Event: 2k Classic
Location: Madison Square Garden
Most Recent Champion: Iowa
Most Recent Runner Up: Connecticut
Originated: 1995
The 2k Sports Classic is an annual preseason basketball tournament held in November. The tournament was first held in 1995 and has undergone multiple name changes and changes in format. Today, the 2k Classic works under the same format that was formed in 2014. Under this format, eight teams from eight different conferences are pitted against each other. Last year's tournament included teams from some of the biggest conferences in college basketball, such as the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Big East. To date, Syracuse and Texas have the most appearances in the tournament with five each. Syracuse has also won the 2k Classic twice, in 2004 and 2009. The tournament is held in multiple campus locations until the semifinal and final rounds. Since 1998, the semifinals and finals have been held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, N.Y. Last year, the Iowa Hawkeyes defeated Connecticut by a final score of 91-72. Catch the action, and get your tickets at StubHub.
Two teams have appeared in the tournament five times: the Syracuse Orangemen and Texas Longhorns. On top of this, three programs have appeared in the tournament four times: Marquette, Memphis and St. Johns. A number of teams have made three appearances in 2k Classic games, including
Temple
,
Duke
and
Wake Forest
. The 2k Classic makes an effort to include teams from the major conferences in the competition.
In 2018, the
Iowa Hawkeyes
won the 2k Classic, defeating the UCONN Huskies by 19 points in the championship game. Iowa also defeated the Oregon Ducks in the semifinals on its way to the 2k Classic title.
Madison Square Garden
is truly one of the most iconic venues in the history of basketball. The Garden is a multipurpose venue that also hosts concerts and hockey games. The maximum capacity for basketball games is just over 19,000 people. Famously, the arena is the home of the NBA's New York Knicks.
Over the years, a number of high-profile college basketball players has appeared in the 2k Classic, including star players from some of the most successful programs in college basketball history. Recent Tournament MPV award winners include Grayson Allen from Duke, Shabazz Napier from Connecticut and Luke Garza from Iowa.
This season, the tournament takes place in late November. The championship game this season will take place on November 23, 2019, at Madison Square Garden.
Ticket prices for the 2k Classic vary depending on where you want to sit during the game. The closer you are to the action, the more you should expect to pay. You can sometimes get a lower price on tickets to the Championship game if you purchase them before the teams are announced. After that, fans and alumni of the team are more likely to create high demand for tickets.
So far, no team has won the title in consecutive years. Syracuse did win the Classic in 2004 and made it back to the finals in the next year in 2005. It is the only team to do this so far in the tournament's history.
If you are interested in purchasing college basketball tickets, peruse the world's largest online ticket inventory at StubHub. There is both a desktop site and a mobile app, allowing you to buy tickets whether you are at home, at work or on the go.