DALLAS – While the Final Four returns to North Texas in April for the first time since 1986, the season tips on opening day, this Friday, Nov. 8, at American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas with the Buckets and Boots Showcase, a college basketball tripleheader anchored with Big 12 Conference teams.
Oklahoma battles Alabama in the opener at 4 p.m. CT followed by Metroplex-rivals TCU and SMU at 6:30 p.m. The nightcap promises a blockbuster with No. 24 Baylor taking on former conference rival Colorado at 9 p.m.
“This is a tremendous tripleheader for the fans of North Texas,” said Bill Frieder, the former college coach turned analyst who will serve on the broadcast crew with Brad Sham for Westwood One Radio. “All of these teams have great momentum, and it’s fitting that they start the season 18 minutes from where Final Four will be hosted.”
Oklahoma, whose football team plays at Baylor the night before, takes on Anthony Grant’s Crimson Tide squad. The two teams return a combined eight of 10 starters from last year, a season where both teams won 20 games.
“And then you have TCU-SMU,” Frieder said. “Larry Brown is a story unto itself, and his penchant for turning struggling teams into contenders is well documented. Trent Johnson also has coached two different teams to the Sweet 16, so expect to see two much-improved teams battling for bragging rights.”
The nightcap features Baylor, starting its seventh straight season ranked in the a preseason Top-25 poll, taking on Colorado, which was just a few votes shy of joining BU in the Top 25.
“Baylor has an NBA frontline with Isaiah Austin and Cory Jefferson while the Buffaloes have one of the nation’s best wing players in Spencer Dinwiddie,” added Frieder. “Both of these teams will compete for conference championships this season.”
The tripleheader is the first of its kind to be played on opening day in the city where the season will conclude. Since it was first announced in late summer, the tip-off event also has adopted a new name, borrowing the title of its official charity, Buckets and Boots. The organization provides funding for volunteer fire departments, and was launched in 2011 in response to the devastating wildfires that destroyed parts of Palo Pinto County, just west of Dallas.
“As we have grown our initiative, we have found that the need statewide is tremendous,” said businessman Lance Byrd, who along with Nancy Richards, Mike Patterson and Craig James were the founders of Buckets and Boots. “This event is another opportunity to establish our name with a premium sports event in North Texas.”
Tickets, which are priced at $29 and up, are on sale at all Ticketmaster locations as well the American Airlines Center box office or can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com. Complete event information can be found at www.roadbeginshere.com. For group sales or sponsorship opportunities, interested parties should contact bd Global at 859-951-6141.