Early-Season Tournaments

It seems like every year there is a new early-season tournament attracting several top teams.  As most are taking place in the next week, here's a look at where the ACC teams are going for what are very meaningful non-conference games.

Boston College - 76 Classic
76 Classic Bracket

Boston College will head out to Anaheim next week for the 76 Classic.  They aren't expected to be very good this year, but fortunately for them the field for this event isn't as good as it has been in past years.  The Eagles will play St. Louis in the first game, a game they can definitely win.  If they win that one, they will probably play Villanova in the second round.  The Wildcats aren't as good as they have been in past years but should be able to beat BC.  Potential final round opponents for BC include Oklahoma and Washington State.


Clemson - Diamond Head Classic
Diamond Head Classic Bracket

Clemson has a while to go before its tournament.  The Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii isn't played until December.  Their first game is against UTEP.  More on that later in the season.



Duke - Maui Invitational
Maui Invitational Bracket

The Maui Invitational has the best pedigree of the early season tournaments - it almost always draws either North Carolina or Duke.  This year the Blue Devils take part in a solid field.  They take on Tennessee in the first round.  The Vols are in a bit of a rebuilding mode after NCAA violations and the firing of Coach Bruce Pearl.  Duke will then play either Michigan or Memphis.  The Wolverines gave Duke all they could handle in the NCAA Tournament last year.  And Memphis is a preseason top 10 team.  The other side of the bracket isn't as strong, but Kansas presents a very tough challenge if Duke meets them in the final.





Florida State - Battle For Atlantis
Battle For Atlantis Bracket

Florida State is playing in a brand new tournament at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas next week.  The tournament is set up so hopefully FSU will play UConn in the final.  To get there, the Noles will have to beat UMass in their first game.  Then they will play either Utah or Harvard.  UConn will likely coast through its side of the bracket so FSU would likely have to win two games to play the Huskies in the final.


Georgia Tech - Charleston Classic
Charleston Classic Bracket

Georgia Tech is another team that isn't expected to do much this year that has a chance to make a splash in an early-season tournament.  They will take on Saint Joseph's on Thursday in the first round of the Charleston Classic.  Their next game will be against either VCU or Seton Hall.  The best team on the other side of the bracket is probably Northwestern.


Maryland - Puerto Rico Tip-Off
Puerto Rico Tip-Off Bracket

The Terps head to Puerto Rico this week to face a challenging field.  Their first round game is against Alabama, a team that has NCAA aspirations.  If they can find a way to win that game, the Terps will have another tough matchup against the winner of Wichita State-Colorado.  Purdue and Temple are on the other side of the bracket.  It wouldn't be a surprise if Maryland lost all three games, but 1-2 is a more likely outcome.



North Carolina - Las Vegas Invitational

For some reason it's hard to find much information for this tournament.  From what I can figure out, UNC will play two games in Chapel Hill, against Mississippi Valley State and Tennessee State.  They will then travel to Las Vegas next week to take on South Carolina, and then either UNLV or USC.  It's hard to think that UNC will lose any of those games.



NC State - TicketCity Legends Classic

NC State is participating in a special four team event in East Rutherford, NJ this weekend.  Their first game on Saturday is against a Vanderbilt team that was in the top 10 in the preseason, but already lost at home to Cleveland State.  Then the Wolfpack will play either Texas or Oregon State.  It's not far fetched to think NC State could win both games.



Virginia - Paradise Jam
Paradise Jam Bracket

The Cavaliers travel to the US Virgin Islands this week to take part in the Paradise Jam.  This is one of the weakest tournament fields I've seen, and Virginia could win the whole thing.  Their first game is against TCU, a team that has had a very poor basketball program.  Then they will take on either Drexel or Norfolk State.  If it shakes out like it should, UVA would take on Marquette in the final.  The Golden Eagles could be a solid team this year, coming off a Sweet 16 appearance last year.



Virginia Tech - NIT Season Tip-Off
NIT Season Tip-Off Bracket

The Hokies have already started playing in the NIT Season Tip-Off.  They beat Monmouth on Monday.  Surprisingly, they will face Florida International instead of George Mason.  FIU beat the Patriots in overtime.  If the Hokies can beat FIU, then they will head to Madison Square Garden.  The likely matchup in the semi-finals next week would be Syracuse.  The other teams likely to advance to MSG are Stanford and Oklahoma State.  Interestingly, the Hokies could end up playing Oklahoma State twice this season - they have a scheduled game in Stillwater later this year.



Wake Forest - Old Spice Classic
Old Spice Classic Bracket

Wake Forest might have a rude awakening this season with a trip to Orlando next week to face some tough opponents.  They might be in a position where they are happy just winning one out of three games.  The first round matchup for the Demon Deacons is Dayton, a team with a new coach that has at least made the NIT in recent years.  The second round matchup would be against either Fairfield (who isn't bad) or Arizona State.  The best teams on the other side of the bracket are Minnesota and Texas Tech.

Miami is not playing in an early-season tournament this year.