PRINCETON, N.J. - The schedule for the 2012 Legends Classic has been announced.
In what promises to be one of the country's most eagerly anticipated early-season basketball tournaments, the sixth annual Legends Classic will culminate with its Championship Round games being played at the brand new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Indiana, expected to be ranked No. 1 heading into the 2012-13 season, UCLA, featuring the nation's No. 1 rated recruiting class, and national powers Georgetown and Georgia will host a pair of Regional Round games on their home courts beginning Nov. 11 before advancing to the Championship Rounds in Brooklyn.
Joining Indiana, UCLA, Georgetown, and Georgia in the Legends Classic are UC Irvine, Duquesne, James Madison, Liberty, North Dakota State, Sam Houston State, Southern Mississippi, and Youngstown State.
ESPN Networks will televise six games of the Legends Classic, including all four Championship Round games in Brooklyn. The Indiana-Georgia semifinal game will air on ESPNU on Monday, Nov. 19, followed by the UCLA-Georgetown game on ESPN2. The consolation game on Tuesday, Nov. 20 will be shown on ESPNU with the championship game airing on ESPN.
In addition, the Nov. 11 game between Duquesne and Georgetown will be shown on ESPNU, as will the Nov. 12 Youngstown State-Georgia contest.
Additional television coverage will be announced at a later date.
Tickets for Championship Round games at the Barclays Center are on sale and may be purchased by calling 800-745-3000 or ON-LINE. (more)
Added Oct 02, 2012
29 days ago by chrismolicki
Early season tournaments continue to emerge and increase from a competition standpoint. Non-conference schedules have gotten tougher and college basketball fans prepare for premier match-ups and upsets even in November.
Let’s take a look at the Legends Classic.
Tournament Date(s): November 19-20, 2012.
Tournament Location: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N. Y.
Tournament Field:
Semifinal Qualifiers: Indiana, UCLA, Georgetown, Georgia.
Other Participants: Duquesne, James Madison, Liberty, North Dakota State, Sam Houston State, Southern Miss, UC-Irvine and Youngstown State
Tournament Summary: While there are multiple other minor rounds of the Legends Classic, the Championship Rounds are what everyone’s talking about. In it, you have two national title contenders in Indiana and UCLA and two talented teams that could make some noise this year in Georgetown and Georgia. For the Hoosiers, the tandem of Cody Zeller and Christian Watford look to once again be a national force. The Bruins are counting on Shabazz Muhammad and a crop of freshmen to lead them to the top. The Hoyas and Bulldogs will be lead by two super-sophomores, Otto Porter and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, respectively.
Player to Watch: Cody Zeller, Indiana- There may not be anyone more important to their team’s success this year than Zeller. After bursting onto the scene as a freshman in 2011-12, Zeller has molded himself into one of the nation’s most elite players. Just a sophomore, the 6-foot-11 forward has an arsenal of weapons at his disposal on the offensive end, while a strong mix of returning veterans and incoming freshman can make the Hoosiers a legitimate national championship threat. Zeller holds the key for Indiana this season and their ability to prepare for a run come March.
For more on college basketball, follow Chris on Twitter.
Rant Sports NCAAB Season Preview: Five Storylines-Legends Classic
29 days ago by Paul Seaver
Early season tournaments continue to emerge and increase from a competition standpoint. Non-conference schedules have gotten tougher and college basketball fans prepare for premier match-ups and upsets even in November.
Let’s take a look at five storyline to watch for at the Legends Classic.
1. Indiana’s Early Expectations: The Hoosiers are bringing back nearly every contributor from the 2011-12 season and their incoming freshmen class is amongst the nation’s best. The talent level is high and after last season’s success, Indiana is back. Head coach Tom Crean has this Indiana program ahead of schedule and their participation in the 2012 Legends Classic will give the Hoosiers an early opportunity to showcase their national championship potential. Indiana will be the team to beat in Brooklyn, but UCLA, Georgetown, and Georgia won’t be easy outs. How will Indiana begin the year given their vast expectations?
2. Will Shabazz Muhammad be Eligible to Play?: Due to an ongoing investigation by the NCAA, UCLA freshman Shabazz Muhammad remains ineligible for the time being. The 6-foot-6 star will instantly be considered among the top freshman and players in the country, if the NCAA clears him to play. The speculation will continue, but as September begins, there remains no set timetable for a decision. Muhammad very well could be the most talented prospect in this tournament’s field should he gain eligibility, yet Indiana fans might beg to differ with forward, Cody Zeller.
3. Barclays Center: The Legends Classic has bounced around a few venues in the past few years and now it’s moving to the brand-new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Home to the New Jersey Nets, the Barclays Center will feature a few college basketball-related events this season, including the Atlantic 10 Tournament in March. A state-of-the-art and brand new facility should help attract fans, especially given the competition in the year’s Legends Classic.
4. Sophomore Sensations?: Sure, Cody Zeller would highlight this particular topic, but one storyline to watch for as part of the 2012 Legends Classic will be the freshman-to-sophomore leap of both Georgetown‘s Otto Porter and Georgia‘s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Caldwell-Pope, a Georgia-native, is looking to make considerable strides after a decent freshman season. Porter, who may very well become the Hoyas’ go-to-man in 2012-13, has similar expectations. Both Caldwell-Pope and Porter will be heavily counted upon, not only in this tournament, but for much of the season on their respected rosters. Both are budding stars who have all the intangibles to breakout in 2012-13.
5. Will Fans See the Anticipated Championship Match-up?: Georgia (vs. Indiana) and Georgetown (vs. UCLA) will look to play spoiler in the semifinal rounds, deflecting a potential Hoosiers/Bruins championship contest. However, Indiana is a national championship contender and could very well begin the season as the nation’s No. 1 overall team, while UCLA is looking to burst back onto the national stage thanks to a terrific freshmen class. Yet, eligibility issues continue to surround the Bruins’ freshmen, so fans aren’t sure what to expect once November arrives. However, the potential remains for this championship tilt, and if Muhammad can get cleared by the NCAA, we could be seeing two stars with Player of the Year potential (Zeller, Muhammad) squaring off against one another. Then again, college basketball is far from predictable, so don’t count Georgia or Georgetown out in this tournament field.
Be sure to follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @TheArenaPulse
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