Baylor-Arkansas showdown coming to American Airlines Center in Dallas

DALLAS – The new college basketball season will begin with a bang when Baylor battles Arkansas in Dallas on the first Saturday of the new season, Nov. 9, 2024. The game will be the sole focus for both fanbases with both Arkansas and Baylor football programs being on a bye that weekend while also honoring the nation’s military a few days prior to Veteran’s Day. The action tips at 6:30 p.m. CT at American Airlines Center and will be broadcast on ESPNU.

Baylor is expected to be a Top-10 team once again after reloading during the offseason. The Bears backcourt will be among the nation’s best with Duke transfer Jeremy Roach and explosive freshman V.J. Edgecombe leading the charge. Returners Jayden Nunn, Langston Love and Josh Ojianwuna headline a core group of veterans. Scott Drew’s Bears are the only team to be a top-3 seed in the last four NCAA Tournaments and also are the only team in the Big 12 with at least 11 conference wins in each of the last five seasons.

“We have tremendous respect for Coach Calipari and the Arkansas program, dating back to our battles in the Southwest Conference, so we look forward to the challenge in Dallas this year,” said Drew. “Playing a quality team in an NBA arena, where the Baylor Family can come out and support us, is an awesome opportunity for everyone involved.”

Arkansas enters the new season with high expectations as Hall of Famer John Calipari takes over in Fayetteville. Calipari, men’s college basketball’s winningest active head coach with 855 victories, has brought his magical touch to the Razorbacks by signing three Top-50 players in the incoming freshmen class and one of the nation’s top transfer classes led by Johnell Davis (led Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023) and three former Kentucky standouts in D.J. Wagner, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivišić.

“For fans of college basketball, it will be great to see two teams that will likely start the season among the top 25 playing each other so early in the season,” Calipari said. “As a program, are excited to be playing in Dallas. The Metroplex is home to a large number of alumni and current students from the University of Arkansas. We like the fact that we will be able to connect with them and believe we will have a tremendous turn out.”

Tickets for the game go on public sale on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. CT at Ticketmaster.com and on the Ticketmaster app. Complete event information can be found at www.baylorarkansas.com and on social media at @bdGlobalSports.com.

Baha Mar Hoops women’s tournaments highlighted by three Top-10 teams coming to The Bahamas

NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Baha Mar resort will serve as a stunning backdrop when four ranked women’s basketball teams in Talia Goodman’s Top 25 for On3 visit the Bahamas during Thanksgiving Week to compete in a pair of four-team bracketed tournaments Monday, Nov. 25 and Wednesday, Nov. 27 at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center. Veteran sports promoter bdG Sports announced the field Tuesday. 

The Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship tips off play each day, featuring No. 7 LSU and No. 9 NC State along with Washington and Southern. NC State will take on Southern beginning at 11 a.m. ET on Nov. 25 followed by LSU matching up against Washington at 1:30 p.m. The consolation game will start at 11 a.m. on Nov. 27 with the championship game to begin at 1:30 p.m. 

Action in the Continental Tire Baha Mar Women’s Championship gets underway each evening and includes No. 3 UConn, No. 24 Ole Miss, mentored by Bahamian National Team head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, as well as Oregon State and Boston College.  

Ole Miss will battle Boston College on Nov. 25 at 5 p.m. followed by UConn against Oregon State at 7:30 p.m. The consolation game will start 5 p.m. on Nov. 27 with the championship game set to begin at 7:30 p.m.  

All games will be streamed live on FloHoops. 

Six of the eight teams competing in the Bahamas this November advanced to postseason play a year ago, highlighted by NCAA Final Four appearances by UConn and NC State and NCAA Tournament Elite Eight showings by LSU and Oregon State.  

Some of the sport’s top coaches will be coming to Baha Mar with a combined 4,000 career wins, 30 NCAA Final Four appearances and 15 National Championships between the eight teams. UConn’s Geno Auriemma enters his 40th season as a head coach in 2024-25. Among his numerous career accomplishments, Auriemma has guided the Huskies to 11 NCAA national titles, 23 NCAA Final Four appearances and six perfect seasons. LSU’s Kim Mulkey has led the Tigers to back-to-back 30-win campaigns in three seasons in the Bayou, including the 2023 NCAA national crown. Prior to her return to Louisiana, Mulkey directed Baylor to three national titles among 19 NCAA Tournament appearances in 21 seasons. 

“The top brands in college basketball assembling at the beautiful Baha Mar resort this November will bring a level of competition and entertainment that is elite,” national TV analyst Debbie Antonelli said. 

“It’s a guard dominated field this season with some of the best players in the nation,” Antonelli added. “NC State returns top guards Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers on the perimeter from their Final Four appearance a year ago. National Player of the Year candidate Paige Bueckers, along with Azzi Fudd headline for the UConn Huskies. LSU offers Flau’jae Johnson and Mikayla Williams as part of its marquee. And Bahamas native Yolett McPhee-McCuin brings her Ole Miss program back to Baha Mar with Madison Scott and KK Deans leading the charge.”

