2020-21 Men’s Basketball Schedule & Opponents

[Run49er2]

Per Rothstein:

In addition to the Champions Classic, the Jimmy V Classic, Preseason NIT, Orlando Invitational, Myrtle Beach Invitational, Charleston Classic, Wooden Legacy, and Diamond Head Classic will all be played in Orlando.

https://collegehoopstoday.com/index.php/rothstein-files/sources-orlando-to-host-eight-early-season-college-basketball-events/

[run49er]

November 25th it is!

Source: NCAA sets start college basketball start date of November 25th -...

[run49er]

More specifics from Norlander:

2020-21 college basketball season to start on Nov. 25 after NCAA vote

[run49er]

Concise rundown from Katz:

Start date of college basketball season: Nov. 25; Start of practice: Oct. 14; Max number of games: 27 (reduced by 4); Minimum number of games: 13; No scrimmages/exhibitions. Recommendation for minimum 4 non-conference.

https://mobile.twitter.com/TheAndyKatz/status/1306352248834973696

[Niner_National]

Glad we reduced the season by four games. That’ll make a tremendous difference in athletes health.

[run49er]

Will be interesting to see how things shake out per OOC. Wonder if we’ll pick up some additional games in Orlando - as mentioned by Rothstein as a possibility - with the relocation of the eight early season tourneys to that location.

[run49er]

Official announcement:

DI Council approves Nov. 25 start date for men’s and women’s basketball

[run49er]

Per Katz:

Nov. 25 start = new dates for 16 events: 1. Gavitt Games (BE/BIG); 2. Myrtle Beach; 3. Charleston; 4. Empire (NY); 5. Bahamas; 6. Paradise Jam (VI); 7. Jamaica; 8. Bimini; 9. MGM (LV); 10. HOF (CT); 11. HOF (KC); 12. Gulf Coast; 13. Cayman; 14. Fort Myers; 15. Cancun; 16. Maui.

https://mobile.twitter.com/TheAndyKatz/status/1306619182713384961

[Run49er2]

Now official that MBI will not be held in Conway this year:

Myrtle Beach Invitational won’t return to the Grand Strand this year

[run49er]

Per Rothstein:

Sources: All teams involved in one of Orlando’s eight early season college basketball events could potentially play as many as FIVE total games during their extended time in Florida. Additional games will be an option.

https://mobile.twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1308431057683963904

[run49er]

Now official on MBI to Orlando:

Sources: College hoops events move to Orlando

[run49er]

From Rothstein:

Sources: Nebraska will not be a part of the Myrtle Beach Invitational in Orlando and will instead host its own bubble in Lincoln during the first week of the season.

https://mobile.twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1308809048997888001

[Run49er2]

And now this from Norlander:

CBB schedule note: Many programs remain noncommittal for now about playing in the bevy of Orlando-based ESPN MTEs. Some MTEs could almost entirely be swapped out for other teams. Some teams could pick up games outside their MTE in Orlando. Travel restrictions also dictating this.

https://mobile.twitter.com/MattNorlander/status/1308840557284741122

[run49er]

MBI Orlando seems to be falling apart:

Dayton and Nebraska both out of the Myrtle Beach Invitational event (which is being moved to Orlando), sources told @stadium. Pittsburgh also leaning towards withdrawing, per source.

[8:47 PM · Sep 28, 2020]

https://mobile.twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1310743053867638796

[itsbraille49]

Charlotte, I’m told, is committed to competing in Orlando. From the get go the games we played down there were never going to resemble the initial Myrtle Beach Invitational field. ESPN has many events down there and we will likely play 3 teams from that pool of teams.

[run49er]

Seems like NCAA should have polled coaches about the truncated schedule. From what I’ve been reading, most would have preferred a max of 25 to 27 games with an MTE being a straight up part of that number.

I can understand some teams opting out of Orlando. For example, NY teams would have to quarantine for 2 weeks upon returning home under current protocols for the Empire State. Others are head scratchers, like FSU dropping out of the Charleston Classic pod.

One of the things being touted about Orlando was the possibility of picking up an additional game or two beyond the three within the respective MTE pods. Guess that’s gone.

[run49er]

Notice that a number of conferences going with 20 conference games, with MAC deciding on 22. Big Ten flirted with 22 as well before deciding on 20. Sort of surprised West Coast didn’t go with 20 during the pandemic but so far sticking with 16.

Read that Sun Belt is considering allowing members to schedule up to four non-DI games.

Anyway, haven’t seen anything yet about C-USA. Would think a 20 game conference schedule would be considered for this season.

[run49er]

Andy Katz picks North Texas to represent C-USA in his initial bracket.

Andy Katz makes his first 2021 NCAA bracket for March Madness

[Run49er2]

Latest on Orlando:

Nearly three dozen teams are still planning on going to Orlando for ESPN’s batch of tourneys but a number of events are still in flux and teams are either still getting swapped or will be accommodated if their event dissolves (like what’s already happened with the preseason NIT).

https://mobile.twitter.com/MattNorlander/status/1312105529116782592

[run49er]

From Goodman:

The Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee will discuss the max game limit topic tomorrow, NCAA Sr VP of Basketball Dan Gavitt told @Stadium. Many feel as though should just have gone 27 total games however you get there - instead of having to play in an MTE to be able to play 27.

https://mobile.twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1312831315360784384