The defending national champion Duke Blue Devils and the Virginia Cavaliers will both be participating in ESPN’s eighth annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon on Monday, November 16 and Tuesday, November 17. It’ll be a highly anticipated event in the Washington D.C. area and should be one nationally too, with the teams’ proximity and success mixing with the sheer curiosity of the matchup.
Advertisement
Auburn is one of six teams that will have played in two consecutive ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off Marathons along with Colorado, San Diego State vs. Utah and Stephen F. Austin vs. Northern Iowa.
Green Bay’s game against the Buccaneers is also part of the NIT Season Tip-Off preseason tournament. The marathon starts at 5:30 p.m. EST Monday, November 16, with the women’s game. The Bears and Ducks will be meeting for the first time.
Auburn defeated Milwaukee in Pearl’s first game as head coach of the Tigers last season on ESPNU in Auburn.
Advertisement
“ESPN’s decision to broadcast our showdown with Virginia as the first men’s game during their 24 hours of basketball is further proof of the extraordinary atmosphere created at the Smith Center during our home games”, athletic director Patrick Nero said in a release. The Tigers made a strong run at the end of the season; advancing to the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals by defeating three higher seeds before bowing out to No. 1 ranked and undefeated Kentucky. Colorado advanced to the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational.
