The 2018-19 college basketball season is almost here.
The first games of the season tip off Nov. 6, including headliners like Kansas vs. Michigan State and Kentucky vs. Duke as part of the 2018 Champions Classic. Early-season tournaments begin Nov. 15.
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With that said, here’s everything you need to key in on to the start of the college basketball season.
(All times Eastern.)
When is the start of the 2018-19 college basketball season?
The 2018-19 men’s college basketball season starts Tuesday, Nov. 6.
What are the biggest neutral-site games at the start of the 2018-19 season?
The Champions Classic is the annual tip-off showcase between four premier programs: Kentucky, Kansas, Duke and Michigan State. This year’s version, held at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, was moved up a week to be played on opening day. Michigan State and Kansas tip off at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Duke and Kentucky at 9:30 p.m. ET.
The weekend of Nov. 9-12 includes several other notable neutral-site showdowns. See below for more details on those games.
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Bracketed Exempt Multi-Teams Events
Gildan Charleston Classic — Charleston, S.C.
Campus Sites: Nov. 10, 11, 24
Bracket: Nov. 15-16, 18
Teams: Alabama, Appalachian State, Ball State, Davidson, Northeastern, Purdue, Virginia Tech and Wichita State.
Quarterfinals
Myrtle Beach Invitational — Conway, S.C.
Campus Sites: Nov. 12, 24
Bracket: Nov. 15, 16, 18
Teams: Cal State Fullerton, Monmouth, Saint Joseph’s, UCF, Valparaiso, Wake Forest, West Virginia and WKU.
Quarterfinals
2K Classic Benefiting Wounder Warrior Project
Campus Sites: Nov. 6, 8-11, and 20
Championship Round: Nov. 15-16, New York
Teams: UConn, Iowa, Oregon and Syracuse
Subregional Round: Nov. 16-17: Cheney, Washington
Teams: Eastern Washington, Green Bay, Morehead State and UMKC.
Championship Semifinals
Subregional Semifinals
Regional On-Campus Round
Island of the Bahamas Showcase — Nassau, Bahamas
Campus Sites: Nov. 9-12, 22
Bracket: Nov. 16-18
Teams: FAU, Georgia Southern, Incarnate, Miami (Ohio), Montana, North Dakota, Pepperdine and Towson.
Quarterfinals
U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam — St. Thomas, V.I.
Campus Sites: Nov. 9, 13, 23
Bracket: Nov. 16-19
Teams: Eastern Kentucky, Kansas State, Kennesaw State, Missouri, Old Dominion, Oregon State, Penn and UNI.
Quarterfinals
Hall of Fame Tip-Off Presented by Citi — Uncasville, Conn.
Campus Sites: Nov. 6, 8-10, 13
Bracket: Nov.16-18
Naismith Bracket Teams: George Washington, Michigan, Providence and South Carolina
Springfield Bracket Teams: Holy Cross, Norfolk State, Siena and Stony Brook
Springfield Semifinals
Naismith Semifinals and Springfield Consolation
On-Campus Games
NIT Season Tip-Off- Gulf Coast Showcase Regional — Estero, Fla.
Campus Sites: Nov. 7-16
Bracket: Nov. 19-21
Teams: Colorado State, FGCU, Louisiana, South Dakota State, Toledo, Tulane, UC Irvine and UTSA.
Quarterfinals
Cayman Islands Classic
Campus Sites: Nov. 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16
Bracket: Nov. 19-21, George Town, Grand Cayman
Teams: Akron, Boise State, Clemson, Creighton, Georgia, Georgia State, Illinois State and St. Bonaventure
Mainland Bracket: Nov. 19, 20, Johnson City, Tennessee
Teams: Chicago State, East Tennessee, Jackson State and Sam Houston
Quarterfinals
On-Campus Games
Maui Jim Maui Invitational — Lahaina, Hawaii
Campus Sites: Nov. 7-18
Bracket: Nov. 19-21
Teams: Arizona, Auburn, Duke, Gonzaga, Illinois, Iowa State, San Diego State and Xavier
Quarterfinals
Regional Round (On-Campus) Games
GotPrint.com Legends Classic Presented by Old Trapper
Campus Sites: Nov. 6, 9, 12, 13, 16
Championship Round: Nov. 19-20: Brooklyn
Teams: Cal Berkley, St. John’s, Temple and VCU
Subregional Round: Nov. 19-20: Detroit
Teams: Bowling Green, Detroit Mercy, Hampton and Loyola (Md.)
Subregional Semifinals
Regional Round (On-Campus) Games
Hall of Fame Classic — Kansas City, Mo.
Campus Sites: Nov. 6, 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, 19, 20
Bracket: Nov. 19-20
Championship Round Teams: Missouri State, Nebraska, Texas Tech and USC.
