"There is nothing better than basketball in 'The Most Magical Place on Earth!'"
The Advocare Invitational (known as the Old Spice Classic from 2006-2013 and the Orlando Classic last year) is an early season college basketball tournament played over Thanksgiving weekend annually. Through the years, future NBA players such as Marcus Smart (2013), Kelly Olynyk (2012), Khris Middleton (2010), Reggie Jackson (2010), and Patrick Beverley (2006) have all suited up and impressed scouts at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex before getting their first professional paycheck. One should expect more student athletes from this year's tournament to join them in "The League."
From the start, college basketball fans knew that the 2015 showcase at the HP Field House would be one of the best in the history of the event as the teams announced to participate included five 2015 NCAA Tournament teams, three of which were in the Sweet Sixteen. Yesterday, sources informed CBS Sports that the first round matchups as well as the bracket were finalized and after taking a look, not only should fans of the participating be excited but all college basketball fans.
On Thanksgiving, a showdown between Dayton and Iowa headlines a slate that includes Notre Dame versus MAAC host Monmouth, Avery Johnson's Alabama Crimson Tide against Xavier, and the notorious "Play Angry" Wichita State Shockers facing the Trojans of Southern California. Yet beside the quarterfinal matchups, one must be excited that there is the possibility of a Notre Dame/Wichita State Championship.
On March 22nd, in the Sweet Sixteen, the Fighting Irish overcame 25 points and six rebounds from All-Missouri Valley Conference guard Fred Van Vleet (will be Senior), with a combined 35 netted from then Juniors Demetrius Jackson and Steve Vasturia. In addition, Notre Dame's defense was amazing on Wichita State's leading scorer Ron Baker (will be Senior) and contained him to 2-for-10 shooting and nine points.
Please come back in late November for more from this journalist on the 2015 Advocare Invitational from Kissimmee, Florida.
Quarterfinal Matchups (November 26)
Notre Dame versus Monmouth
Dayton versus Iowa
Xavier versus Alabama
Wichita Stats versus USC
Semi-Final Matchups (November 27)
ND/MON versus DAY/IOWA
XAV/ALA versus WSU/USC
Championship (November 29)
ND/MON/DAY/IOWA versus XAV/ALA/WSU/USC