Report: Texas, Louisville, UConn, Indiana to play in 2023 Empire Classic

NS_headshot_clearbackgroundby:Nick Schultz•05/26/22•

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The 2023 Empire Classic field is set, according to a report.

Texas, UConn, Indiana and Louisville will participate in the event in New York during the 2023-24 college basketball season, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. This year’s Empire Classic is coming up in November featuring Syracuse, Richmond, St. John’s and Temple.

Matchups and dates could come with an official announcement. Rothstein said there’s no timetable for a press release. Still, that’s quite a field, especially considering where each team stands heading into the 2022-23 season.

Indiana brings back plenty of key pieces, bolstered by Trayce Jackson-Davis’ decision to return to college basketball instead of enter the 2022 NBA Draft. Texas is entering the second year of the Chris Beard Era, and UConn had a big year last year in the Big East, finishing third in the league and making the NCAA Tournament. Louisville, meanwhile, had an interesting 2021-22 season and hired Kenny Payne to be its new coach.

Last year, UCLA, Bellarmine, Central Michigan and Gonzaga competed in the event at the Barclays Center in New York.

2022 CBS Sports Classic location announced for UCLA vs. North Carolina, Kentucky vs. Ohio State

One of the premier mid-season college basketball showcases has a date.

The CBS Sports Classic is scheduled for Dec. 17 at Madison Square Garden, according to Stadium’s Jeff Goodman. The four-team field includes Kentucky, UCLA, North Carolina and Ohio State.

Last year, the four teams were set to compete in the CBS Sports Classic at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. However, Ohio State and UCLA both had COVID-19 issues, meaning North Carolina took on Kentucky in the lone game. The Wildcats handily defeated the Tar Heels 98-69.

This time around, the four teams will try again in one of the iconic arenas in basketball. North Carolina is coming off a national championship appearance, while UCLA made a run to the Sweet Sixteen — where it fell to the Tar Heels. Ohio State advanced to the Round of 32 and Kentucky suffered a major first-round upset at the hands of No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s.