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NCAA Basketball: Previewing the 2020 2K Empire Classic

By Benjamin Zacher

Nov 10, 2018; Syracuse, NY, USA; General view of the 2K Empire Classic logo prior to a game between the Morehead State Eagles and the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2018; Syracuse, NY, USA; General view of the 2K Empire Classic logo prior to a game between the Morehead State Eagles and the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketbl Empire Classic
NCAA Basketball Empire Classic (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

In the plethora of season-opening NCAA Basketball MTEs, the highly anticipated 2K Empire Classic stands out among the rest – and with it, comes a potential top 5 match-up.

On Monday, Nov. 9, the loaded four-team 2K Empire Classic field was finalized and officially unveiled.  Taking place on Nov. 25-26, the season-opening classic will feature some of the best teams in all of NCAA Basketball competing at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The field comprises of two top-five teams in the recently released preseason AP poll in Baylor (no. 2) and Villanova (no. 3), a top-25 squad in Arizona State (No. 18), and an unranked, but up-and-coming, Boston College team.  Together, those teams amassed an 83-41 record last season.

Undeniably, this classic might be the most anticipated season-opening MTE in Div. I.  And, it could realistically produce the biggest early-season match-up in all of college basketball.

Opening night will feature games between Villanova and Boston College, followed by Baylor and Arizona State.  In addition to a championship tilt, the second day will also include a consolation game.

  • Schedule:
    • Nov. 25
      • #3 Villanova vs. Boston College – 7:00 PM ET
      • #2 Baylor vs. #18 Arizona State – 9:30 PM EST
    • Nov. 26
      • Consolation game – 7:00 PM EST
      • Championship game – 9:30 PM EST

The 2K Sports Classic has traditionally had strong line-ups since its inception in 1998 – last season’s field included the then number-one team in the country in Duke – but this year may be its strongest since the 2009 classic that fielded four top-25 squads.

Obviously, this classic is headlined by Baylor and Villanova, the preseason favorites in the Big 12 and Big East, and the potential for a second-round match-up between two championship contenders.  But, for that to happen, they will have to get through Arizona State – the top-ranked team out of the Pac-12 – and Boston College, a potential dark horse in the ACC.

Despite only being four teams – a smaller amount compared to other MTEs like the Crossover Classic in South Dakota or Louisville’s recently-announced MTE – this is one of the deepest and highly anticipated season-opening events in college basketball.  What follows is a team-by-team preview of what each squad brings to the table – and what they can take away from this event.

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