Subhost Round Teams: Mississippi Valley State, Robert Morris, Southeastern Louisiana and Stetson
Championship Semifinals
Host (On-Campus) Games
Subhost (On-Campus) Games
Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans Fort Meyers Tip-Off
Campus Sites: Nov. 11, 14, 16-17
Hosts Bracket: Nov. 19, 21: Fort Meyers, FL
Host Teams: Boston College, Loyola Chicago, Richmond and Wyoming.
Visitors Bracket: Nov. 23, 24: Lewiston, N.Y.
Visiting Teams: Grambling State, IUPUI, Niagara and St. Francis-Brooklyn.
Host Semifinals
Visitor Semifinals
On-Campus Games
MGM Resorts Main Event — Las Vegas
Campus Sites: Nov. 7-20
Campus Only Teams: McNeese State
Bracket: Nov. 19-21
Heavyweight Bracket Teams: Arizona State, Mississippi State, Saint Mary’s and Utah State
Middleweight Bracket Teams: Hartford, Iona, Long Beach State and Utah Valley.
Semifinals
Teams
Undercard (On-Campus) Games
Cancun Challenge — Cancun, Mexico
Campus Sites: Nov. 7, 9, 11-12, 14, 17
Bracket: Nov. 20, 21
Riviera Division Teams: Bradley, Penn State, SMU and Wright State
Mayan Division Teams: Jacksonville State, North Florida, Southern Mississippi and Western Carolina
Semifinals
On-Campus Games
Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis
Campus Sites: Nov. 9, 10, 16-19
Bracket: Nov. 21-23: Paradise Island, Bahamas
Teams: Butler, Dayton, Florida, Middle Tennessee, Oklahoma, Stanford, Virginia and Wisonsin
Midland Bracket: Nov. 21, 23: Spartanburg, S.C.
Midland Teams: Charleston Southern, Coppin State and Wofford Terriers
Quarterfinals
Regional Round (On-Campus) Games
NIT Season Tip-Off — Brooklyn, N.Y.
Campus Games: Nov. 6, 9, 10, 12-14, 16, 17
Bracket: Nov. 21, 23
Teams: Kansas, Louisville, Marquette, Tennessee, Bethune-Cookman, Louisiana and Vermont.
Semifinals
Tip Time (ET)
Non-Bracketed Games
AdvoCare Invitational — Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Campus Sites: Nov. 13, 15, 17-19, 21
Bracket: Nov. 22, 23, 25
Teams: Canisius, College of Charleston, Florida State, LSU, Memphis, Oklahoma State, UAB, Villanova and Furman
Quarterfinals
Non-Bracketed Games
The Wooden Legacy — Fullerton, Calif.
Bracket: Nov. 22-23, 25
Teams: Fresno State, Grand Canyon, Hawaii, La Salle, Miami, Northwestern, Seton Hall and Utah.
Quarterfinals
Continental Tire Las Vegas Holiday Invitational
Campus Sites: Nov. 16-19
Host Bracket: Nov. 22, 23: Las Vegas
Host Teams: UMass, Nevada, Southern Illinois and Tulsa
Visiting Bracket: Nov. 23, 24: Little Rock
Visiting Teams: Arkansas- Pine Bluff, Cal Baptist, Howard and Little Rock
Host Semifinals
Visitor Semifinals
On-Campus Games
Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational — Las Vegas
Campus Sites: Nov. 10-19
Bracket: Nov. 22, 23
Teams: Michigan State, North Carolina, Texas, UCLA, Presbyterian, St. Francis (Pa.), Tennessee Tech, The Citadel and ULM
Host Semifinals
On-Campus Games
Emerald Coast Classic — Niceville, Fla.
Campus Sites: Nov. 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20
Bracket: Nov. 23, 24
Teams: Baylor, Cincinnati, George Mason, Ole Miss, Nicholls State, N.C. Central, Southern and Western Michigan
Semifinals
On-Campus Games
Hall of Fame Belfast Classic — Belfast, Northern Ireland
Campus Sites: Nov. 18, 20, 21, 23, 24
Bracket: Nov. 29- Dec. 1
Goliath Bracket: Buffalo, Milwaukee, San Francisco and Stephen F. Austin
Samson Bracket: Albany, Dartmouth, LIU Brooklyn and Marist
Samson Semifinals
Goliath Semifinals
On-Campus Games
Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic — Las Vegas
Campus Sites: Dec. 9, 15, 17, 19
Bracket: Dec. 22, 23
Teams: Drake, New Mexico State, San DIego, Washington State, Cal State Northridge, Rider, Northern Colorado and SIU Edwardsville
Semifinals
On-Campus Games
Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic — Honolulu, Hawaii
Bracket: Dec. 22-23, 25
Teams: Bucknell, Charlotte, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana State, Rhode Island, TCU and UNLV
Quarterfinals
Non-Bracketed Exempt Multi-Team Events
Gotham Classic — Nov. 6-20
Teams: Duquesne, Notre Dame, Radford, UIC and William & Mary.
