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.

SN STAFF PREDICTIONS:
A-10 | AAC | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC

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.

MORE: Sporting News’ preseason top 25

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

Source: Read Full Article