ESPN released the bracket for the Charleston Classic (a tournament they own and operate) today. All of the games will be played in the Carolina First Arena. The tournament was started in 2008. Clemson won the inaugural Charleston Classic with current DePaul coach Oliver Purnell. Miami won the 2009 edition. Georgetown took home the trophy in 2010.
The Seton Hall Pirates will be playing Virginia Commonwealth in their first game of the tournament on November 17 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPNU.
The Pirates will play either Georgia Tech or Saint Joseph's in the next game of the tournament on November 18 at 6:00 p.m. if they win or 8:30 p.m. if they lose.
No matter what happens in the first two games, Seton Hall will play a guaranteed third game on November 20.
Here are the other first round matchups:
Tulsa vs. Western Kentucky, November 17, 12:30 p.m.
LSU vs. Northwestern, November 17, 3:00 p.m., ESPNU
Georgia Tech vs. Saint Joseph's, November 17, 8:00 p.m.
ESPN's guys are all picking Northwestern to win this tournament. I think my LSU Tigers will have something to say about that in game one. I also think VCU has a much better chance of winning the tournament that Northwestern because of the Shaka Smart factor. Seton Hall was 13-18 (7-11) last year. Second year coach Kevin Willard certainly has his work cut out for him going up against VCU at the beginning of the season without his two top scorers from last year.