American college basketball tournament
The2022 The Basketball Classic (TBC ) was asingle-elimination men's college basketball postseason tournament featuringNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)Division I teams not selected to participate in theNCAA tournament or theNational Invitation Tournament (NIT). The tournament began on March 15 with the championship game played on April 1. The tournament was won by theFresno State Bulldogs . All games were streamed onESPN+ .
Tournament organizers originally announced that there would be 32 teams in the field.;[ 1] bracket , a model previously used by theNational Invitation Tournament was leveraged in which matchups were set only one round at a time. Later-round host sites were determined, at least in part, by earlier-round game attendance figures.
Five matchups in the tournament were designated as "Legend Games", honoringZelmo Beaty ,Travis Grant ,Marques Haynes ,Cleo Hill andWillis Reed , all of whom played college basketball athistorically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).[ 2]
Participating teams [ edit ] The following eighteen teams accepted invitations to the tournament and competed. Team records are as of the end of the regular season and prior to the beginning of the tournament.
The following three teams accepted invitations to the tournament, but withdrew prior to competing. Team records are as of the end of the regular season and prior to the beginning of the tournament.
The following seven programs declined invitations:Arkansas State ,[ 27] Liberty ,[ 28] Oakland ,[ 8] Sam Houston State ,[ 29] Samford ,[ 30] Utah Valley ,[ 18] [ 29] Weber State .[ 18]
Date Time Matchup Score Attendance Reference First Round March 15 6:30 p.m. USC Upstate at Appalachian State80–74 2,146 [ 31] March 16 7:00 p.m. Detroit Mercy atFlorida Gulf Coast 79–95 505 [ 32] Zelmo Beaty GameCoastal Carolina 42–66 923 [ 33] 8:00 p.m. Travis Grant GameSouth Alabama 68–70 885 [ 34] Marques Haynes GameYoungstown State 65–70 1,045 [ 35] 9:00 p.m. Willis Reed GameSouthern Utah 79–83 1,316 [ 36] March 17 10:00 p.m. Eastern Washington atFresno State 74–83 1,166 [ 37] March 19 3:00 p.m. Western Illinois atUTEP [ b] 54–80 3,500 [ 39] 10:00 p.m. New Orleans atPortland 73–94 659 [ 40] Second Round March 21 7:00 p.m. Florida Gulf Coast atCoastal Carolina 68–84 825 [ 41] 8:00 p.m. USC Upstate atSouth Alabama 79–83 699 [ 42] March 22 9:00 p.m. Southern Utah at UTEP82–69 3,510 [ 43] Quarterfinals March 23 10:00 p.m. Youngstown State atFresno State 71–80 1,754 [ 44] March 26 6:00 p.m. Portland atSouthern Utah 66–77 1,504 [ 45] Semifinals March 28 8:00 p.m. Coastal Carolina at South Alabama69–68OT 1,039 [ 46] 10:00 p.m. Southern Utah atFresno State 48–67 3,006 [ 47] Final April 1 6:00 p.m. Fresno State at Coastal Carolina85–74 1,407 [ 48] Game times inEastern Daylight Time (UTC−4) . All games broadcast on ESPN+. [ 49]
The following games were announced but never played.
The Basketball Classic field was announced after the field for the NIT was released on March 13.
With an 18-team bracket, organizers chose to match one second-round winner against Portland, with three other second-round winners advancing directly to the semifinals.
Note: Bracket is for visual purposes only. In lieu of a traditional bracket, the field and matchups were determined following the completion of the preceding round.
First Round First/Second Round Second Round/Quarterfinals Semifinals Final New Orleans 73 Portland 94 Portland 66 Kent State 79 Southern Utah 77 Southern Utah 83 Southern Utah 82 Western Illinois 54 UTEP 69 UTEP 80 Southern Utah 48 Fresno State 67 Morgan State 65 Youngstown State 70 Youngstown State 71 Fresno State 80 Eastern Washington 74 Fresno State 83 Fresno State 85 Coastal Carolina 74 Detroit Mercy 79 Florida Gulf Coast 95 Florida Gulf Coast 68 Coastal Carolina 84 Maryland Eastern Shore 42 Coastal Carolina 66 Coastal Carolina 69 South Alabama 68OT USC Upstate 80 Appalachian State 74 USC Upstate 79 South Alabama 83 Southeastern Louisiana 68 South Alabama 70
Home teams listed second.
