrett Allen (No. 15-rated prospect) and guard Andrew Jones (No. 28-rated prospect)…the Longhorns have been to 34 NCAA Tournaments, advancing three times to the Final Four…Texas has twice played in the Legends Classic, winning the inaugural event in 2007 and advancing to the title game in 2011.
Colorado (Head Coach: Tad Boyle, Pac-12 Conference) – In six years at Colorado, head coach Tad Boyle has recorded a number of firsts, including being the first coach to lead the Buffaloes to six consecutive postseason appearances (including the 2016 NCAA Tournament)…Boyle, who ranks second in all-time winning percentage at Colorado (.619) and owns five of the program's nine 20-win seasons, led the Buffs to a school record tying 21 regular season wins last season, 22 overall…this year, 10 players are back, led by guards George King and Josh Fortune and forward Wesley Gordon…the Buffs have been to 14 NCAA Tournaments and two Final Fours…this will be Colorado's first Legends Classic appearance.
Northwestern (Head Coach: Chris Collins, Big Ten Conference) – Chris Collins is entering his fourth season as head coach at Northwestern…the Wildcats have increased their win total in each of Collins' first three seasons at the helm, including tying a school record with 20 wins this past season…to continue that upward trend, 10 of 13 players from last year's team return in 2016-17, paced by guard Bryant McIntosh and forward Vic Law…this will be the Wildcats' first Legends Classic appearance.
Eastern Washington (Head Coach: Jim Hayford, Big Sky Conference) – Head coach Jim Hayford has guided the Eagles to 84 wins in his five seasons at EWU…Eastern's three starters are among the 11 players returning to a team that reached the quarterfinals of the 2016 CBI after earning a 2015 bid to the NCAA Tournament…leading the group are forwards Felix Von Hofe and Bogdan Bliznyuk…this will be EWU's first Legends Classic.
Bryant (Head Coach: Tim O'Shea, Northeast Conference) – Tim O'Shea has led the Bulldogs in their first eight years as a Division I member…in that time he has built the Bulldogs into one of the premier programs in the Northeast Conference…10 players are expected to return in 2016-17, including four starters and the team's top four leading scorers, led by guards Hunter Ware and Nisre Zouzoua, senior forward Dan Garvin and reigning NEC Rookie of the Year Marcel Pettway…this will mark Bryant's first Legends Classic appearance.
Louisiana Monroe (Head Coach Keith Richard, Sun Belt Conference) – Keith Richard is entering his seventh season as head coach at his alma mater…after winning just 14 games his first three years, he has helmed the Warhawks to 54 wins the last three years (including back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 24 years)…starting guard Nick Coppola and starting forward Travis Munnings are among eight returning players…this will be ULM's first time in the Legends Classic.
Seattle (Head Coach: Cameron Dollar, Western Athletic Conference) – In seven seasons, head coach Cameron Dollar has led Seattle to six double-digit win seasons during his tenure…he guided the Redhawks to back-to-back CBI appearances in 2015 and 2016 – including their first national postseason tournament since 1969 in 2015…11 players are back, including four starters, led by forward William Powell and guard Brendan Westendorf…the Redhawks will be making their first appearance in the Legends Classic.
The Legends Classic is produced by the Gazelle Group of Princeton, N.J. The Gazelle Group is a sports marketing firm, specializing in event production and management, client representation, and sponsorship consulting. Gazelle produces numerous nationally-recognized events, such as the 2K Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project, the Gotham Classic, and the College Basketball Invitational. For more information on the Gazelle Group, please visit gazellegroup.com.