CNY Hoops Classic — Nov. 6-19
Teams: Binghampton, Colgate, Cornell and NJIT
Barclays Center Classic — Nov. 8-18, 24
Teams: Central Arkansas, North Alabama, Pittsburgh, Saint Louis and Troy
Georgia Tech MTE — Nov. 9-23
Teams: East Carolina University, Georgia Tech, Lamar, Prairie View A&M and UTRGV
Hub City Classic — Nov. 9-23
Teams: Boston University, Drexel, Eastern Michigan, Fairleigh Dickinson and Rutgers University
Maryland MTE — Nov. 9-23
Teams: Hofstra University, Marshall University, University of Maryland, Mount St. Mary’s and North Carolina A&T
Hardwood Showcase — Nov. 9-23, Nov. 16-18: Arlington, Texas
Teams: Arkansas, University of Indiana, Montana State, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, UC Davis and UT Arlington
Wolfpack Classic — Nov. 10- Dec.1
Teams: Maine, Maryland Eastern Shore, Mercer, N.C. State, North Texas and Saint Peters
Men Against Breast Cancer Cup — Nov. 10-24
Teams: Alabama A&M, BYU, Houston, Northwestern and Rice University
Ohio Valley Hardwood Showcase — Nov. 11-23
Teams: University of Kentucky, North Dakota, Tennessee State, Virginia Military and Winthrop University
Buckeye Basketball Classic — Nov. 11-23
Teams: Cleveland State, Ohio State, Purdue Fort Wayne, Samford and South Carolina State
Junkanoo Jam and Bimini Jam — Nov. 9-10, 25, Nov. 15-20: Bimini, Bahamas
Teams: Cal State Bakersfield, Central Michigan, San Jose State, Weber State, Air Force, High Point University, South Dakota and UMBC
Jersey Mikes’ Jamaica Classic Montego Bay — Campus Sites: Nov. 10, 12, 21, 24 Montego Bay, Jamaica: Nov. 16-18
Teams: Georgetown University, Loyola Marymount University, Ohio, South Florida, Austin Peay University, Campbell University, Central Connecticut State and Florida A&M
Vancouver Showcase — Nov.18-20
Teams: Minnesota, Santa Clara, Texas A&M and University of Washington
Goldie and Herman Ungar Classic — Campus Sites: Nov. 12, 13 Mobile, Ala.: Nov. 16-19
Teams: Chattanooga, Jacksonville, South Alabama and Southeast Missouri State
Vandy MTE — Nov. 16-23
Teams: Alcorn State, Kent State, Liberty University, Savannah State and Vanderbuilt
John Bach Classic — Nov. 16-18
Teams: Columbia, FIU, Fordham and Youngstown State
Brown Bears Tip-Off Classic — Campus Sites: Nov. 12 Providence, R.I.- Nov. 16-18
Teams: Army West Point, Brown, Sacred Heart University and UMass Lowell
NKU MTE — Nov. 16-18
Teams: Coastal Carolina, Manhattan, Northern Kentucky and UNC Asheville
Portland Classic — Campus Sites: Nov. 13, 19 Portland, OR: Nov. 21, 23, 24
Teams: Cal Poly, Portland, Texas State and USC Upstate
Pacific Classic — Nov. 22-24
Teams: Abilene Christian University, Elon, Pacific and UC Riverside
Men Against Breast Cancer Oakland Hoops Challenge — Nov. 23-25
Teams: James Madison University, Northern Illinois University, Oakland and Oral Roberts
Elgin Baylor Classic — Campus Sites: Nov. 28, Dec. 7 Seattle: Nov. 23-25
Teams: Denver, Fairfield, Longwood University and Seattle
visitcurrituckOBX,com Battle in the Blue Ridge — Nov. 23-25
Teams: Arkansas State, Eastern Illinois, Gardner-Webb and UNCW
Delaware Invitational — Campus Sites: Nov. 13, 16, 18, 20, 27 Newark, Del.: Nov. 23-26
Teams: Delaware, Louisiana Tech and UNC Greensboro
Boise Thanksgiving Tournament — Campus Sites: Nov. 13, 17, 18, 27, Dec. 1 Boise, Idaho: Nov. 23-24
Teams: Idaho, Northwest Nazarene, Portland State and UC Santa Barbara
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