The following were the most valuable players selected for each of the Legend Games:
Zelmo Beaty Game – Rudi Williams, Coastal Carolina[ 52] Travis Grant Game – Javon Franklin, South Alabama[ 53] Marques Haynes Game – Dwayne Cohill, Youngstown State[ 35] Cleo Hill Game – Canceled Willis Reed Game – Dre Marin, Southern Utah[ 54] [ edit ] Joel Whetzel: "Disappointing, to be sure ... simply a microcosm of how this tournament has gone since conference tournaments ended. The shame is the tournament could serve a great purpose if things were to go correctly."[ 55]
^ After Merrimack's first-round opponent (UMBC) withdrew, Merrimack no longer appeared in the schedule section of the tournament's website. ^ Western Illinois at UTEP was originally scheduled for March 15, then postponed to March 19 due to travel issues for Western Illinois.[ 38] ^ "The Basketball Classic presented by Eracism" (PDF) (Press release). The Basketball Classic. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2022 .^ "Legend Games" (PDF) . The Basketball Classic. RetrievedMarch 15, 2022 .^ "App State Accepts Invite to The Basketball Classic" .appstatesports.com . Appalachian State University. March 9, 2022. RetrievedMarch 9, 2022 .^a b "App State to Host USC Upstate in The Basketball Classic First Round" .Watauga Democrat . RetrievedMarch 14, 2022 .^ "Men's Basketball to Host Opening-Round Game of The Basketball Classic" .goccusports.com . Coastal Carolina University. March 11, 2022. RetrievedMarch 11, 2022 .^a b "Men's Basketball to Host UMES on Wednesday Night" . Coastal Carolina University Athletics. March 14, 2022. RetrievedMarch 14, 2022 .^ "Men's Basketball Accepts Bid to The Basketball Classic, Travels to Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday" . Detroit Mercy Titans. March 12, 2022. RetrievedMarch 13, 2022 .^a b Paul, Tony (March 14, 2022)."Detroit Mercy Men's Basketball Plays On in 2022, Will Meet FGCU in Secondary Tournament" .The Detroit News . RetrievedMarch 15, 2022 . ^ "Not Done Yet: Eagles to Play in Basketball Classic" . EWU Athletic Department. March 14, 2022. RetrievedMarch 14, 2022 .^ Hardwig, Greg (March 9, 2022)."FGCU men picked for Basketball Classic, Fly era and search for his replacement continue" .naplesnews.com . Naples News. RetrievedMarch 10, 2022 . ^ Kuwada, Robert (March 13, 2022)."Fresno State Learns Its Basketball Postseason Fate. When the Bulldogs Play Next" .The Fresno Bee . RetrievedMarch 14, 2022 . ^a b "Southern Utah to Host Kent State in First Round of The Basketball Classic" . Southern Utah Thunderbirds. March 13, 2022. RetrievedMarch 14, 2022 .^ "Privateers Selected To Play in The Basketball Classic" .unoprivateers.com . University of New Orleans Radio. March 13, 2022. RetrievedMarch 13, 2022 .^ "Portland Accepts Invitation to The Basketball Classic" .portlandpilots.com . University of Portland. March 11, 2022. RetrievedMarch 11, 2022 .^ "Jag Men's Basketball Selected to Participate in The Basketball Classic" .usajaguars.com . University of South Alabama. March 11, 2022. RetrievedMarch 11, 2022 .^a b Stephenson, Creg (March 14, 2022)."South Alabama to Host Southeastern Louisiana in The Basketball Classic Tournament" .AL.com . RetrievedMarch 14, 2022 . ^ "Southern Utah Men's Basketball Accepts Invitation to Participate in The Basketball Classic" . Southern Utah Thunderbirds. March 13, 2022. RetrievedMarch 14, 2022 .^a b c Allen, Trevor (March 15, 2022)."SUU to Play in The Basketball Classic; Weber State, UVU Decline Invites" .KSL.com . Bonneville International. RetrievedMarch 17, 2022 . ^ "UTEP Men's Basketball To Play In Basketball Classic For First Postseason Appearance Since 2015" .utepminers.com . UTEP Athletics. March 12, 2022. RetrievedMarch 13, 2022 .^a b Bloomquist, Bret (March 14, 2022)."UTEP Set to Face Western Illinois in Basketball Classic" .El Paso Times . RetrievedMarch 14, 2022 . ^ "Men's Basketball Accepts Invitation to The Basketball Classic" .ysusports.com . Youngstown State University. March 9, 2022. RetrievedMarch 9, 2022 .^ UMBC Men's Basketball [@umbc_mbb] (March 13, 2022)."Just Like Tom Brady, We're Not Done Yet" (Tweet ). RetrievedMarch 14, 2022 – viaTwitter . ^ Lee, Edward (March 16, 2022)."UMBC men's basketball withdraws from The Basketball Classic, citing lack of healthy players" . The Baltimore Sun. RetrievedMarch 18, 2022 . ^ McMahon, Mike (March 14, 2022)."Merrimack Men's Basketball Accepts Bid in Post-season Tourney" .The Eagle-Tribune . RetrievedMarch 14, 2022 . ^ "Wofford Accepts Invite to The Basketball Classic, Hosts First-Round Game" .WoffordTerriers.com . Wofford College Athletics. March 10, 2022. RetrievedMarch 10, 2022 .