NICEVILLE, FLA. — CBS Sports Network will televise the semifinal round and championship game of the second annual Emerald Coast Classic basketball tournament, which is headlined by top teams from across the country including Illinois, Iowa State, UAB and Virginia Tech.
“We’re excited to have the game on national television on CBS Sports Network,” said tournament director Maury Hanks, who is also the chief executive officer for Global Sports. “CBS Sports Network provides extensive coverage of college basketball throughout the season and we’re pleased that the Emerald Coast Classic will be showcased on the Network.”
The semifinal round games on Nov. 27 feature Virginia Tech vs. Iowa State at 7 p.m. Eastern time followed by UAB against Illinois at 9:30 p.m. Eastern time.
The championship game will tip off at 7 p.m. Eastern time at The Arena on the campus of Northwest Florida State College.
CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour cable home of CBS Sports, is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers, and via satellite on DIRECTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158.
For more information, and to access the CBS Sports Network channel finder, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.
Alabama State, Chattanooga, Chicago State and Jacksonville State round out the eight-team field competing in the Emerald Coast Classic, presented by Global Sports.
First and second-round games will be played at on-campus sites Nov. 14 through Nov. 23, with the third round and championship round scheduled Thanksgiving weekend on Nov. 27-28 at Northwest Florida State College.
Iowa State and UAB played in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, while Illinois competed in the 2015 NIT.
First-year coach Steve Prohm inherits an Iowa State program that has four starters back from last year’s team which posted a 25-9 record en route to winning the 2015 Big 12 Conference Tournament for the second straight year. Senior forward Georges Niang, who earned third team All-American honors, leads the Cyclones who were ranked No. 9 in the final 2015 Associated Press poll. Junior point guard Monte Morris, a second-team All-Big 12 choice, lead the NCAA for the second straight season in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.6).
UAB, under fourth-year coach Jerod Haase, has all five starters back from last year’s team which went 20-16 while capturing the Conference USA Tournament and upsetting No. 3 seed Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Senior guard Robert Brown, the MVP of the Conference USA Tournament, heads the returning cast of veterans.
Illinois, which has participated in post-season play 14 times in the last 16 seasons, has three starters returning for third-year head coach John Groce, from its 2014-15 team that went 19-14. Junior guard Malcom Hill, an honorable mention all-Big Ten choice in 2014-15, returns for his third year as a starter after averaging 14.4 points for the Fighting Illini.
Virginia Tech welcomes a top 20 recruiting class to go along with four returning starters as it enters Buzz Williams’ second season as head coach. In addition, juniors Seth Allen and Zach LeDay join the Hokies after sitting out last season. Rising sophomore Justin Bibbs won a gold medal this summer with the USA Under 19 team that won the FIBA World Championship.
