The bracket for the Old Spice Classic is out. We're on day two of the bracket reveals from ESPN. Yesterday we learned who Seton Hall would play first in the Charleston Classic (it's VCU) and who St. John's would draw in the semifinal of the 2k Sports Classic (Arizona).
DePaul will play Tubby Smith and Minnesota in their first game of the Old Spice Classic on November 24 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2. The ESPN guys are picking Minnesota to win the whole tournament. But, they'll have to go through the Blue Demons first. DePaul ended a 24 game Big East losing streak last year under first-year coach Oliver Purnell. Then, they lost the final five games of the season and were knocked out of the first round of the Big East Tournament by eventual national champion Connecticut. DePaul returns leading scorer Cleveland Melvin (14.3 ppg). Minnesota will counter with Trevor Mbakwe, who started his career at Marquette, and Ralph Sampson III. DePaul was competitive last year in the 76 Classic even though they didn't win a game. I don't expect Minnesota to run away with the game.
Here are the rest of the first round games in the Old Spice Classic (all times Eastern):
Texas Tech vs. Indiana State, November 24, 12:00 p.m., ESPN2
Dayton vs. Wake Forest, November 24, 7:00 p.m., ESPN2
Fairfield vs. Arizona State, November 24, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2