Aug. 3, 2011
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team will open its competition in the 2011 Charleston Classic presented by Foster Grant with an 8 p.m. game on Nov. 17 against Saint Joseph’s, the first meeting between the two teams since the 2001 NCAA Tournament. ESPN Regional Television announced the bracket and pairings Wednesday for the event, which will be played Nov. 17, 18 and 20 at the Carolina First Arena in Charleston, S.C.
The bracket-format tournament will feature 12 games in three days with an off day on Saturday, Nov. 19. Each team will compete in one game per day, with the two teams that remain undefeated facing off in a championship match Sunday, Nov. 20, at 8:30 p.m. on ESPNU. Five games in the Charleston Classic will be televised on ESPNU, though the Yellow Jackets’ path in the bracket does not include a televised game unless they reach the championship.
The Hawks defeated the Jackets, 66-62, in the first round of the 2001 NCAA West Regional at Cox Arena in San Diego, the teams’ only previous meeting. Also on Tech’s side of the bracket are VCU, which advanced to the Final Four last season in Houston, and Seton Hall, who will play their first-round game at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 17. If Tech defeats Saint Joseph’s, it will meet the VCU-Seton Hall winner in a semi-final game at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. If the Jackets lose their first-round game, they will meet the VCU-Seton Hall loser at 8:30 p.m. Nov. 18.
The first-round matchups on the other side of the bracket include Tulsa vs. Western Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 17, and LSU vs. Northwestern at 3 p.m. the same day.
Tech and VCU have met once previously, an 86-65 Yellow Jacket win in Atlanta on Dec. 29, 2003, the 12th win in a 12-0 start that helped propel the Jackets to the National Championship game later that season. Tech has a 2-1 record against Seton Hall, most recently defeating the Pirates, 88-78, in the first round of the 1998 NIT at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
Among the four potential opponents for the final round, Northwestern is already on the Yellow Jackets’ schedule this season. The Wildcats come to Atlanta for an ACC-Big Ten Challenge matchup at Philips Arena on Nov. 29, a rematch of the Jackets’ 91-71 loss last November in Evanston, Ill. LSU has a 20-14 lead in the all-time series with Tech, but the Yellow Jackets have on the last two meetings, including a 94-91 decision over a Tiger team led by Shaquille O’Neal, Stanley Roberts and Chris Jackson in the second round of the 1990 NCAA Southeast Regional in Knoxville, Tenn. Tech has never met Tulsa or Western Kentucky in basketball.
Georgetown captured the Charleston Classic title last season, beating NC State 82-67 in the championship game. Previous champions were Clemson in 2008 and Miami (Fla.) in 2009.
Fans can purchase tickets to all six sessions (12 games) for $90 each, or single-session tickets (two games) for $20 each. “Booster tickets” are also available for $50, allowing entrance to all three sessions (six games) involving the pre-designated team of your choice. Tickets are available at www.CharlestonClassic.com or by visiting or calling the Carolina First Arena box office at (843) 953-2632.
Fans can purchase official hotel accommodations and game tickets by going to www.anthonytravel.com (search Charleston Classic) or by calling 1-888-632-6951.
For more information about the tournament, please visit the official Web site, follow on Twitter @CharlestonClsc and “like” the event on Facebook.
Tech’s entire 2011-12 schedule will be announced later this month.
