Nov. 30, 2013
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech has been named to the eight-team field that will compete in the 2014 Old Spice Classic, which features the current No. 1 and No. 2-ranked teams, Michigan State and Kansas, along with Georgia Tech, Marquette, Rider, Tennessee, Santa Clara and Xavier.
The ninth annual event will be held Thanksgiving weekend, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Nov. 27, 28 and 30, at the HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. This will be the Yellow Jackets’ first appearance in the event.
Tech has played in a Thanksgiving week event every year since 2006, including the Maui Invitational, Paradise Jam, Puerto Rico Tipoff, Battle 4 Atlantis, Legends Classic, Charleston Invitational and DirecTV Anaheim Classic prior to this season’s Barclays Center Classic. The Jackets were 10-8 in those events.
Michigan State, where Tech coach Brian Gregory spent eight years as an assistant coach between 1992 and 2003, is ranked No. 1 in this week’s Associated Press preseason poll, while Kansas is ranked No. 2 and Marquette is No. 25. Five of the teams are making their second appearance in the Old Spice Classic: Marquette (2009); Michigan State (2008); Rider (2007); Tennessee (2008) and Xavier (2009).
The 2014 Old Spice Classic, a bracket-format tournament, will feature 12 games over the three days. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout will face off in a championship match Sunday, Nov. 30.
Gonzaga captured the 2012 Old Spice Classic title, its second tournament championship (also 2008). Previous winners were Dayton (2011), Notre Dame (2010), Florida State (2009), North Carolina State (2007) and Arkansas (2006).
For more information, including travel packages, visit the Old Spice Classic web site at www.oldspiceclassic.com.
The Old Spice Classic is owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television, a subsidiary of ESPN.
About Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball
Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team is in its third year under head coach Brian Gregory. The Yellow Jackets have been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since 1979, won three ACC Championships, played in the NCAA Tournament 16 times and played in two Final Fours (1990, 2004).
Connect with Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball on social media by liking their Facebook Page, or following on Twitter (@GTMBK). For more information on Tech basketball, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN Regional Television (ERT), owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes two Labor Day weekend college football games; 11 college bowl games and eight college basketball events, which accounts for approximately 200 hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over a half a million attendees each year. With satellite offices in Boise, Birmingham, Dallas-Fort Worth, Albuquerque, St. Petersburg and Las Vegas, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.
A subsidiary of ESPN, ERT is also the production headquarters for ESPNU; syndication rights-holder and producer of national and regional shows for college conferences (American, Big 12, Mid-American, SEC) and manages the Big 12 Corporate Partner Program.
