NCAA Basketball: Top 5 Must-Watch Tournaments for 2018-19

There are many great NCAA Basketball non-conference tournaments for the 2018-19 season. Here are the top five that the channel should be on.

With the NCAA Basketball still months away, early season tournaments may be the best way for fans to gauge how well their team might do in the big dance. Fortunately, there are a plethora of tournaments this year so just about everyone should get a chance to see their team in a tournament. However, the question is which ones are the best?

5. 2K Classic

In previous years the 2k Classic has been iconic in the college basketball world. The tournament that is held at Madison Square Garden and other sites feature a solid field each and every year giving fans a sense of what is to come in March. This year, however, the tournament seems to be lacking as Syracuse, UConn, Oregon and Iowa State are the headliners of the tournament. The game to watch of the tournament is definitely going to be Uconn against Syracuse in the semifinal round on November 15th as Dan Hurley squares off against Jim Boeheim at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

4. Hall of Fame Tip-Off presented by Citi

The Hall of Fame Tip-Off, which is played at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut,  features Michigan, Providence, South Carolina, and George Washington. The best early round game will definitely be South Carolina and Providence on November 17th. However, if Providence were to defeat South Carolina and Michigan defeats George Washington, then a Providence and Michigan championship game will be played which would definitely a must watch.

3. NIT Season Tip-Off

Like the 2k Classic, the NIT Season Tip-Off has been another fixture in the college basketball landscape for some time. This year’s field features Kansas, Louisville, Tennessee, and Marquette who will all square off in Brooklyn. As Marquette is predicted to have one of their best rosters in the Wojo era, it’s possible we could see them winning it all. However, with Kansas and Louisville in the mix as well as Tennessee, who was named to Dick Vitale’s Top 4 recently, the title is certainly up for grabs. Nonetheless, the amount of talent and prestige between these teams is certainly going to draw a lot of fans the Barclay’s Center in November.

2. Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis

The Battle 4 Atlantis has been a popular tournament for top teams in recent years and there’s no wonder why as the tournament is played at one of the best resorts in the Bahamas. This year’s field is stacked with top talent as Virginia, Butler, Dayton, Florida, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Stanford and Middle Tennessee are set to square off in paradise. Although the tournament is played at a popular vacation spot, this definitely isn’t a vacation for the teams involved as it is a tournament to gauge themselves against other teams that are sure to be at the big dance in March.

1. Maui Jim Maui Invitational

The best tournament without a doubt this year is the Maui Invitational. Played in beautiful Maui, this tournament features some best teams in the nation and is sure to be a prelude to what may happen in March. This years field consists of Duke, Xavier, Auburn, Gonzaga, Arizona, Illinois, Iowa State and San Diego State in what is sure to be a slugfest in paradise.

While Duke has the best odds to win the NCAA Tournament this year, this tournament is sure to determine whether or not that is true. With a lot of top talent in the field, it is hard to predict the winner of this tournament right now which is why it is the best early-season tournament this year.