Empire Classic

Last updated
A 2K Sports Classic game in 2008 20081121 Manny Harris shoots Free Throws at 2K Sports Classic.jpg
A 2K Sports Classic game in 2008

The Empire Classic, formerly known as the 2K Sports Classic, is an annual college basketball event 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 event 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."

Contents


History

The first two events were doubleheader showcases held at the Atlantic City Convention Center (now Boardwalk Hall). From 1997 through 2001, the event was played as a tournament. Princeton won the first tournament in 1997, which took place at Continental Airlines Arena in the New Jersey Meadowlands.

In 1998, the event moved to Madison Square Garden in New York City, where it remained through 2019. In both 2002 and 2003, it was played as a showcase doubleheader. In 2004, it became a tournament again, with a new format as a 16-team event with teams from 16 separate conferences. Four predetermined regional round hosts played two games at home and the winners play in the semifinals and finals at Madison Square Garden. Syracuse won the first tournament played in this format, beating Memphis, 77–62, in 2004.

In 2007, Gardner–Webb unexpectedly won at Kentucky, 84–68, and advanced to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden, preventing one of the tournament's marquee teams from playing there. To ensure that the marquee teams would play in the semifinals in the 2008 tournament, 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 was 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 campus sites.

In 2014, the tournament format changed again, with eight teams from eight separate conferences invited to the tournament. Two games were held at four different regional sites selected before the tournament. The semifinals and finals were held at Madison Square Garden and the remaining four teams played in a tournament format at a predetermined on-campus site. This format persisted through 2019.

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] With no fans permitted to attend, it took place behind closed doors at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Only four teams participated. Baylor withdrew from it after head coach Scott Drew tested positive for COVID-19; [2] Rhode Island replaced Baylor. [2]

In 2021, the tournament format was dropped, and the Empire Classic took place as a showcase event at T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. Four teams participated, and the event consisted of two doubleheaders played over the course of two days, [3] [4]

Yearly champions, runners-up, and MVPs

YearWinnerScoreOpponentTournament MVPOther participantsVenue
2023 UConn 81–71 Texas Tristen Newton, UConn Indiana, Louisville Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
2022 St. John's 76–69 Syracuse André Curbelo, St. John's Richmond, Temple Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
2021Showcase Format – No Tournament T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
20201 Villanova 83–74 Arizona State Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova Boston College, Rhode Island Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
2019 Duke 81–73 Georgetown Vernon Carey Jr., Duke Texas, California Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
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
2003Showcase Format – No Tournament
2002Showcase 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 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1996Showcase Format – No Tournament Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
1995Showcase Format – No Tournament

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

Most appearances

AppearancesTeams
5 Syracuse, Texas
4 Marquette, Memphis, St. John's, UConn
3 Alcorn State, California, 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
Princeton38
NC State 36
Princeton 62
22 Texas 56 Consolation
19 Georgia89
22 Texas 87

1998

Semifinals Championship
      
Wake Forest 75*
Illinois 73
7 Temple59
Wake Forest 48
7 Temple 65
Georgetown 49 Consolation
Illinois65
Georgetown 50


1999

Semifinals Championship
      
13 Stanford 80*
10 Duke 79
13 Stanford72
Iowa 58
Iowa 70
1 Connecticut 68 Consolation
1 Connecticut71
10 Duke 66


2000

Semifinals Championship
      
7 Kansas 99
17 UCLA 98
7 Kansas82
St. John's 74
St. John's 62
12 Kentucky 61 Consolation
17 UCLA97
12 Kentucky 92


2001

Semifinals Championship
      
Arizona 71
2 Maryland 67
Arizona75
6 Florida 71
6 Florida 72
16 Temple 64 Consolation
2 Maryland82
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 Syracuse71
14 Mississippi State 58
6 Syracuse77
23 Memphis 62
23 Memphis81
Saint Mary's 66 Consolation
14 Mississippi State67
Saint Mary's 54

2005

Semifinals Championship
      
16 Syracuse81
Texas Tech 46
Florida75
16 Syracuse 70
Florida77
18 Wake Forest 72 Consolation
18 Wake Forest78**
Texas Tech 73

2006

Semifinals Championship
      
Michigan State63
18 Texas 61
Maryland62
Michigan State 60
Maryland92
St. John's 60 Consolation
18 Texas77
St. John's 66

2007

Semifinals Championship
      
3 Memphis63
 Oklahoma 53
3 Memphis81
Connecticut 70
Connecticut78
Gardner–Webb 66 Consolation
Oklahoma69
Gardner–Webb 55

2008

Semifinals Championship
      
Michigan55
4 UCLA 52
5 Duke71
Michigan 56
5 Duke83
Southern Illinois 58 Consolation
4 UCLA77
Southern Illinois 60

2009

Semifinals Championship
      
24 Syracuse95
12 California 73
24 Syracuse87
4 North Carolina 71
4 North Carolina77
15 Ohio State 73 Consolation
12 California 60
15 Ohio State76

2010

Semifinals Championship
      
4 Pittsburgh79
Maryland 70
4 Pittsburgh68
22 Texas 66
16 Illinois 84
Texas90*Consolation
16 Illinois80
Maryland 76

2011

Semifinals Championship
      
18 Texas A&M 60
Mississippi State69
Mississippi State67
16 Arizona 57
St. John's 72
16 Arizona81Consolation
18 Texas A&M58
St. John's 57

2012

Semifinals
November 15
ESPN2 		Championship
November 16
ESPN2
      
Alabama65
Oregon State 62
Alabama77
Villanova 55
Villanova89*
Purdue 81 Consolation
Oregon State66
Purdue 58

