2K Sports Classic

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This article is about the tournament known as the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic from 1995 to 2011 and Empire Classic from 2019. For the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic held from 2012 to 2014, see Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. For the thoroughbred race horse, see Classic Empire. For the video game Empire, see Empire (1977 video game).
A 2K Sports Classic game in 2008

The Empire Classic, formerly known as the 2K Sports Classic, is an annual college basketball tournament played in November at the beginning of the season and televised by ESPN. Originally known as the Atlantic City Shootout and produced by the Gazelle Group, Inc., the tournament was first played in 1995. The following year, it became the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic as a collaboration between the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society in an effort to raise funds for cancer research. In 2012, the tournament beneficiary became Wounded Warrior Project, resulting in the tournament being renamed the 2K Sports Classic. A new annual college basketball tournament benefiting cancer research, also called the Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic and hosted by the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, was held from 2012 to 2014.[1] In 2019, the event was renamed the 2K Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project, commonly referred to as the "Empire Classic."

In the Empire Classic's current format, which began in 2014, eight teams from eight separate conferences are invited to the tournament. Two games are held at four different regional sites selected before the tournament. The semifinals and finals are held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where they have been since 1998, with the remaining four teams playing in a tournament format at a predetermined on-campus site.

With the COVID-19 pandemic raging in the United States during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, the Empire Classic was one of the very few multiteam events held during the fall of 2020.[2] Baylor withdrew from the 2020 tournament after head coach Scott Drew tested positive for COVID-19;[2] Rhode Island replaced Baylor.[2]

Villanova is the reigning Empire Classic champion, having defeated Arizona State 83–74 in the championship game on November 26, 2020.

History[]

The first two events were doubleheaders held at the Atlantic City Convention Center (now Boardwalk Hall). The 1997 event was the first to be played in a tournament format and was won by Princeton at the Continental Airlines Arena in the New Jersey Meadowlands.

In 1998, the event moved to Madison Square Garden in New York City, where it has remained ever since. From 1997 through 2001, the event remained in the tournament format before going to a pair of showcase doubleheaders in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, the format changed into a 16-team event with teams from 16 separate conferences. Four predetermined regional round hosts played two games at home and the winners would play in the semifinals and finals at Madison Square Garden. Syracuse won the first tournament played in this format, beating Memphis, 77–62.

The 2007 event resulted in a format change once again. That year, Gardner-Webb won at Kentucky, 84–68, and advanced to the semifinals. After that, the semifinalists were predetermined, regardless of the results of the regional rounds. Beginning in 2009, the format was revised to a 12-team field and each team guaranteed four games in the tournament with the semifinalists advancing to Madison Square Garden and the remaining eight teams being split into two subregional tournaments played at predetermined campuses sites.

In the 2K Classic's current format, which began in 2014, eight teams from eight separate conferences are invited to the tournament. Two games are held at four different regional sites selected before the tournament. The semifinals and finals are held at Madison Square Garden and the remaining four teams play in a tournament format at a predetermined on-campus site.

Yearly champions, runners-up, and MVPs[]

