Season | 2021–22 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teams | 32 planned 21 bids accepted 18 teams competed | ||||
Finals site |
HTC Center Conway, South Carolina | ||||
Champions | Fresno State (1st title) | ||||
Runner-up | Coastal Carolina (1st title game) | ||||
Semifinalists |
| ||||
Winning coach | Justin Hutson (1st title) | ||||
MVP | Orlando Robinson (Fresno State) | ||||
Attendance | 1,407 (championship game) | ||||
|
The 2022 The Basketball Classic (TBC) was a single-elimination men's college basketball postseason tournament featuring National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams not selected to participate in the NCAA tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The tournament began on March 15 with the championship game played on April 1. The tournament was won by the Fresno State Bulldogs. All games were streamed on ESPN+.
Tournament organizers originally announced that there would be 32 teams in the field. [1] However, when the participating teams were named, there were only 21 listed. Three teams then withdrew prior to competing, leaving the actual field size at 18 for the tournament. In lieu of a traditional bracket, a model previously used by the NIT was implemented, in which the matchups are set after each round. Later-round host sites are determined, at least in part, by first-round game attendance figures.
Five matchups in the tournament were designated as "Legend Games", honoring Willis Reed, Travis Grant, Zelmo Beaty, Marques Haynes and Cleo Hill, all of whom played college basketball at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). [2] In addition to advancing in the tournament, the winning teams received a trophy honoring the legend for whom the particular game was named. Due to scheduling issues, the Cleo Hill game was not played.
The following 18 teams accepted invitations to the tournament and competed. Team records listed are from before the tournament started.
Team | Conference | Overall record |
---|---|---|
Appalachian State [3] [4] | Sun Belt | 19–14 |
Coastal Carolina [5] [6] | Sun Belt | 16–13 |
Detroit Mercy [7] [8] | Horizon League | 14–15 |
Eastern Washington [9] | Big Sky | 18–15 |
Florida Gulf Coast [10] | Atlantic Sun | 21–11 |
Fresno State [11] | Mountain West | 19–13 |
Kent State [12] | MAC | 23–10 |
Maryland Eastern Shore [6] | MEAC | 11–15 |
Morgan State | MEAC | 13–14 |
New Orleans [13] | Southland | 18–13 |
Portland [14] | West Coast | 18–14 |
South Alabama [15] [16] | Sun Belt | 19–11 |
Southeastern Louisiana [16] | Southland | 19–14 |
Southern Utah [12] [17] [18] | Big Sky | 20–11 |
USC Upstate [4] | Big South | 14–16 |
UTEP [19] [20] | Conference USA | 19–13 |
Western Illinois [20] | Summit | 16–15 |
Youngstown State [21] | Horizon League | 18–14 |
Three programs accepted invitations, but withdrew prior to playing: Merrimack, [22] [a] UMBC, [23] [24] Wofford. [25] [26]
The following programs declined invitations: Arkansas State, [27] Liberty, [28] Oakland, [8] Samford, [29] Sam Houston State, [30] Utah Valley, [18] [30] Weber State. [18]
Date | Time | Matchup | Score | Attendance | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
First round | |||||
March 15 | 6:30 p.m. | USC Upstate at Appalachian State | 80–74 | 2,146 | [31] |
March 16 | 7:00 p.m. | Detroit Mercy at Florida Gulf Coast | 79–95 | 505 | [32] |
The Zelmo Beaty Game Maryland Eastern Shore at Coastal Carolina |
42–66 | 923 | [33] | ||
8:00 p.m. | The Marques Haynes Game Morgan State at Youngstown State |
65–70 | 1,045 | [34] | |
The Travis Grant Game Southeastern Louisiana at South Alabama |
68–70 | 885 | [35] | ||
9:00 p.m. | The Willis Reed Game Kent State at Southern Utah |
79–83 | 1,316 | [36] | |
March 17 | 10:00 p.m. | Eastern Washington at Fresno State | 74–83 | 1,166 | [37] |
March 19 | 3:00 p.m. | Western Illinois at UTEP [b] | 54–80 | 3,500 | [39] |
