Bethune–Cookman University is a private historically black university in Daytona Beach, Florida. Bethune–Cookman University is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The primary administration building, White Hall, and the Mary McLeod Bethune Home are two historic locations.
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. In 2019, the event was renamed the 2K Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project, commonly referred to as the "Empire Classic."
The College Basketball Invitational (CBI) is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group. The inaugural tournament occurred after the conclusion of the 2007–08 men's college basketball regular season. The CBI selects 16 teams that are not selected for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), and who are willing to pay a $27,500 entry fee to participate. In the CBI, prior to 2020 teams competed on home courts. After the post-COVID pandemic revival, the tournament has been staged at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. The CBI is a single-elimination tournament. Prior to 2020, the tournament was single elimination until the final two teams were determined, after which the championship was determined by a championship series with a best-two-out-of-three format. Since the tournament's 2021 revival and adoption of the single-site format, the championship is also determined by a single game. In 2023, the CBI introduced NIL funding of $40,000 to be distributed in the following manner: $25,000 to the champion, $10,000 to the runner-up, and $2,500 to each semifinalist.
The Las Vegas Invitational is an 8 team college basketball tournament held during Thanksgiving of NCAA Division I men's college basketball season annually since 2003. The Tournament was originally held in the gymnasium of Valley High School, until moving to the new Orleans Arena in 2006.
The Bethune–Cookman Wildcats men's basketball team represents Bethune–Cookman University in the sport of basketball. The Wildcats compete in the NCAA Division I and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). They play their home games in Moore Gymnasium on campus in Daytona Beach, Florida. They are coached by former NBA player and Sacramento Kings coach Reggie Theus. The team has been playing since 1930, having joined Division I along with the rest of the conference in 1980.
The Legends Classic is an annual, early-season, college basketball tournament which started in 2007 and takes place at the beginning of the college basketball season in November. Four teams compete in the Legends Classic. The tournament has been held at various venues in the New York metropolitan area, primarily the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The 2014 NCAA Division I softball tournament was held from May 15 through June 5, 2014 as the final part of the 2014 NCAA Division I softball season. The 64 NCAA Division I college softball teams were selected out of an eligible 293 teams on May 11, 2014. 32 teams were awarded an automatic bid as champions of their conference, and 32 teams were selected at-large by the NCAA Division I Softball Selection Committee. The tournament culminated with eight teams playing in the 2014 Women's College World Series at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
The 2016–17 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats men's basketball team represented Bethune-Cookman University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Wildcats, led by sixth-year head coach Gravelle Craig, played their home games at the Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Florida as members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. They finished the season 10–22, 6–10 in MEAC play to finish in tenth place. They defeated Delaware State before losing in the quarterfinals of the MEAC tournament to North Carolina Central.
Ryan Ridder is an American college basketball coach and current head coach for the UT Martin Skyhawks men's basketball team. He previously served as the head coach at Bethune-Cookman.
The Myrtle Beach Invitational is an in-season college basketball tournament owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television that takes place in late November of each year, usually the week before Thanksgiving.
Jawill Davis is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent. He played college football at Bethune–Cookman.
The 2018–19 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats men's basketball team represented Bethune-Cookman University in the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by second year head coach Ryan Ridder, they played their home games at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Florida as members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. They finished the season 14–17 overall, 9–7 in MEAC play, finishing in a tie for fifth place. The team received a No. 5 seed in the MEAC tournament, where they were defeated 71–80 in the quarterfinals by No. 5 seed Howard.
The 2021 College Basketball Invitational (CBI) was a single-elimination men's college basketball tournament consisting of eight National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams that did not participate in the 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament or the NIT. It was held from March 22 to 24. This event marked the 13th year the tournament has been held, after the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2021, the CBI was reported to be exploring holding its annual postseason tournament in a neutral site format rather than on campus. Subsequently, the site was announced as being the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. Pepperdine won the tournament.
The 2022 College Basketball Invitational (CBI) was a single-elimination, fully-bracketed men’s college basketball postseason tournament featuring 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams not selected to participate in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The tournament began on March 19 and concluded on March 23. Semifinal and championship games aired on ESPN2. The tournament was won by UNC Wilmington.
The 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference baseball tournament began on May 20 and ended on May 23 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. It was a six-team double elimination tournament. Bethune-Cookman won the tournament, as they have done each year but one since the tournament began in 1999. The Wildcats claimed the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.
The 2009 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference baseball tournament began on May 14 and ended on May 17 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. It was a six-team double elimination tournament. Bethune-Cookman won the tournament, as they have done each year but one since the tournament began in 1999. The Wildcats claimed the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.
The 2021–22 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats men's basketball team represented Bethune–Cookman University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Wildcats, led by first-year head coach Reggie Theus, played their home games at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Florida as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
The 2022–23 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bearcats were led by second-year head coach Wes Miller. The team played their home games at Fifth Third Arena as members of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 23–13, 11–7 in AAC play to finish in fourth place. They defeated Temple in the quarterfinals of the AAC tournament, before losing to Houston in the semifinals. They received an at-large bid to the National Invitation Tournament. There they defeated Virginia Tech and Hofstra before losing to Utah Valley in the quarterfinals.
The 2022–23 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats men's basketball team represented Bethune–Cookman University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Wildcats, led by second-year head coach Reggie Theus, played their home games at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Florida as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
The 2023–24 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats men's basketball team represents Bethune–Cookman University during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Wildcats, led by third-year head coach Reggie Theus, play their home games at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Florida as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