Year Winner Score Opponent Tournament MVP Other participants
2021 Showcase Format - No Tournament
20201 Villanova 83-74 Arizona State Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova Boston College, Rhode Island
2019 Duke 81-73 Georgetown Vernon Carey Jr., Duke Texas, California
2018 Iowa 91-72 Connecticut Luka Garza, Iowa Syracuse, Oregon
2017 Providence 90-63 Saint Louis Kyron Cartwright, Providence Virginia Tech, Washington
2016 Michigan 76-54 SMU Zak Irvin, Michigan Pittsburgh, Marquette
2015 Duke 86-84 Georgetown Grayson Allen, Duke Wisconsin, VCU
2014 Texas 71-55 California Jonathan Holmes, Texas Syracuse, Iowa
2013 Connecticut 59-58 Indiana Shabazz Napier, Connecticut Boston College, Washington
2012 Alabama 77-55 Villanova Trevor Releford, Alabama Oregon State, Purdue
2011 Mississippi State 67-57 Arizona Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State St. John's, Texas A&M
2010 Pittsburgh 68-66 Texas Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh Illinois, Maryland
2009 Syracuse 87-71 North Carolina Wesley Johnson, Syracuse California, Ohio State
2008 Duke 71-56 Michigan Kyle Singler, Duke UCLA, Southern Illinois
2007 Memphis 81-70 Connecticut Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis Gardner-Webb, Oklahoma
2006 Maryland 62-60 Michigan State D.J. Strawberry, Maryland St. John's, Texas
2005 Florida 75-70 Syracuse Taurean Green, Florida Texas Tech, Wake Forest
2004 Syracuse 77-62 Memphis Hakim Warrick, Syracuse Mississippi State, St. Mary's
2003 Showcase Format - No Tournament
2002 Showcase Format - No Tournament
2001 Arizona 75-71 Florida Jason Gardner, Arizona Maryland, Temple
2000 Kansas 82-74 St. John's Kenny Gregory, Kansas Kentucky, UCLA
1999 Stanford 72-58 Iowa Jarron Collins, Stanford Connecticut, Duke
1998 Temple 59-48 Wake Forest Lamont Barnes, Temple Georgetown, Illinois
1997 Princeton 38-36 North Carolina State Brian Earl, Princeton Georgia, Texas
1996 Showcase Format - No Tournament
1995 Showcase Format - No Tournament

1Tournament held behind closed doors at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most appearances[]

Appearances Teams
5 Syracuse, Texas
4 Marquette, Memphis, St. John's
3 Alcorn State, California, UConn, Duke, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Temple, UC-Irvine, Wake Forest

Participants and brackets[]

* – Denotes overtime period

1995[]

Showcase Format – No Tournament
  • Game 1
       
    Penn State 88
    Penn 61
  • Game 2
       
    La Salle 68
    Marquette 65

    • 1996[]

    Showcase Format – No Tournament
  • Game 1
       
    Temple 76
    Georgia Tech 58
  • Game 2
       
    Saint Joseph's 67
    21 Tulsa 64

    • 1997[]

  • Semifinals Championship
          
    NC State 47
    19 Georgia 45
    Princeton 38
    NC State 36
    Princeton 62
    22 Texas 56 Consolation
    19 Georgia 89
    22 Texas 87

    • 1998[]

  • Semifinals Championship
          
    Wake Forest 75*
    Illinois 73
    7 Temple 59
    Wake Forest 48
    7 Temple 65
    Georgetown 49 Consolation
    Illinois 65
    Georgetown 50

    • 1999[]

  • Semifinals Championship
          
    13 Stanford 80*
    10 Duke 79
    13 Stanford 72
    Iowa 58
    Iowa 70
    1 Connecticut 68 Consolation
    1 Connecticut 71
    10 Duke 66

    • 2000[]

  • Semifinals Championship
          
    7 Kansas 99
    17 UCLA 98
    7 Kansas 82
    St. John's 74
    St. John's 62
    12 Kentucky 61 Consolation
    17 UCLA 97
    12 Kentucky 92

    • 2001[]

  • Semifinals Championship
          
    Arizona 71
    2 Maryland 67
    Arizona 75
    6 Florida 71
    6 Florida 72
    16 Temple 64 Consolation
    2 Maryland 82
    16 Temple 74

    • 2002[]

    Showcase Format – No Tournament
  • Game 1
       
    Memphis 70
    Syracuse 63
  • Game 2
       
    8 Alabama 68
    3 Oklahoma 62
  • Game 3
       
    18 Marquette 73
    Villanova 61
  • Game 4
       
    4 Texas 77
    16 Georgia 71

    • 2003[]

    Showcase Format – No Tournament
  • Game 1
       
    21 Wake Forest 85
    Memphis 76
  • Game 2
       
    23 Marquette 52
    St. John's 45
  • Game 3
       
    22 Pittsburgh 71
    Alabama 62
  • Game 4
       
    18 Saint Joseph's 73
    12 Gonzaga 66

    • 2004[]

  • Semifinals Championship
          
    6 Syracuse 71
    14 Mississippi State 58
    6 Syracuse 77
    23 Memphis 62
    23 Memphis 81
    Saint Mary's 66 Consolation
    14 Mississippi State 67
    Saint Mary's 54

    • 2005[]

  • Semifinals Championship
          
    16 Syracuse 81
    Texas Tech 46
    Florida 75
    16 Syracuse 70
    Florida 77
    18 Wake Forest 72 Consolation
    18 Wake Forest 78**
    Texas Tech 73

    • 2006[]

  • Semifinals Championship
          
    Michigan State 63
    18 Texas 61
    Maryland 62
    Michigan State 60
    Maryland 92
    St. John's 60 Consolation
    18 Texas 77
    St. John's 66

    • 2007[]

  • Semifinals Championship
          
    3 Memphis 63
      Oklahoma 53
    3 Memphis 81
    Connecticut 70
    Connecticut 78
    Gardner-Webb 66 Consolation
    Oklahoma 69
    Gardner-Webb 55

    • 2008[]

  • Semifinals Championship
          
    Michigan 55
    4 UCLA 52
    5 Duke 71
    Michigan 56
    5 Duke 83
    Southern Illinois 58 Consolation
    4 UCLA 77
    Southern Illinois 60

    • 2009[]

  • Semifinals Championship
          
    24 Syracuse 95
    12 California 73
    24 Syracuse 87
    4 North Carolina 71
    4 North Carolina 77
    15 Ohio State 73 Consolation
    12 California 60
    15 Ohio State 76

    • 2010[]

  • Semifinals Championship
          
    4 Pittsburgh 79
    Maryland 70
    4 Pittsburgh 68
    22 Texas 66
    16 Illinois 84
    Texas 90* Consolation
    16 Illinois 80
    Maryland 76

    • 2011[]

  • Semifinals Championship
          
    18 Texas A&M 60
    Mississippi State 69
    Mississippi State 67
    16 Arizona 57
    St. John's 72
    16 Arizona 81 Consolation
    18 Texas A&M 58
    St. John's 57

    • 2012[]

  • Semifinals
    November 15
    ESPN2     		Championship
    November 16
    ESPN2
          
    Alabama 65
    Oregon State 62
    Alabama 77
    Villanova 55
    Villanova 89*
    Purdue 81 Consolation
    November 16
    ESPNU
    Oregon State 66
    Purdue 58

    • 2013[]

  • Semifinals
    November 21
    ESPN2     		Championship
    November 22
    ESPN2
          
    Indiana 102
      Washington 84
    Indiana 58
    18 Connecticut 59
    18 Connecticut 72
    Boston College 70 Consolation
    November 22
    ESPNU
    Washington 78
    Boston College 89

    • 2014[]

  • Semifinals
    November 20
    ESPN2     		Championship
    November 21
    ESPN2
          
    10 Texas 71
    Iowa 57
    10 Texas 71
    California 55
    23 Syracuse 59
    California 73 Consolation
    November 21
    23 Syracuse 66
    Iowa 63

    • 2015[]

  • Semifinals
    November 20
    ESPN2     		Championship
    November 22
    ESPN
          
    5 Duke 79
    VCU 71
    5 Duke 86
    Georgetown 84
    Wisconsin 61
    Georgetown 71 Consolation
    November 22
    ESPN2
    VCU 73
    Wisconsin 74

    • 2016[]

  • Semifinals
    November 17     		Championship
    November 18
          
    Pittsburgh 67
    SMU 76
    SMU 54
    Michigan 76
    Michigan 79
    Marquette 61 Consolation
    Pittsburgh 78
    Marquette 75

    • 2017[]

  •   Semifinals
    November 16
    ESPN2     		    Championship
    November 17
    ESPN2
                     
        Providence 77  
        Washington 70    
            Providence 90
            Saint Louis 63
        Virginia Tech 71    
        Saint Louis 77   Consolation
    November 17
     
      Washington 79
        Virginia Tech 103
  •   Nashville Subregional Semifinals
    November 18     		    Championship
    November 19
                     
        Seattle 102  
        Detroit Mercy 71    
            Seattle 77
            Belmont 90
        Houston Baptist 88    
        Belmont 93   Consolation
    November 19
     
      Detroit Mercy 116
        Houston Baptist 109

    • 2018[]

    [11][12]

  •   Semifinals
    November 15
    ESPN2     		    Championship
    November 16
    ESPN2
                     
        Connecticut 83  
      15 Syracuse 76    
            Connecticut 72
            Iowa 91
        Iowa 77    
      13 Oregon 69   Consolation
    November 16
     
    15 Syracuse 65
      13 Oregon 80
  •   Cheney Subregional Semifinals
    November 16     		    Championship
    November 17
                     
        Morehead State 99  
        UMKC 89    
            Morehead State 70
            Green Bay 87
        Green Bay 82*    
        Eastern Washington 78   Consolation
    November 17
     
      UMKC 80
        Eastern Washington 87OT

    • 2019[]

    [13]

  •   Semifinals
    November 21
    ESPN2     		    Championship
    November 22
    ESPN2
                     
        Georgetown 82  
      22 Texas 66    
            Georgetown 73
          1 Duke 81
      1 Duke 87    
        California 52   Consolation
    November 22
     
    22 Texas 62
        California 45
  •   Riverside Subregional Semifinals
    November 22     		    Championship
    November 23
                     
        Georgia State 83  
        Prairie View A&M 74    
            Georgia State 69
            California Baptist 60
        Central Arkansas 98    
        California Baptist 104**   Consolation
    November 23
     
      Prairie View A&M 78
        Central Arkansas 72

    • 2020[]

    The 2020 tournament was held November 25–26 behind closed doors at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut as a result of COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions.

  •   Semifinals
    November 25
    ESPN     		    Championship
    November 26
    ESPN
                     
      3 Villanova 76  
        Boston College 67    
          3 Villanova 83
          18 Arizona State 74
      Rhode Island 88    
      18 Arizona State 94   Consolation
    November 26
     
      Boston College 69
        Rhode Island 64

    • 2021[]

    The top two teams in the country, Gonzaga and UCLA,[14] headlined the 27th annual Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project presented by Continental Tire, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV on November 22 and 23, the format reverted to showcase format. Joining them were Central Michigan and Bellarmine.[15]

    Showcase Format – No Tournament
  • November 22, 2021
       
    2 UCLA 75
    Bellarmine 62
  • November 22, 2021
       
    1 Gonzaga 107
    Central Michigan 54
  • November 23, 2021
       
    2 UCLA 63
    1 Gonzaga 83
  • November 23, 2021
       
      Bellarmine 76
      Central Michigan 69

    • 2022[]

    Syracuse, St. John's, and Temple will headline the 2022 Empire Classic, multiple sources told College Hoops Today. The fourth team location, and format of the event is TBD.[16]

    References[]

    1. ^ "Plenty of changes next year for Coaches vs Cancer". si.com. si.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
    2. ^ a b c Freeman, Tristan, "NCAA Basketball: Biggest takeaways from 2020 2K Empire Classic," bustingbrackets.com, November 27, 2020 Accessed March 11, 2021
    3. ^ "2008 Bracket" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
    4. ^ "2009 Bracket" (PDF).[permanent dead link]
    5. ^ "2010 Bracket" (PDF).[permanent dead link]
    6. ^ "2011 Bracket" (PDF).[permanent dead link]
    7. ^ "2012 Bracket" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
    8. ^ "2013 Bracket" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
    9. ^ "2014 Bracket" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-08. Retrieved 2014-12-05.
    10. ^ "Michigan, Pitt, Marquette, and SMU Headline 2016 2K Classic". 2K Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project. Gazelle Groups. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
    11. ^ "2018-19 College Basketball Early Season Tournaments, Events, And Neutral-Site Games". Blogging the Bracket. Archived from the original on 2017-12-02. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
    12. ^ "2018 Bracket" (PDF). Gazelle Groups. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
    13. ^ "2019 Schedule". Gazelle Groups. Archived from the original on 2019-09-14. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
    14. ^ "UCLA to Face Bellarmine, Gonzaga in Empire Classic". UCLABruins.com. UCLA Athletics.
    15. ^ "Gonzaga and UCLA to meet in the 2021 Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project presented by Continental Tire". Empire Classic. Gazelle Group. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
    16. ^ Rothstein, Jon (January 4, 2022). "Syracuse, St. John's, Temple to headline 2022 Empire Classic". CollegeHoopsToday.com. CollegeHoopsToday.com. Retrieved 4 January 2022.

    External links[]

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