NCAA Basketball: 2019 2K Empire Classic preview and predictions

The 2K Empire Classic takes place at Madison Square Garden over the course of two days. Duke headlines a four-team NCAA Basketball field that includes Texas, Georgetown, and Cal. Here’s a preview of the event.

The 2K Empire Classic takes place at Madison Square Garden on November 21-22, the tournament, which enters its 25th year has seen many different names over those 24 years including the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. But, one thing that has remained consistent has been the quality of NCAA Basketball teams that have played in the event, and this season is no different, with the Duke Blue Devils making their 3rd appearance being joined by the Georgetown Hoyas, Texas Longhorns, and the California Golden Bears.

In the previous 24 editions of the tournament, the ACC has been a consistent factor with nine previous or current members participating in the title game. The Blue Devils will be looking to push that stat to 10 of 25, and if their history in this tournament is any indication, there is a pretty decent chance we’ll see them in the title game as, the other two times they’ve participated, they took home the title in 2008 and most recently in 2015.

But the other three teams will have something to say about a potential Duke coronation, while Duke may be undefeated entering the tournament, it’s not all about the Blue Devils as the Hoyas, Longhorns, and Bears are a combined 11-1 as they prepare to play at the world’s most famous arena.

In this year’s 2K Empire Classic, a team very familiar with MSG, Georgetown will take on Texas and Duke will battle a California team looking to improve in the Pac-12 on Thursday with the winners and losers facing off on Friday night.