NCAA Basketball: 2023 Charleston Classic preview and predictions

One of the major highlights of the opening weeks of the NCAA Basketball season are the holiday tournaments, mostly taking place right around the Thanksgiving break. These tournaments usually see either four or eight schools heading to a neutral-site destination for three games apiece of action.

Now something of a regular affair, the Charleston Classic will be held for the sixteenth time later this week. While the Classic isn’t usually one of the premier events, with better fields at several other holiday tournaments, there’s always excitement involved. The tournament has been won by power conference teams regularly, while the crown was claimed by host College of Charleston last year en route to a magnificent season.

We won’t spend too much time dwelling on the history of this tournament because we’re more focused on the immediate future. Eight teams will descend on Charleston later this week, each playing games on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday until a champion is determined. These types of events are great barometers for teams, giving their first real look at tough competition away from their home floors.

Today we’ll be looking closely at those eight teams invited to the event and determining just what we think will happen in the Classic. While an overwhelming favorite is among the group, there are plenty of intriguing names to watch on these rosters and anything can happen this weekend. We’ll start off with brief previews on each of the teams, beginning with the top half of the bracket and then the bottom half shortly thereafter.