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NCAA Basketball: Florida, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and West Virginia make up the 2018 field for the Jimmy V Classic

By Tristan Freeman

NORMAN, OK - FEBRUARY 05: James Bolden #3 of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts after being hit against the Oklahoma Sooners at Lloyd Noble Center on February 5, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. West Virginia defeated Oklahoma 75-73. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - FEBRUARY 05: James Bolden #3 of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts after being hit against the Oklahoma Sooners at Lloyd Noble Center on February 5, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. West Virginia defeated Oklahoma 75-73. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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The field for the annual Jimmy V Classic has been announced. It consists of four teams who will look very different on the court from this past season.

While tournaments such as the Maui Invitational and the Battle 4 Atlantis always get the scheduling attention in the non-conference, the Jimmy V Classic could arguably be the most important.

Originating in 1995, the event is named after former basketball head coach Jim Valvano, whose legendary speech concerning his cancer diagnosis at the ESPYS still resonates with many who have or know someone close that deals with this disease.

The broadcasting company created the Jimmy V Classic as part of a greater effort to fundraise and raise awareness for cancer research. It’s a doubleheader usually held in early December on a Tuesday, always having high-profile programs involved.

Last season, the doubleheader involved two old Big East rivals (Syracuse and UConn) as well as a battle of top-15 ranked programs in Gonzaga and Villanova. The games are played at Madison Square Garden in New York, considered the best basketball court to play at.

The next group of teams has been announced for December 9 of the following season. These teams have made numerous trips to the NCAA Tournament in recent years, and have a great chance to do so again.

https://twitter.com/TheJimmyVClsc/status/999305330885578753

Three of these teams have made previous appearances in the Jimmy V Classic, while Oklahoma will be making the program’s first appearance in this event.

When it comes to early expectations for the 2018-19 basketball season, all four of them will be competitive. But after departures from each roster, things will look very different.

Far as the Sooners go, losing Trae Young and his historic numbers will have a tremendous impact. They did get a pair of grad transfer guards to help replace him, but it’ll take a huge effort from all the returning players for them to finish in the top half of the Big 12.

Notre Dame barely missed out on the Big Dance due to the injuries of the team’s star players (Bonzie Colson and Matt Farrell). With both of them graduating, the Fighting Irish will rely on a ranked incoming recruiting class to help out leading scorer Temple Gibbs for next season.

West Virginia also loses the team’s four-year leader in Jevon Carter, their leading scorer, and passer. He and Daxter Miles Jr. are gone, but the Mountaineers are expected to return at least five upperclassmen who were part of the main rotation this past season.

Florida might be in the best situation of all them, assuming Jalen Hudson officially returns to the team from testing the NBA waters. He’d get a top-notch recruiting class to join him, as well as solid big men in Kevarrius Hayes and Keith Stone coming back as well. If Hudson does depart, then the Gators will be in trouble in a loaded SEC next year.

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Considering the track record of these coaches, the teams involved will likely be on track for a trip to the Big Dance. But it’s also far from certain, which will make the games in the 2018 Jimmy V Classic all the more important – both on and off the court.

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