10:00 p.m. | New Orleans at Portland | 73–94 | 659 | [40] | |
Second round | |||||
March 21 | 7:00 p.m. | Florida Gulf Coast at Coastal Carolina | 68–84 | 825 | [41] |
8:00 p.m. | USC Upstate at South Alabama | 79–83 | 699 | [42] | |
March 22 | 9:00 p.m. | Southern Utah at UTEP | 82–69 | 3,510 | [43] |
March 23 | 10:00 p.m. | Youngstown State at Fresno State | 71–80 | 1,754 | [44] |
Quarterfinals | |||||
March 26 | 6:00 p.m. | Portland at Southern Utah | 66–77 | 1,504 | [45] |
Semifinals | |||||
March 28 | 8:00 p.m. | Coastal Carolina at South Alabama | 69–68OT | 1,039 | [46] |
10:00 p.m. | Southern Utah at Fresno State | 48–67 | 3,006 | [47] | |
Championship | |||||
April 1 | 6:00 p.m. | Fresno State at Coastal Carolina | 85–74 | 1,407 | [48] |
Game times in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4). All games broadcast on ESPN+. [49] |
The Basketball Classic field was announced after the field for the NIT was released on March 13.
Note: Bracket is for visual purposes only. In lieu of a traditional bracket, the field and matchups are re-set after each round.
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.
First round March 16 | First/Second round March 15–19/March 22 | Second round/Quarterfinals March 21–23/March 26 | Semifinals March 28 | Championship April 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 | 68 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
USC Upstate | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Appalachian State | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
USC Upstate | 79 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
South Alabama | 83 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Southeastern Louisiana | 68 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
South Alabama | 70 |
Home teams listed second.
* – Denotes overtime periods
The following most valuable players were selected for each of the Legend Games:
Season | 2021–22 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teams | 32 planned 21 bids accepted 18 teams competed | ||||
Finals site |
HTC Center Conway, South Carolina | ||||
Champions | Fresno State (1st title) | ||||
Runner-up | Coastal Carolina (1st title game) | ||||
Semifinalists |
| ||||
Winning coach | Justin Hutson (1st title) | ||||
MVP | Orlando Robinson (Fresno State) | ||||
Attendance | 1,407 (championship game) | ||||
|
The 2022 The Basketball Classic (TBC) was a single-elimination men's college basketball postseason tournament featuring National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams not selected to participate in the NCAA tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The tournament began on March 15 with the championship game played on April 1. The tournament was won by the Fresno State Bulldogs. All games were streamed on ESPN+.
Tournament organizers originally announced that there would be 32 teams in the field. [1] However, when the participating teams were named, there were only 21 listed. Three teams then withdrew prior to competing, leaving the actual field size at 18 for the tournament. In lieu of a traditional bracket, a model previously used by the NIT was implemented, in which the matchups are set after each round. Later-round host sites are determined, at least in part, by first-round game attendance figures.
Five matchups in the tournament were designated as "Legend Games", honoring Willis Reed, Travis Grant, Zelmo Beaty, Marques Haynes and Cleo Hill, all of whom played college basketball at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). [2] In addition to advancing in the tournament, the winning teams received a trophy honoring the legend for whom the particular game was named. Due to scheduling issues, the Cleo Hill game was not played.
The following 18 teams accepted invitations to the tournament and competed. Team records listed are from before the tournament started.