TICKETS AND VIP PACKAGES ON SALE NOW

Tickets and VIP packages are currently available for purchase at www.bahamarhoops.com. VIP package amenities include a minimum three-night stay at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, two premium tickets to all games of the event, two tickets to the event’s VIP reception (Nov. 26) with dinner and open bar included, round-trip ground transportation from the airport and resort, two daily breakfast vouchers, welcome gifts and personal concierge service. (Airfare not included in the packages. A passport is required to enter the Bahamas.)

MORE THAN BASKETBALL AWAITS AT THE BEAUTIFUL BAHA MAR RESORT

The remarkable Baha Mar resort, anchored by Grand Hyatt and featuring SLS Baha Mar and Rosewood Baha Mar, is situated on 1,000 acres overlooking Nassau’s famous turquoise ocean waters. The destination resort boasts more than 2,300 rooms, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a $200 million luxury water park, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA Spa and a collection of more than 45 restaurants and lounges.

ABOUT BAHA MAR HOOPS

The Baha Mar resort welcomes 18 men’s and women’s teams this November as part of Baha Mar Hoops, an 11-day, 21-game showcase considered the largest regular-season event in the sport of college basketball.

Festivities begin with the Continental Tire Baha Mar Men’s Championship (Nov. 21-22) boasting one of its bests fields this season with St. John’s, Baylor, Tennessee and Virginia.

 The Continental Tire Baha Mar Women’s Championship and the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship (both Nov. 25 and Nov. 27) include UConn, LSU, NC State and Ole Miss among the two events. 

The Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship includes six mid-major men’s programs playing a trio of games each day, Nov. 29 through Dec. 1.

Baha Mar Hoops also holds a summer league that offers NCAA teams exhibition games against international competition as part of a foreign tour. 

BAHA MAR HOOPS SOCIAL TAGS

Keep up to date with the latest information regarding Bah Mar Hoops via social media at @BahaMarHoops on X, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, TikTok and Snapchat.

Competitive field, schedule announced for 2024 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship

NASSAU, The Bahamas – Six mid-major Division I men’s basketball teams will converge on the Baha Mar resort to play in the 2024 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship, Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center.

The field includes three teams that advanced to postseason play last season and four squads that won 20 or more games.

The non-bracketed event will feature three games each day among a field including Arkansas State (20-17, 11-7 Sun Belt in 2023-24), Hofstra (20-13, 12-6 Coastal Athletic Association), Indiana State (32-7, 17-3 Missouri Valley Conference), Iona (16-17, 10-10 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference), Rice (11-21, 5-13 American Athletic Conference) and Tarleton State (25-10, 16-4 Western Athletic Conference).

Indiana State finished as runners up in the 2023 NIT topping off a standout season that included a 32-7 overall record coupled with a first-place finish in the MVC at 17-2. Arkansas State finished fourth in the Sun Belt and advanced to the semifinals of the CBI postseason tournament a year ago. Tarleton State posted 25 wins last season, finished second in the WAC and advanced to the semifinals of the CIT.

Action in Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship starts Friday, Nov. 29 with the following matchups:

  • Iona vs. Tarleton State – 2 p.m. ET
  • Arkansas State vs. Indiana State – 4:30 p.m.
  • Hofstra vs. Rice – 7 p.m.

Saturday’s schedule features:

  • Indiana State vs. Iona – 2 p.m.
  • Tarleton State vs. Hofstra – 4:30 p.m.
  • Rice vs. Arkansas State – 7 p.m.

The event concludes Sunday with the following lineup:

  • Iona vs. Rice – 2 p.m.
  • Hofstra vs. Arkansas State – 4:30 p.m.
  • Indiana State vs. Tarleton State – 7 p.m.

All games will be streamed live on FloHoops.

Past winners include Toledo (2021), UNC Wilmington (2022) and UNC Greensboro (2023).

MORE THAN BASKETBALL AWAITS AT THE BEAUTIFUL BAHA MAR RESORT

The remarkable Baha Mar resort serves as the backdrop to this basketball showcase. Anchored by Grand Hyatt and featuring SLS Baha Mar and Rosewood Baha Mar, the resort is situated on 1,000 acres overlooking Nassau’s famous turquoise ocean waters. The destination resort boasts more than 2,300 rooms, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a $200 million luxury water park, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA Spa and a collection of more than 45 restaurants and lounges.

ABOUT BAHA MAR HOOPS

As part of Baha Mar Hoops, the resort welcomes nearly 20 NCAA teams for three separate regular-season events each November as well as holds a summer league that offers NCAA teams exhibition games against international competition as part of a foreign tour. All games take place on the grounds of Baha Mar resort.

The Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship (Nov. 29-Dec. 1) is one of three events that make up Baha Mar Hoops – the largest regular-season event in the sport of college basketball featuring nearly 20 NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball teams competing in 21 games over 11 days.

