Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announces 2023 series for November, December showcases
Several of the top contenders for the 2023-24 college basketball season will get early tests as a part of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame series.
Purdue, Tennessee, Arizona, Alabama and USC are among the teams slated to play in the series. All five of those teams are expected to be preseason top 25 college basketball teams for the upcoming season.
The series has games scheduled to be played in Las Vegas, Charlotte, Toronto, San Antonio and Phoenix.
In addition to some big-time men’s basketball games, there will also be elite women’s basketball teams taking part in the series, including national championship winner LSU.
Here is the full list of games that will be played:
Nov. 6, Las Vegas (T-Mobile Arena)
LSU vs. Colorado (W)
USC vs. Ohio State (W)
USC vs. Kansas State (M)
Nov. 10, Charlotte (Spectrum Center)
Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina (M)
Dec. 9, Toronto (Coca-Cola Coliseum)
Purdue vs. Alabama (M)
Dec. 16, San Antonio (AT&T Center)
Baylor vs. Miami, Fla. (W)
Tennessee vs. NC State (M)
Dec. 20, Phoenix (Footprint Center)
Arizona State vs. Fresno State (W)
Arizona St. vs. Northwestern (M)
Arizona vs. Alabama (M)
Arguably the biggest game of this college basketball showcase is Alabama facing off against Purdue. That matchup will be played Dec. 9 in Toronto. National Player of the Year Zach Edey is back for the Boilermakers, who are looking to bounce back after falling to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson in last year’s NCAA Tournament.
With Edey back, Purdue is in the top 5 of most early preseason basketball polls and should be a Final 4 contender this upcoming season.
The Crimson Tide will be without Brandon Miller, who is off to the NBA, but they will still have a talented roster for the 2023-24 college basketball season. In addition to facing Purdue, Alabama will also take on Arizona on Dec. 20 in Phoenix.
Another marquee early season basketball game has Virginia facing Florida in Charlotte. Virginia and Florida aren’t in ESPN’s early top 25, but they are very good programs that are accustomed to winning.
Bronny James, the son of NBA star LeBron James, will also be playing in the early-season college basketball showcase tournament. Bronny has signed with USC. The Trojans will face off against Kansas State on Nov. 6 in Las Vegas.