NCAA Basketball: Top 2018-19 early season tournament fields

DURHAM, NC - MAY 31: Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski sits down for SiriusXM's Town Hall With Hall Of Fame Coach Mike Krzyzewski at Bill Brill Media Room in Cameron Indoor Stadium on May 31, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images for SiriusXM) /

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CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 18: Joel Berry II talks. /

Continental Tires Las Vegas Invitational

North Carolina, Michigan State, Texas, and UCLA will play in the same tourney. The four elite programs will compete in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational at Orleans Arena. The field of competitors for the LVI is already one of the strongest among these tourneys. Each team made the NCAAs last year but were all out by the second round.

Michigan State was devastated when their 30-4 season ended with a bitter two-point loss to Syracuse in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Tom Izzo’s team will need big contributions from the returning Nick Ward and Cassius Winston if it is to have a strong showing against the quartet of powerhouses.

North Carolina has several holes to fill and the field they will face here will give the new guys an adequate test. Texas will be led by sophomore point guard Matt Coleman and senior big man Dylan Osetkowski. The Horns could set up a brilliant season with a quality win against one of these teams, or better yet the title.

Next: Updated way-too-early Bracketology

A lot can change in five months, which is when these tourneys will be played. Coaches may be fired, players may leave. There may be injuries. However, with so many storylines present, you can’t deny these tournaments will make for interesting viewing.

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