Springfield, MA – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame today announced the field of teams and game schedule for the 2011 Basketball Hall of Fame’s Tip-Off Tournament, an annual NCAA men’s basketball exempt tournament sponsored by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off will take place on Saturday, November 19th, and Sunday, November 20th at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Eight schools will compete in two four-team brackets over the weekend at one of the premier destinations in New England.
Teams scheduled to compete in the 2011 Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off are: Long Island University (Northeast), Marist College (MAAC), Old Dominion University (CAA), Penn State University (Big Ten), Radford University (Big South), University of Kentucky (SEC), University of South Florida (Big East) and the University of Vermont (America East).
“The 2011 Hall of Fame Tip-Off will showcase excellent basketball at one of the finest facilities in New England,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “The participating schools are rich in basketball tradition and we look forward to welcoming each of them to this exciting tournament and the Basketball Hall of Fame in November.”
The game schedule at Mohegan Sun opens with four games on November 19th – separated into two sessions. In first round action of Bracket 1, Long Island University takes on Radford University and the University of Vermont battles Marist College. First round action of Bracket 2 will feature Old Dominion University taking on the University of South Florida while the University of Kentucky will face Penn State University.
Games conclude on Sunday, November 20th with four games – consolation and championship games of Bracket 1 and Bracket 2. Game times and sessions for both rounds will be announced at a later date.
“We are thrilled to be continuing our relationship with the Basketball Hall of Fame and to be hosting the Tip-Off Tournament here at Mohegan Sun this coming November,” said Jeff Hartmann, President and Chief Executive Officer for Mohegan Sun. “As one of the top-ranked entertainment venues in the world, we have hosted some of the best sporting events around and the Tip-Off event is no exception.“
In addition to the games at Mohegan Sun Arena, Old Dominion University, Penn State University, University of Kentucky and the University of South Florida will each host two campus site games as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off. Those games are scheduled between November 11 and November 23, 2011.
Four of the games from Mohegan Sun will be televised by ESPN networks. Television details will be announced at a later date.
“ESPN is thrilled to partner with the Basketball Hall of Fame to bring exciting early season college basketball competition to fans of these great universities across the country,” said Nick Dawson, Director of Programming and Acquisitions at ESPN. “We share the Hall of Fame’s passion for the sport of college basketball and look forward to a great event in November.”
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will serve as the host conference for the annual event. The MAAC will host the men’s and women’s basketball championships at the MassMutual Center in Springfield beginning in March 2012 and has developed a strong partnership with the Basketball Hall of Fame, including the opening of a MAAC exhibit in the Hall of Fame museum that will be unveiled in the fall.
“The MAAC is excited to extend its support of the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Tip-Off Tournament again in 2011,” said Rich Ensor, Commissioner of the MAAC. “The MAAC and the Hall of Fame continue to expand its relationship and we look forward to working together in the future on many projects, including the Tip-Off Tournament.”
Tickets for the 2011 Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off at Mohegan Sun Arena will go on-sale in the near future. For more information on the Hall of Fame Tip-Off, ticket packages and hospitality packages for the weekend games, log onto www.halloffametipoff.com
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Birthplace of Basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate, men and women. For more information on these and other upcoming events, please visit our website at www.hoophall.com or call 413-781-6500.
About Mohegan Sun:
Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mohegan Tribe, is one of the largest, most distinctive and spectacular entertainment, gaming and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 240 acres along the Thames River in scenic southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on facebook.com/mohegansun, follow us on twitter.com/mohegansun and view us on youtube.com/mohegansunvideos.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The MAAC, headquartered in Edison, N.J., consists of 10 member institutions: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Loyola University Maryland, Manhattan College, Marist College, Niagara University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s College and Siena College. For more on the conference, please visit www.maacsports.com.