The Continental Tire Baha Mar Championship boasts one of its bests fields in 2024 with the men’s teams from St. John’s, Baylor, Tennessee and Virginia competing Nov. 21-22. The field for the 2024 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship (Nov. 25 and 27) has not been announced to date but annually features an eight-team field with some of the nation’s best women’s basketball programs.

BAHA MAR HOOPS SOCIAL TAGS

Keep up to date with the latest information regarding Bah Mar Hoops via social media at @BahaMarHoops on X, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, TikTok and Snapchat.

Texas, West Virginia highlight challenging women’s field for 2024 Gulf Coast Showcase

ESTERO, Fla. – Texas and West Virginia headline a challenging eight-team women’s basketball field set to battle in the Gulf Coast Showcase, Friday, Nov. 29 through Sunday, Dec. 1 at Hertz Arena.  

The complete field features Butler (15-17, 6-12 Big East in 2023-24), Boise State (21-14, 10-8 Mountain West), High Point (20-12, 14-2 Big South), Illinois State (22-12, 13-7 Missouri Valley), New Mexico State (13-18, 6-10 Conference USA), Santa Clara (25-9, 12-4 West Coast Conference), Texas (33-5, 14-4 Big 12) and West Virginia (25-8, 12-6 Big 12).  

Seven of the eight teams competing in the event advanced to postseason play a year ago, led by Texas (Gulf Coast Showcase champions in 2018), who reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and West Virginia, who advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

Boise State, Butler and Illinois State took part in the WNIT in 2023-24 while High Point and Santa Clara participated in the WBIT a year ago. Six of the eight teams in the field posted 20 or more wins last season. 

Gulf Coast Showcase action tips Friday, Nov. 29 with the following matchups: 

  • Boise State vs. Illinois State – 11 a.m. ET
  • West Virginia vs. High Point – 1:30 p.m.
  • Butler vs. Santa Clara – 5 p.m.
  • Texas vs. New Mexico State – 7:30 p.m.

Game times for Saturday and Sunday will be the same with semifinal games Nov. 25 at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday’s championship game set to tip at 7:30 p.m.

All games will be streamed live on FloHoops.   

TICKET AND FAN TRAVEL INFORMATION

Fan travel information, including preferred hotel rates at the official tournament resort, and ticket information can be found at the official event website – www.gulfcoastshowcase.com.

Ball Dawgs Classic at Lee’s Family Forum headlined by Long Beach State men and three top-20 women’s teams

HENDERSON, NEV. – Long Beach State returns to the arena where it won the Big West men’s basketball championship in March while three Top-20 women’s teams battle when the Ball Dawgs Classic tips at Lee’s Family Forum in November. The event is managed by veteran Las Vegas promoter bdG Sports which has managed numerous college basketball events across the Las Vegas Valley, including the Big West Championships at the same arena.

The action tips with the women’s tournament on Monday, Nov. 25 at noon PT featuring three teams ranked in the top-15 of Talia Goodman’s post-spring Top-25 on On3.com. The women’s schedule is as follows:

Monday, Nov. 25

  • No. 10 Duke (22-12 record last season) vs. No. 14 Kansas State (26-8) – Noon PT
  • No. 12 Oklahoma (23-10) vs DePaul (12-20) – 30 minutes following

 Wednesday, Nov. 27

  • Consolation game – 11 a.m. PT
  • Championship game – 30 minutes following

The men’s event features round-robin play on Nov. 25-27 with two games each night. Long Beach State (21-15 record last year and Big West champions), UNCG (21-11), UTEP (18-16) and San Jose State (9-23) make up the field. The schedule follows:

Monday, Nov. 25

  • San Jose State vs UTEP – 5:30 p.m. PT
  • Long Beach State vs. UNCG – 30 minutes following

Tuesday, Nov. 26

  • UTEP vs Long Beach State – 5:30 p.m. PT
  • San Jose State vs. UNCG – 30 minutes following

Wednesday, Nov. 27

  • UNCG vs. UTEP – 4:30 p.m. PT
  • Long Beach State vs. San Jose State – 30 minutes following

bdG Sports has once again partnered with Ball Dawgs, a fast-rising sports content provider with more than 1.5 million followers on its social media platforms, to promote the games and showcase the action on the court.

Lee’s Family Forum opened in March 2022 as home to the Vegas Golden Knights’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights. A product of a public-private partnership between the City of Henderson and a group of investors led by Bill Foley, the 5,567-seat arena is operated by the Foley Entertainment Group. Lee’s Family Forum, also home to the Indoor Football League’s Vegas Knight Hawks, National Lacrosse League’s Las Vegas Desert Dogs, Pro Volleyball Federation’s Las Vegas Thrill, Big West Basketball Championships and the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, sits in the heart of Henderson, a suburb of Las Vegas which has grown to become Nevada’s second largest city with more than 330,000 residents.

Tickets for the event will go on-sale on Friday, Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. PT at www.leesfamilyforum.com, www.axs.com and on the AXS app. Full event information can be found at www.balldawgsclassic.com and on social media at @VegasMainEvent on all social media channels as well as @BallDawgs on Instagram and @TheBallDawgs on Twitter.