Team | Conference | Overall record |
---|---|---|
Appalachian State [3] [4] | Sun Belt | 19–14 |
Coastal Carolina [5] [6] | Sun Belt | 16–13 |
Detroit Mercy [7] [8] | Horizon League | 14–15 |
Eastern Washington [9] | Big Sky | 18–15 |
Florida Gulf Coast [10] | Atlantic Sun | 21–11 |
Fresno State [11] | Mountain West | 19–13 |
Kent State [12] | MAC | 23–10 |
Maryland Eastern Shore [6] | MEAC | 11–15 |
Morgan State | MEAC | 13–14 |
New Orleans [13] | Southland | 18–13 |
Portland [14] | West Coast | 18–14 |
South Alabama [15] [16] | Sun Belt | 19–11 |
Southeastern Louisiana [16] | Southland | 19–14 |
Southern Utah [12] [17] [18] | Big Sky | 20–11 |
USC Upstate [4] | Big South | 14–16 |
UTEP [19] [20] | Conference USA | 19–13 |
Western Illinois [20] | Summit | 16–15 |
Youngstown State [21] | Horizon League | 18–14 |
Three programs accepted invitations, but withdrew prior to playing: Merrimack, [22] [a] UMBC, [23] [24] Wofford. [25] [26]
The following programs declined invitations: Arkansas State, [27] Liberty, [28] Oakland, [8] Samford, [29] Sam Houston State, [30] Utah Valley, [18] [30] Weber State. [18]
Date | Time | Matchup | Score | Attendance | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
First round | |||||
March 15 | 6:30 p.m. | USC Upstate at Appalachian State | 80–74 | 2,146 | [31] |
March 16 | 7:00 p.m. | Detroit Mercy at Florida Gulf Coast | 79–95 | 505 | [32] |
The Zelmo Beaty Game Maryland Eastern Shore at Coastal Carolina |
42–66 | 923 | [33] | ||
8:00 p.m. | The Marques Haynes Game Morgan State at Youngstown State |
65–70 | 1,045 | [34] | |
The Travis Grant Game Southeastern Louisiana at South Alabama |
68–70 | 885 | [35] | ||
9:00 p.m. | The Willis Reed Game Kent State at Southern Utah |
79–83 | 1,316 | [36] | |
March 17 | 10:00 p.m. | Eastern Washington at Fresno State | 74–83 | 1,166 | [37] |
March 19 | 3:00 p.m. | Western Illinois at UTEP [b] | 54–80 | 3,500 | [39] |
10:00 p.m. | New Orleans at Portland | 73–94 | 659 | [40] | |
Second round | |||||
March 21 | 7:00 p.m. | Florida Gulf Coast at Coastal Carolina | 68–84 | 825 | [41] |
8:00 p.m. | USC Upstate at South Alabama | 79–83 | 699 | [42] | |
March 22 | 9:00 p.m. | Southern Utah at UTEP | 82–69 | 3,510 | [43] |
March 23 | 10:00 p.m. | Youngstown State at Fresno State | 71–80 | 1,754 | [44] |
Quarterfinals | |||||
March 26 | 6:00 p.m. | Portland at Southern Utah | 66–77 | 1,504 | [45] |
Semifinals | |||||
March 28 | 8:00 p.m. | Coastal Carolina at South Alabama | 69–68OT | 1,039 | [46] |
10:00 p.m. | Southern Utah at Fresno State | 48–67 | 3,006 | [47] | |
Championship | |||||
April 1 | 6:00 p.m. | Fresno State at Coastal Carolina | 85–74 | 1,407 | [48] |
Game times in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4). All games broadcast on ESPN+. [49] |
The Basketball Classic field was announced after the field for the NIT was released on March 13.
Note: Bracket is for visual purposes only. In lieu of a traditional bracket, the field and matchups are re-set after each round.
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.
First round March 16 | First/Second round March 15–19/March 22 | Second round/Quarterfinals March 21–23/March 26 | Semifinals March 28 | Championship April 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 | 68 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
USC Upstate | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Appalachian State | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
USC Upstate | 79 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
South Alabama | 83 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Southeastern Louisiana | 68 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
South Alabama | 70 |
Home teams listed second.
* – Denotes overtime periods
The following most valuable players were selected for each of the Legend Games: