It’s Thanksgiving week, which means we’ve got college basketball tournaments. None of the stature of the NIT, of course, but many that are fun. Let’s go through them. But only their names (also only the ones that are actual tournaments, and they have to start this week not finish this week [sorry U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam]).
Gulf Coast Showcase
This name is boring. No sponsor? Come on. If you’re a storied nonconference tournament, you don’t need a sponsor. If you’re the Gulf Coast Showcase? Go for the most obnoxious sponsor available.
Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship
Awesome name. No idea what Baha Mar is but assuming it has to do with the Bahamas because this is in Nassau. See, Gulf Coast Showcase? Here I am, asking questions.
Naples Invitational
Again, not getting a lot out of this one. In fact, is it part of the Gulf Coast Showcase? Because Naples is on the Gulf Coast. Confusion reigns in Florida. Even more than is customary.
Maui Jim Maui Invitational
For the second straight year, the Maui Invitational isn’t in Maui. It’s in Las Vegas. This is a great chapter in Maui Invitational history. The tournament traveling, and traveling by necessity rather than as a gimmick, is quite the historic twist.
Mammoth Sports Construction Crossover Classic
Ok this breaks our rules by not being an actual tournament, but I think this was previously the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic and I admire 1) the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls and 2) the dedication of whoever’s running this to getting a sponsor who is both hilarious and blue collar.
Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans Fort Myers Tip-Off
This breaks our rules because there were some “campus site games” (not tournament games) last week, but this has two divisions, Beach and Palms; it has some solid teams; and it’s slightly tricky to say its name in one breath which is always a good gag.
Roman Legends Classic Presented by Old Trapper
Boners! Unless this is a different Roman, in which case, You didn’t make it clear this wasn’t boners! Old Trapper, are you also boners?
No shock at all that Northwestern is in the boner pill tournament. I hope they paid Tony Bennett extra on the side, though, because Virginia’s in this too. Tom Crean and Providence are also in this and I don’t know, this might be the funniest one this year. It’s in Newark.
Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker
Unlike the Hall of Fame Tip-Off this past weekend, which was in Connecticut instead of being where the Hall of Fame is, this is in Kansas City instead of being where the Hall of Fame is. Unless they’re referring to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, this is a great misnomer. Makes a ton of sense when you find out the teams are all from the lower heartland.
SoCal Challenge
Like the Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans Fort Myers Tip-Off, this started last week on some campuses. Like the Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans Fort Myers Tip-Off, this has two divisions: Surf and Sand. Unlike the Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans Fort Myers Tip-Off, only half of this (Sand Division) is a tournament while the other half (Surf Division) is a showcase. Some are calling this the West Coast Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans Fort Myers Tip-Off, but I ask: Should we really be calling the Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans Fort Myers Tip-Off the East Coast SoCal Challenge?
Good Sam Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project
This isn’t a tournament, but it is the vessel through which we’re getting Gonzaga/UCLA. God bless the Good Sam Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project. Additionally, thank you for supporting the troops.
Cancún Challenge
Good name. I’m going to stop telling you about campus site games as long as it has a tournament at the end. Seems fair. Anyway, this has two divisions and they’re Riviera and Mayan and I don’t exactly know why but the difference between those names is cracking me up.
Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis
Mm!! The classic.
NIT Season Tip-Off
Oh now we’re really partying this is the biggest tournament until March.
ESPN Events Invitational
They couldn’t get a sponsor! ESPN couldn’t get a sponsor! For a tournament featuring Kansas!!
Las Vegas Invitational
Not to be confused with the…
Las Vegas Classic
Love this pair.
Wooden Legacy
Shouldn’t it be the Wooden Legacy…something? Like the Wooden Legacy Tournament or something? The Wooden Legacy is a great legacy, but those words do not, on their own, signify competition is being had.
Baha Mar Bahamas Championship
Baha Mar, all over the place this year. We may well find out what it is.
Emerald Coast Classic
I have no idea how this isn’t in Ireland. How is anything in the United States allowed to use the word emerald? This is like the thing with bourbon outside of Kentucky.
Eracism Invitational
Ok this isn’t a tournament, it’s a showcase, but holy shit that does not sound like an organization devoted to eradicating racism. That sounds like an organization that’s going to do racism, but online. Thankfully, it’s the former. Possibly because plenty of folks are already doing the latter.
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Happy hoops. Thank you to Blogging the Bracket at SB Nation for having all the necessary details readily available.
