Madison Square Garden 2009-2010 College Basketball Schedule
Nation's Top Programs Make Way to New York City
New York, NY, October 21, 2009 – The 2009-2010 college basketball schedule once again features dynamic local and national matchups highlighted by the much anticipated DirectTV SEC vs. Big East Invitational as well as college hoops staples such as the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, Jimmy V Classic, Maggie Dixon Classic, Aérpostale Classic, and the perennially sold-out Big East Tournament. Additionally, St. John's University will continue to showcase its talents at their home-away-from-home.
A number of industry leading companies will partner with MSG for the 2009-10 season of College Basketball at Madison Square Garden. Delta Air Lines, Aéropostale, Cablevision, Foot Locker, and Traveler's Insurance will all receive prominent exposure via MSG's unique array of assets, including digital courtside signage, promotions, GardenVision and experiential benefits.
As in years past, the annual 2K Sports Classic Benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer will officially kick off the 2009-2010 college basketball schedule at Madison Square Garden. National powerhouse teams including Cal, North Carolina, Ohio State, and Syracuse will display their early season talents on November 19 and 20.
The Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip Off is set for November 25 and 27 at Madison Square Garden. The sixteen-team field, which will fight to spend the Thanksgiving holiday in New York City, includes regional hosts: Arizona State, UConn, Duke and LSU. Additional teams include: Cal. St. Northridge, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Colgate, Elon, Hofstra, Indiana State, TCU Texas State, Western Kentucky, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Yale.
The Big Apple Classic, a doubleheader which features historical black colleges and universities, is scheduled for Saturday, December 5 and pits Virginia State against Virginia Union in game one to be followed by rivals Howard and Hampton.
Madison Square Garden is once again honored to host the annual Jimmy V Classic which not only showcases the nation's top talents, but also brings awareness to the Jimmy V Foundation and cancer research. On Tuesday, December 8, Big East powerhouse Georgetown will face off against Butler in game one, with Indiana tipping off against Pittsburgh in the second game.
College basketball fans will not have a moment to relax as the DirecTV SEC/BIG EAST Invitational will take place the following night on Wednesday, December 9. The much anticipated doubleheader will showcase St. John's University against Georgia in game one to be followed by a marquee matchup when Kentucky, led by head coach John Calipari, takes on perennial Big East powerUConn and head coach Jim Calhoun.
Women's college basketball returns to The Garden in the annual Maggie Dixon Classic, the nation's premier women's college basketball showcase. On Sunday, December 13, Baylor, with freshman dunking phenom Brittney Griner, will take on Boston College in game one to be followed by a marquee matchup when Pat Summit's Tennessee Volunteers take on Rutgers University led by recent Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, C. Vivian Stringer.
Continuing with more great college basketball on Saturday, December 19 the Aéropostale Classic will once again be under the spotlight. Two of the most successful college basketball programs in the nation, Duke and Gonzaga, will square off for the first time when the Blue Devils go head-to-head with the Bulldogs on December 21.
The annual Madison Square Garden Holiday Festival presented by Foot Locker, America's longest-running holiday season tournament continues the tradition that started back in 1952 when Utah State beat Manhattan for the first ever Holiday Festival Championship. This year, Bob McKillop and his Davidson squad are set to take on Cornell in game one of the December 20 doubleheader. Game two pits St. John's against head coach Tom Pecora and Hofstra. The championship doubleheader is set for December 21.
Norm Roberts and his St. John's University Red Storm will once again call Madison Square Garden home for five BIG EAST Conference games. Season highlights include matchups against Cincinnati, Villanova, West Virginia, Louisville, and Pittsburgh.
The BIG EAST Championship returns to Madison Square Garden to once again kick off March Madness. The five day tournament, celebrating its 27th consecutive season, is set for March 9-13.
The 73rd Annual National Invitation Tournament wraps up the 2009-10 Madison Square Garden college hoops schedule as the nationwide 40-team field is reduced to only four. Tradition continues, as the semi-final and championship games will be played on the Garden's hardwood on March 30 and April 1.