^ "Men's Basketball Withdraws From The Basketball Classic" .woffordterriers.com . Wofford College Athletics. March 18, 2022. RetrievedMarch 18, 2022 .^ Whaley, Logan (March 9, 2022)."Arkansas State basketball opts out of postseason play" .KAIT . RetrievedMarch 10, 2022 . ^ Liberty Men's Basketball [@LibertyMBB_] (March 7, 2022)."Thank You, Flames Nation, for a memorable season!" (Tweet ) – viaTwitter . ^a b Matt Adkins [@CBB_RunThePoint] (March 13, 2022)."Confirmed that both Utah Valley and Sam Houston declined postseason tournament invites" (Tweet ). RetrievedMarch 15, 2022 – viaTwitter . ^ "Men's Basketball Looks Forward Following Turnaround Season" .samfordsports.com . Samford University. March 8, 2022. RetrievedMarch 15, 2022 .^ "USC Upstate Beats App State 80-74 in The Basketball Classic" .Daily Jefferson County Union . March 15, 2022. Archived fromthe original on March 30, 2022. RetrievedMarch 15, 2022 .^ Hardwig, Greg (March 16, 2022)."College basketball: FGCU Men Outlast Detroit Mercy in The Basketball Classic" .Naples Daily News . RetrievedMarch 16, 2022 . ^ Coastal Carolina Athletics (March 16, 2022)."Williams Leads Coastal to First-Round Win in The Basketball Classic, 66–42" .Live 5 WCSC . RetrievedMarch 16, 2022 . ^ Stephenson, Creg (March 16, 2022)."South Alabama Holds Off Southeastern Louisiana 70-68 in First Round of The Basketball Classic" .AL.com . RetrievedMarch 17, 2022 . ^a b "Cohill Scores 28 as Penguins Top Morgan State 70-65 in The Basketball Classic" . Youngstown State University. March 16, 2022. RetrievedMarch 16, 2022 .^ Moff, Allen (March 16, 2022)."Update: Kent State's Season Ends with Narrow Loss at Southern Utah" .Record-Courier . RetrievedMarch 17, 2022 . ^ "Eastern Washington Ends Season with Loss at Fresno State" .The Spokesman-Review . RetrievedMarch 18, 2022 .^ "UTEP's Game Versus Western Illinois Postponed Until Saturday" .utepminers.com . UTEP Athletics. March 15, 2022. RetrievedMarch 15, 2022 .^ "UTEP Trounces Western Illinois, 80-54, To Advance To Second Round Of Basketball Classic" .utepminers.com . March 19, 2022. RetrievedMarch 24, 2022 .^ "Portland Beats New Orleans for First Postseason Win" .portlandpilots.com . March 19, 2022. RetrievedMarch 24, 2022 .^ "Williams, Mostafa Lead Coastal Past FGCU, 84-68" .goccusports.com . March 21, 2022. RetrievedMarch 24, 2022 .^ "Jag Men's Basketball Outlasts USC Upstate to Advance in The Basketball Classic" .usajaguars.com . March 21, 2022. RetrievedMarch 24, 2022 .^ "UTEP Bows Out Of Basketball Classic With 82-69 Setback To Southern Utah" .utepminers.com . March 22, 2022. RetrievedMarch 24, 2022 .^ "Youngstown St. at Fresno St. (Box Score)" .ysusports.com . March 23, 2022. RetrievedMarch 24, 2022 .^ "Men's Basketball vs University of Portland" .suutbirds.com . March 26, 2022. RetrievedMarch 26, 2022 .^ Stephenson, Creg (March 28, 2022)."South Alabama Basketball Season Ends on Last-Second 3-Pointer in OT vs. Coastal Carolina" .AL.com . RetrievedMarch 30, 2022 . ^ Bemis, Scott (March 28, 2022)."Fresno State Beats Southern Utah, Reaches Championship Game of The Basketball Classic" .yourcentralvalley.com .Nexstar Media Group . RetrievedMarch 30, 2022 . ^ "Chants Defeat South Alabama in Overtime in Semifinals of The Basketball Classic" .goccusports.com . March 29, 2022. RetrievedMarch 29, 2022 .^a b "Schedule/Results" .The Basketball Classic . CollegeInsider.com. RetrievedMarch 15, 2022 .^ "UMBC men's basketball withdraws from The Basketball Classic, citing lack of healthy players" .baltimoresun.com . March 16, 2022. RetrievedMarch 17, 2022 .^ "Men's Basketball Withdraws From The Basketball Classic" .woffordterriers.com . March 18, 2022. RetrievedMarch 19, 2022 .^ "Williams Leads CCU Past UMES in The Basketball Classic" . Coastal Carolina University Athletics. March 16, 2022. RetrievedMarch 17, 2022 .^ "Jag Men's Basketball Wins First Postseason Game Since 1989, Defeats Southeastern Louisiana" .South Alabama Jaguars . University of South Alabama. March 16, 2022. RetrievedMarch 17, 2022 .^ "Marin's 27-Point Performance Fuels Southern Utah to 83-79 Victory Over Kent State" .Southern Utah Jaguars . Southern Utah University. March 16, 2022. RetrievedMarch 17, 2022 .^ Whetzel, Joel (March 19, 2022)."Basketball Classic worth keeping, but needs improvement" .vindy.com . The Vindicator. RetrievedMarch 20, 2022 .
