I thought there were only 4 teams making the trip to Vegas after playing 2 games at home. Then the 2 winners from Friday play on Saturday as do the losers, for a total of 4 games. If there are 8 teams, who are the other 4?
The other 4 teams are Seattle U., Presbyterian U., Wooford, and Southern U. In addition to providing the first 2 home games for each of the other 4 schools, they play in the 2 afternoon sessions in Las Vegas on Nov. 27 & 28.--
http://www.orleansarena.com/event-calendar/las-vegas-invitational
The format is similar to the one Bradley experienced in the Chicago Invitational Tournament 2 seasons ago.
Thanks Coach. I didn't realize those 4 teams made the trip. But there are still only 4 games I would care to watch. Not that much of a basketball junkie anymore.
I'm still a basketball junkie, but I only want to watch the evening games. I want to play golf during the day!!![]()
We played in that tournament 2 years ago. Got two cupcakes in Norfolk, then played UNC and Louisville in Las Vegas on consecutive nights.
The Orleans hotel is, well, a dump. The casino is OK, but very smokey. The arena, however, is attached to the facility via a walkway, and the sightlines are very good. Additionally, we had very scantily-clad waitresses serving us mixed drinks at our seats during the games.
Great experience. If you are lucky enough to get tickets that are "AA" or "BB", etc; You are near courtside. I ended up with courtside seats just behind press row - got to talk with coaches and college BB notables during and after the games.
Nothing like Vegas and college BB. However, the part of town the Orleans is located in leaves a little to be desired.
I have it on VERY good authority that BU will be playing Oklahoma St in the opening game in Las Vegas the weekend after Thanksgiving. It's a BOOK IT.
Doesn't surprise me they would put the B12 and the B10 teams on opposite sides of the bracket.
It also doesn't surprise me that Illinois wants nothing to do with Bradley on a Frirday night in Vegas.
I agree... but I doubt you'd get many UIUC fans to admit it. :lol:
There isn't a bigger BU fan around than myself and I want them to beat whoever they play, but to say that Illinois wants nothing to do with Bradley and that Utah losing 4 starters and playing Illinois was planned is ridiculous. If they didn't want to take the chance of playing the Braves they wouldn't have committed to playing in the tounament. Let's beat Oklahoma St first and then go on to win the whole thing. When Oklahoma St was known as Oklahoma A&M, they had a great rivalry with BU. Would be nice to start it up again.
It's not that they don't want to play BU at all. That's not what I said. Obviously the promoters want the Big 10 against the Big 12 in the title game. If I was putting on tournament, that's what I would want. BU projects out to be better than Utah next year, and is only an hour and a half from Illinois. It makes perfect sense for Illinois to want to avoid us on Friday night (which is what I said in my original post). We might be better than Utah and might have more to play for. If BU is waiting for Illinois on Saturday, I am sure the Illini will be more than happy, as they'll likely think they'll have an easier time than they would with Oklahoma St.
Now it's Friday night, not A Friday night as in your original post. I can see that. I see nothing wrong with the promoters wanting a B-10 and a B-12 match up. They are the 2 stronger conferences. Let's hope the Braves upset the apple cart.