Anticipated in the next week are the brackets for the ESPN operated and broadcasted multi-team exempt events. Eight of these events follow a standard 8-team, 3-round format. The line-up is usually highlighted by the Maui Invitational and the Battle 4 Atlantis, but this year the quinquennial (I looked this word up) tournaments honoring Nike figurehead Phil Knight join the fray of elite events. The other such events include the Myrtle Beach Invitational, Charleston Classic, ESPN Events Invitational at Disney World and the Diamondhead Invitational in Honolulu.
Predictions for these tournaments were based off several factors, including favorable match-ups for presumed favorites, instigating rivalries and, in this active climate of conference realignment, keeping teams from the same conference on opposite sides of the bracket. 2023 preseason T-Ratings from Bart Torvik were used to classify the teams.
Charleston Classic
This event features a slew of teams from the Carolinas and Virginia but just one team cracking the Top 50 in preseason ratings, with Virginia Tech being at #22. This makes the Hokies the overwhelming favorite, likely earning them a favorable, and in-commonwealth, opponent in Old Dominion for round-one.
On the other side of the bracket are three Palmetto State teams, the lowest ranked of which being from a power conference. A first-round match-up between form SoCon rivals Furman and Charleston will create an great atmosphere, with the game being played at Charleston's arena. The Gamecocks playing in the adjacent game will guarantee two games between teams from the host state, with either Furman or Charleston getting a shot at their SEC big brother.
Bracket Prediction
Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion
Penn State vs. Davidson
Colorado State vs. South Carolina
Furman vs. Charleston
Myrtle Beach Invitational
This is another event with only one Top 50 team, however Loyola-Chicago is just on the outside at 51st, behind Texas A&M in 19th. This bracket is also complicated by joint A10 membership by Massachusetts and Loyola-Chicago, and a separate non-conference match-up between Texas A&M and Boise State. An Aggies-Ramblers final is what this bracket will lead towards, and match-ups against my, sigh, 49ers and the rebuilding Racers will help the odds of that happening.
Bracket Prediction
Texas A&M vs. Charlotte
Colorado vs. Massachusetts
Boise State vs. Tulsa
Loyola-Chicago vs. Murray State
ESPN Events Invitational
The quality of this field would be on par with the premier events if not for the MAAC's token participant as tournament host, Siena, being ranked 329th entering the season. Six of the seven other teams are all in the Top 75, with Nebraska just missing out in 91st. The only limitation to this event is a non-conference game scheduled between Ole Miss and Memphis, splitting those teams in the bracket.
Bracket Prediction
Memphis vs. Siena
Stanford vs. Seton Hall
Ole Miss vs. Florida State
Oklahoma vs. Nebraska
Diamondhead Invitational
This is a West Coast heavy field that is not brimming with a ton of quality, with 53rd ranked Washington State the early favorite. Aside from 67th ranked Utah State the remaining teams are between 132nd and 173rd. Rick Pitino's Iona Gaels always have the potential to make some noise while Hawaii's home court (and time zone) advantage could propel them far into the event.
Bracket Prediction
Washington State vs. Pepperdine
Hawaii vs. Seattle
Iona vs. SMU
Utah State vs. George Washington
Phil Knight Legacy
This is certainly an interesting field with two Top 5 teams, two teams outside the Top 250 and the remaining four all between 21st and 29th. Gonzaga and Duke will play what are essentially first round byes, I predict Duke to draw Oregon State as a move from the Deep State to keep a power conference win off Gonzaga's resume. A Gavitt Games match-up between Xavier and West Virginia should split these two teams to opposite sides of the bracket. There is no way to sort out the four middle teams that wouldn't create a compelling first round.
Bracket Prediction
Gonzaga vs. Portland State
Xavier vs. Purdue
Florida vs. West Virginia
Duke vs. Oregon State
Phil Knight Invitational
The local representative in this Phil Knight tournament definitely has more bite than their cross-town rival. The Portland Pilots should be locks to face of against the 4th-ranked Tar Heels, but are good enough to give any of the participants trouble, especially in front of a home crowd. The bracket needs to split up Big East members Connecticut and Villanova, which slots in Iowa State as the first round opponent for the Wildcats in Kyle Neptune's first spotlight game at the helm.
Bracket Prediction
North Carolina vs. Portland
Michigan State vs. Connecticut
Oregon vs. Alabama
Villanova vs. Iowa State
Battle 4 Atlantis
The fields keep getting better as we go, with Butler at 101st taking on the role of caboose to this field. However, it would not shock anyone to see Thad Matta outplay that initial prediction. Kansas and Tennessee get split up to set-up a final round game between the two Rop-10 teams. And who could resist the urge to showcase a future Big Ten rivalry and pit some Mormons against some Catholics?
Bracket Prediction
Tennessee vs. Butler
Dayton vs. BYU
USC vs. Wisconsin
Kansas vs. NC State
Maui Invitational
This year's Maui field lives up to this event's reputation, including three teams in the Top 15 and no team ranked lower than 89th, in rebuilding Louisville. Arkansas and Texas Tech share one side of a bracket, setting up a potential South West Conference throwback. On the other side of the bracket Arizona and San Diego State could meet in a celebration of West Coast hoops, but Creighton may have other ideas.
Bracket Prediction
Arizona vs. Louisville
San Diego State vs. Creighton
Texas Tech vs. Cincinnati
Arkansas vs. Ohio State
