FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Tournament officials for the 12th annual Men’s Cancun Challenge have announced the schedule of games for all eight teams, anchored by a superior group of Riviera Division teams including Northern Iowa, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wichita State.
The event continues to attract some of the most skilled teams and their passionate fan bases to sunny Playa del Carmen; last year’s champion was Bradley, and recent previous champions include Louisiana Tech (2017), Purdue (2016), Maryland (2015), Northern Iowa (2014) and Wisconsin (2013).
“The quality of the Riviera field speaks to the appeal and drawing power of the Cancun Challenge, and there’s a nice backstory as Bob Huggins and Frank Martin once worked together on the same coaching staff at Kansas State,” said Men’s Cancun Challenge director Sarah Sullivan. “Plus, two teams in the Mayan Division (Gardner-Webb and Northern Colorado) are on the doorstep of a 20-win season, so we look forward to the competitive energy of that group as well.”
Games are played in the modified ballroom at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya; teams and their fans are in walking distance from their rooms to the games to the restaurants to poolside. The Cancun Challenge also includes games played at host sites in the US.
Here's the schedule for the 2019 Men’s Cancun Challenge:
US GAMES (Times TBD)
Saturday, Nov. 16
Northern Colorado at Northern Iowa
UT Martin at Wichita State
Monday, Nov. 18Northern Colorado at West Virginia
Tuesday, Nov. 19Boston University at South Carolina
UT Martin at Northern Iowa
Gardner-Webb at Wichita State
Friday, Nov. 22Gardner-Webb at South Carolina
Boston University at West Virginia
MEXICO GAMES
Tuesday, Nov. 26
Mayan Division
Gardner-Webb vs. UT Martin, 12:30 p.m. ET (FloHoops)
Northern Colorado vs. Boston University, 3 p.m. ET (FloHoops)
Riviera Division
South Carolina vs. Wichita State, 6:00 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
West Virginia vs. Northern Iowa, 8:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Wednesday, Nov. 27
Mayan Division
Mayan Third Place Game, 12:30 p.m. ET (FloHoops)
Mayan Championship Game, 3 p.m. ET (FloHoops)
Riviera Division
Riviera Third Place Game, 6 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Riviera Championship Game, 8:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
About the Cancun Challenge
Located just off the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea, the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya offers the ultimate vacation for guests of all ages with both the adults-only and family friendly resort experiences. With a combined 1,264 ultra-posh and lavishly appointed guestrooms boasting balcony, terrace views or new, expansive sky terrace options with picturesque views, hydro tubs in each room, world-class shopping and endless style, Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya is nothing short of the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Complete with expansive outdoor pools and private beach, this all-inclusive escape offers nine world-class restaurants, eight bars and lounges, in addition to 88,915 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event space ideal for elegant banquets, themed parties, weddings, concerts, and more.
Seating is limited for this exclusive event, and all fans should book land travel packages through Triple Crown Sports for admission into games in Mexico. Travel packages are the only way to guarantee admission to games at this time. For travel package information, contact Sarah Sullivan at 970-672-0533 (email to[email protected])or visit the website atwww.cancunchallenge.net.
About Triple Crown Sports
Based in Fort Collins, CO., Triple Crown Sports has been producing college and youth events for more than 30 years. TCS runs both the preseason and postseason WNIT basketball events and produces the men’s and women’s Cancun Challenge tournaments in November. Triple Crown is also powering “WNIT” concept events in D-I softball (NISC) and volleyball (NIVC), with those two events debuting in 2017. TCS youth fastpitch tournaments (including the 900-team Sparkler/Fireworks event) draw the nation’s finest club programs, and hundreds of college coaches attend TCS events for recruiting purposes.
The event continues to attract some of the most skilled teams and their passionate fan bases to sunny Playa del Carmen; last year’s champion was Bradley, and recent previous champions include Louisiana Tech (2017), Purdue (2016), Maryland (2015), Northern Iowa (2014) and Wisconsin (2013).
“The quality of the Riviera field speaks to the appeal and drawing power of the Cancun Challenge, and there’s a nice backstory as Bob Huggins and Frank Martin once worked together on the same coaching staff at Kansas State,” said Men’s Cancun Challenge director Sarah Sullivan. “Plus, two teams in the Mayan Division (Gardner-Webb and Northern Colorado) are on the doorstep of a 20-win season, so we look forward to the competitive energy of that group as well.”
Games are played in the modified ballroom at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya; teams and their fans are in walking distance from their rooms to the games to the restaurants to poolside. The Cancun Challenge also includes games played at host sites in the US.
Here's the schedule for the 2019 Men’s Cancun Challenge:
US GAMES (Times TBD)
Saturday, Nov. 16
Northern Colorado at Northern Iowa
UT Martin at Wichita State
Monday, Nov. 18Northern Colorado at West Virginia
Tuesday, Nov. 19Boston University at South Carolina
UT Martin at Northern Iowa
Gardner-Webb at Wichita State
Friday, Nov. 22Gardner-Webb at South Carolina
Boston University at West Virginia
MEXICO GAMES
Tuesday, Nov. 26
Mayan Division
Gardner-Webb vs. UT Martin, 12:30 p.m. ET (FloHoops)
Northern Colorado vs. Boston University, 3 p.m. ET (FloHoops)
Riviera Division
South Carolina vs. Wichita State, 6:00 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
West Virginia vs. Northern Iowa, 8:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Wednesday, Nov. 27
Mayan Division
Mayan Third Place Game, 12:30 p.m. ET (FloHoops)
Mayan Championship Game, 3 p.m. ET (FloHoops)
Riviera Division
Riviera Third Place Game, 6 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Riviera Championship Game, 8:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
About the Cancun Challenge
Located just off the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea, the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya offers the ultimate vacation for guests of all ages with both the adults-only and family friendly resort experiences. With a combined 1,264 ultra-posh and lavishly appointed guestrooms boasting balcony, terrace views or new, expansive sky terrace options with picturesque views, hydro tubs in each room, world-class shopping and endless style, Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya is nothing short of the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Complete with expansive outdoor pools and private beach, this all-inclusive escape offers nine world-class restaurants, eight bars and lounges, in addition to 88,915 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event space ideal for elegant banquets, themed parties, weddings, concerts, and more.
Seating is limited for this exclusive event, and all fans should book land travel packages through Triple Crown Sports for admission into games in Mexico. Travel packages are the only way to guarantee admission to games at this time. For travel package information, contact Sarah Sullivan at 970-672-0533 (email to[email protected])or visit the website atwww.cancunchallenge.net.
About Triple Crown Sports
Based in Fort Collins, CO., Triple Crown Sports has been producing college and youth events for more than 30 years. TCS runs both the preseason and postseason WNIT basketball events and produces the men’s and women’s Cancun Challenge tournaments in November. Triple Crown is also powering “WNIT” concept events in D-I softball (NISC) and volleyball (NIVC), with those two events debuting in 2017. TCS youth fastpitch tournaments (including the 900-team Sparkler/Fireworks event) draw the nation’s finest club programs, and hundreds of college coaches attend TCS events for recruiting purposes.
