Feast Week College Basketball: Must-Watch Teams, Tournaments, and Title Games
The college basketball season is heating up with Feast Week’s arrival. Fans get a non-stop schedule of exciting matchups and tournaments.
This year, the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas and the Maui Invitational stand out. Both feature top teams and some really thrilling games.
From Gonzaga’s dominance to Kansas’s strategic advantage, there’s a lot to look forward to. Let’s take a look at what Feast Week has in store for college basketball enthusiasts.
Feast Week: A Basketball Extravaganza
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Feast Week is a favorite tradition for college basketball fans. It offers a smorgasbord of games that line up with the Thanksgiving holiday.
This year’s lineup includes a variety of tournaments and matchups. The action promises high intensity and a showcase of some of the nation’s best teams.
Players Era Festival: The Crown Jewel
The Players Era Festival in Las Vegas has quickly become a marquee event. This year’s format includes 18 teams, each playing two group games on Monday and Tuesday.
The results from those games set up Wednesday’s matchups. The two teams with the best records and point differentials face off for the championship.
**Favorites to Watch:**
- Gonzaga: The Bulldogs have looked dominant, beating Oklahoma, Creighton, and Arizona State. They go up against Alabama in a big opener on Monday.
- Houston and Tennessee: Both teams have elite defenses. They’ll clash on Tuesday, and that game could decide one championship participant.
- Kansas: With games against Notre Dame and Syracuse, the Jayhawks might use the point differential format to their advantage.
Other Key Matchups
Monday’s games also bring some important elimination matchups:
- Michigan vs. San Diego State: Michigan’s big men battle San Diego State’s elite defense.
- St. John’s vs. Iowa State: Rick Pitino’s squad takes on a strong Iowa State team.
- Creighton vs. Baylor: Baylor’s potent offense faces Creighton, who struggled against Gonzaga.
- Auburn vs. Oregon: Auburn, now led by Steven Pearl, faces an undefeated but untested Oregon squad.
The Maui Invitational: A Premier Event
The Maui Invitational remains one of Feast Week’s most prestigious tournaments. It features an eight-team bracket with three games for each team.
This year’s field includes Arizona State, Boise State, Chaminade, NC State, Seton Hall, Texas, USC, and Washington State.
Top Contenders
The event might lack some traditional blue-blood programs, but it still boasts possible top-20 teams:
- NC State: The Wolfpack have looked impressive, dominating early in the season.
- USC: The Trojans, led by Eric Musselman, appear sharp after a rough debut year for their coach.
This tournament gives other teams a chance to make a statement, too:
- Arizona State: Can they avoid an 0-3 showing like UConn last year?
- Boise State: They’re aiming to build an at-large resume despite early setbacks.
- Texas and Seton Hall: Both have the potential to surprise people.
Atlantis and Beyond: More Feast Week Action
Feast Week isn’t just about the Players Era Festival and Maui Invitational. Other notable tournaments include the Battle 4 Atlantis, Baha Mar Bahamas Championships, Charleston Classic, Greenbrier Tip-Off, and more.
Battle 4 Atlantis
This eight-team event in the Bahamas features a strong field. Vanderbilt and Saint Mary’s both rank highly in KenPom’s efficiency metrics.
Virginia Tech brings star power with players like Tobi Lawal and Neo Avdalas. Teams like WKU and Wichita State could make things interesting.
Baha Mar Bahamas Championships
Purdue and Texas Tech headline this event, each boasting standout players like Braden Smith and JT Toppin. The championship clash between these squads could end up being a classic.
Charleston Classic
The Charleston Classic is split into two four-team events this year:
- Palmetto Bracket: Clemson, Georgia, and West Virginia look solid. Xavier’s in a rebuild.
- Lowcountry Bracket: Utah State stands out as the favorite against Boston College, Tulane, and Davidson.
Greenbrier Tip-Off
This event brings together four power-conference teams: Butler, Northwestern, South Carolina, and Virginia. The Cavaliers have been especially impressive under new coach Ryan Odom.
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The matchups happen Friday and Sunday. Each team wants to make a strong early-season statement.
Other Notable Tournaments
Several other events round out the Feast Week schedule:
Acrisure Series
The Acrisure Classic features Iowa meeting Ole Miss in the first round. The winner faces either Utah or Grand Canyon.
The Acrisure Invitational includes at-large hopefuls like Saint Louis, Santa Clara, Stanford, and Minnesota.
Fort Myers Tip-Off
The North Carolina-Michigan State showdown on Thanksgiving stands out. Both teams bring strong frontcourt duos and a physical style, so that one should be fun.
Rady Children’s Invitational
This four-team bracket could end with Florida and Wisconsin in the championship. Both teams have shown potential early in the season and will be tested by TCU and Providence.
ESPN Events Invitational
The Magic Bracket here gets a boost from Georgetown’s hot start and BYU’s offensive firepower. Dayton and Miami also look like threats, making this tournament a competitive one.
Duke vs. Arkansas
This matchup brings future NBA talents to the court. It’s part of a doubleheader with Oklahoma State and Northwestern.
Fans should expect a high-energy game. There’s no shortage of star power here.
Feast Week is honestly a basketball lover’s dream. The week offers a wild mix of games and storylines.
Maybe you’re cheering for a powerhouse like Gonzaga. Or maybe you’re hoping an underdog shakes things up—there’s always a chance, right?
For a detailed schedule and more insights, check out the New York Times.