Since 2006, ESPN’s Wide World of Sports has been the host for an annual college basketball tournament during Thanksgiving week, featuring eight teams in a three-day tournament.
This year, the ESPN Events Invitational, which has been known by other names over the 19 years, like the Orlando Invitational and the original name Old Spice Classic, takes on a new look.
UF men’s basketball carves up Wichita State on Thanksgiving hoops platter
There are three men’s brackets and 16 teams included in this year’s field, starting on Monday at Walt Disney World with the Adventure Bracket, an eight-team event that culminates with the championship on Wednesday at noon. Adventure bracket teams are Bradley, Liberty, Princeton, Rhode Island, San Diego, Temple, Towson and Vermont (schedule below).
The marquee Magic Bracket starts Thursday and features four teams with ninth-ranked BYU highlighting a field that includes Miami, Dayton and Georgetown. The two-day bracket ends Friday.
BYU (4-1) features senior guard Richie Saunders, who averages 20.8 points per game, along with one of the top freshmen in the country in AJ Dybantsa (19.8 points/6.6 rebounds) and sophomore Robert Wright III (16.2 points/5.6 assists).
Miami (5-1) will have the task of stopping the Cougars in the Magic Bracket opener at 5 p.m., Thanksgiving Day. The Hurricanes are led by 6-foot-9 senior Malik Reneau, who averages 21 points per game.
The four-team Imagination Bracket also starts Thursday with Charlotte, Furman, Illinois State and Richmond. This bracket also ends Friday.
Eventual national champion Florida won last year’s ESPN Events Invitational, easily putting away Wichita State in title game 88-51.
ESPN Events Invitational
Adventure Bracket
Monday
Rhode Island vs. Towson, 11 a.m.
Liberty vs. Vermont, 1:30 p.m.
Temple vs. San Diego, 4:30 p.m.
Princeton vs. Bradley, 7 p.m.
Tuesday
Winners bracket games Noon and 5 p.m.
Losers bracket games 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, Noon
Consolation Games, TBA
Magic Bracket
Thursday (Thanksgiving)
BYU vs. Miami, 5 p.m.
Georgetown vs. Dayton, 7:40 p.m.
Friday
Consolation, 7 p.m.
Championship, 9:30 p.m.
Imagination Bracket
Thursday (Thanksgiving)
Furman vs. Richmond, 11 a.m.
Charlotte vs. Illinois State, 1:30 p.m.
Friday
Consolation, TBA
Championship, 3 p.m.
