"On the Boardwalk in Atlantic City..."

Football is just around the corner, but the Men's Basketball team made a little news today with the confirmation that they will be competing in the Legends Classic this November.

Assuming that they advance beyond their first-round games between Nov. 18-22 at home, the Spartans will advance to Atlantic City for the finals on Nov.  27 & 28.  I think it has already been set up for the Spartans to play the Florida Gators (assuming both teams make it to NJ) in the Friday semi-final game.  This was done because there is no guarantee both teams would make it to the championship game Saturday, and a marquee match-up was needed to help generate ticket sales.  Having nearby Rutgers in the field will also help some.

The Spartans have had a number of Thanksgiving tournaments over the last few years--Great Alaska Shootout, Pre-season NIT, Maui Classic, CBE Classic, 2k Sports College Hoops Classic and last year's trip to Orlando for the Old Spice Classic.  It's interesting that they did't win any of these tournaments; in fact, you have to go all the way back to 1998 to find their last national pre-season tournament championship, the Pearl Harbor Classic.  Of course, I'm not counting the Coca-Cola or Spartan Classics held at Breslin.

I think this year will change all of that, and the Spartans should win the Legends Classic.  This is a reasonably close-by tournament combining great basketball and the allure of Atlantic City's Casinos.  Championship tickets go on sale tomorrow if you feel safe ordering them early, or season ticket holders can order tickets on their renewal application.

Any way you look at it, this tournament looks like a great opportunity to start another special season, one that could culminate in another Final Four trip to Indy.