2013

Semifinals
November 21
ESPN2 		Championship
November 22
ESPN2
      
Indiana102
Washington 84
Indiana 58
18 Connecticut59
18 Connecticut72
Boston College 70 Consolation
Washington 78
Boston College89

2014

Semifinals
November 20
ESPN2 		Championship
November 21
ESPN2
      
10 Texas71
Iowa 57
10 Texas71
California 55
23 Syracuse 59
California73Consolation
23 Syracuse66
Iowa 63

2015

Semifinals
November 20
ESPN2 		Championship
November 22
ESPN
      
5 Duke79
VCU 71
5 Duke86
Georgetown 84
Wisconsin 61
Georgetown71Consolation
VCU 73
Wisconsin74

2016

Semifinals
November 17 		Championship
November 18
      
Pittsburgh 67
SMU76
SMU 54
Michigan76
Michigan79
Marquette 61 Consolation
Pittsburgh78
Marquette 75

2017

Semifinals
November 16
ESPN2 		Championship
November 17
ESPN2
      
  Providence 77
  Washington 70
 Providence90
 Saint Louis 63
  Virginia Tech 71
  Saint Louis 77Consolation
 Washington 79
 Virginia Tech103
Nashville Subregional Semifinals
November 18 		Championship
November 19
      
  Seattle 102
  Detroit Mercy 71
 Seattle 77
 Belmont90
  Houston Baptist 88
  Belmont 93Consolation
 Detroit Mercy116
 Houston Baptist 109

2018

[13] [14]

Semifinals
November 15
ESPN2 		Championship
November 16
ESPN2
      
  Connecticut 83
15 Syracuse 76
 Connecticut 72
 Iowa91
  Iowa 77
13 Oregon 69 Consolation
15 Syracuse 65
13 Oregon80
Cheney Subregional Semifinals
November 16 		Championship
November 17
      
  Morehead State 99
  UMKC 89
 Morehead State 70
 Green Bay87
  Green Bay 82*
  Eastern Washington 78 Consolation
 UMKC 80
 Eastern Washington87OT

2019

[15]

Semifinals
November 21
ESPN2 		Championship
November 22
ESPN2
      
 Georgetown82
22 Texas 66
  Georgetown 73
1 Duke81
1 Duke 87
  California 52 Consolation
22 Texas62
 California 45
Riverside Subregional Semifinals
November 22 		Championship
November 23
      
  Georgia State 83
  Prairie View A&M 74
 Georgia State69
 California Baptist 60
  Central Arkansas 98
  California Baptist 104**Consolation
 Prairie View A&M78
 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 Villanova83
18 Arizona State 74
Rhode Island 88
18 Arizona State 94Consolation
 Boston College69
 Rhode Island 64

2021

The top two teams in the country, Gonzaga and UCLA, [16] headlined the 27th annual Empire Classic, held at T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 22 and 23. Joining them were Central Michigan and Bellarmine. [17] The format reverted to a showcase event.

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 Gonzaga83
November 23, 2021
   
 Bellarmine76
 Central Michigan 69

2022

The tournament took place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on November 21 and 22, 2022. [18]

Game recaps: [19] [20] [21] [22]

Semifinals
November 21
ESPN2/ESPNU 		Championship
November 22
ESPN2
    
Syracuse 74*
Richmond 71
Syracuse 69
St. John's76*
St. John's 78
Temple 72 Consolation
Richmond61
Temple 49

* – Denotes overtime period

2023

The tournament took place on November 19 and 20, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York. [23]

Semifinals
November 19
ESPN2/ESPNU 		Championship
November 20
ESPN2
    
No. 5 UConn 77
Indiana 57
No. 5 UConn81
No. 15 Texas 71
No. 19 Texas 81
Louisville 80 Consolation
Indiana74
Louisville 66

* – Denotes overtime period

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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. 1 2 3 Freeman, Tristan, "NCAA Basketball: Biggest takeaways from 2020 2K Empire Classic," bustingbrackets.com, November 27, 2020 Accessed March 11, 2021
  3. ↑ "UCLA to Face Bellarmine, Gonzaga in Empire Classic". UCLABruins.com. UCLA Athletics.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "2008 Bracket" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "2009 Bracket" (PDF). GazelleGroup.com. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  7. ↑ "2010 Bracket" (PDF). GazelleGroup.com. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  8. ↑ "2011 Bracket" (PDF). GazelleGroup.com. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  9. ↑ "2012 Bracket" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  10. ↑ "2013 Bracket" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
  11. ↑ "2014 Bracket" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-08. Retrieved 2014-12-05.
  12. ↑ "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.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "2018 Bracket" (PDF). Gazelle Groups. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  15. ↑ "2019 Schedule". Gazelle Groups. Archived from the original on 2019-09-14. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  16. ↑ "UCLA to Face Bellarmine, Gonzaga in Empire Classic". UCLABruins.com. UCLA Athletics.
  17. ↑ "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.
  18. ↑ "2022–23 Men's College Basketball Early Season Tournaments and Exempt Multi-Team Events (MTEs)". SB Nation. April 22, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Syracuse Needs OT to Top Richmond, Reach Empire Final". ESPN. November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Saint John's (NY) Defeats Temple 78–72". The Associated Press. November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Curbelo, St. John's Wins Legends, Top Syracuse 76–69 in OT". ESPN. November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Burton Leads Richmond over Temple 61–49 in Empire Classic". ESPN. November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  23. ↑ "2023 Empire Classic Field Announced". empireclassic.net. April 4, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.