The first games of the season tip off Nov. 6, including headliners like Kansas vs. Michigan State and Kentucky vs. Duke as part of the 2018 Champions Classic. Early-season tournaments begin Nov. 15.
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With that said, here’s everything you need to key in on to the start of the college basketball season.
(All times Eastern.)
When is the start of the 2018-19 college basketball season?
The 2018-19 men’s college basketball season starts Tuesday, Nov. 6.
What are the biggest neutral-site games at the start of the 2018-19 season?
The Champions Classic is the annual tip-off showcase between four premier programs: Kentucky, Kansas, Duke and Michigan State. This year’s version, held at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, was moved up a week to be played on opening day. Michigan State and Kansas tip off at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Duke and Kentucky at 9:30 p.m. ET.
The weekend of Nov. 9-12 includes several other notable neutral-site showdowns. See below for more details on those games.
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Bracketed Exempt Multi-Teams Events
Gildan Charleston Classic — Charleston, S.C.
Campus Sites: Nov. 10, 11, 24
Bracket: Nov. 15-16, 18
Teams: Alabama, Appalachian State, Ball State, Davidson, Northeastern, Purdue, Virginia Tech and Wichita State.
Quarterfinals
Myrtle Beach Invitational — Conway, S.C.
Campus Sites: Nov. 12, 24
Bracket: Nov. 15, 16, 18
Teams: Cal State Fullerton, Monmouth, Saint Joseph’s, UCF, Valparaiso, Wake Forest, West Virginia and WKU.
Quarterfinals
2K Classic Benefiting Wounder Warrior Project
Campus Sites: Nov. 6, 8-11, and 20
Championship Round: Nov. 15-16, New York
Teams: UConn, Iowa, Oregon and Syracuse
Subregional Round: Nov. 16-17: Cheney, Washington
Teams: Eastern Washington, Green Bay, Morehead State and UMKC.
Championship Semifinals
Subregional Semifinals
Regional On-Campus Round
Island of the Bahamas Showcase — Nassau, Bahamas
Campus Sites: Nov. 9-12, 22
Bracket: Nov. 16-18
Teams: FAU, Georgia Southern, Incarnate, Miami (Ohio), Montana, North Dakota, Pepperdine and Towson.
Quarterfinals
U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam — St. Thomas, V.I.
Campus Sites: Nov. 9, 13, 23
Bracket: Nov. 16-19
Teams: Eastern Kentucky, Kansas State, Kennesaw State, Missouri, Old Dominion, Oregon State, Penn and UNI.
Quarterfinals
Hall of Fame Tip-Off Presented by Citi — Uncasville, Conn.
Campus Sites: Nov. 6, 8-10, 13
Bracket: Nov.16-18
Naismith Bracket Teams: George Washington, Michigan, Providence and South Carolina
Springfield Bracket Teams: Holy Cross, Norfolk State, Siena and Stony Brook
Springfield Semifinals
Naismith Semifinals and Springfield Consolation
On-Campus Games
NIT Season Tip-Off- Gulf Coast Showcase Regional — Estero, Fla.
Campus Sites: Nov. 7-16
Bracket: Nov. 19-21
Teams: Colorado State, FGCU, Louisiana, South Dakota State, Toledo, Tulane, UC Irvine and UTSA.
Quarterfinals
Cayman Islands Classic
Campus Sites: Nov. 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16
Bracket: Nov. 19-21, George Town, Grand Cayman
Teams: Akron, Boise State, Clemson, Creighton, Georgia, Georgia State, Illinois State and St. Bonaventure
Mainland Bracket: Nov. 19, 20, Johnson City, Tennessee
Teams: Chicago State, East Tennessee, Jackson State and Sam Houston
Quarterfinals
On-Campus Games
Maui Jim Maui Invitational — Lahaina, Hawaii
Campus Sites: Nov. 7-18
Bracket: Nov. 19-21
Teams: Arizona, Auburn, Duke, Gonzaga, Illinois, Iowa State, San Diego State and Xavier
Quarterfinals
Regional Round (On-Campus) Games
GotPrint.com Legends Classic Presented by Old Trapper
Campus Sites: Nov. 6, 9, 12, 13, 16
Championship Round: Nov. 19-20: Brooklyn
Teams: Cal Berkley, St. John’s, Temple and VCU
Subregional Round: Nov. 19-20: Detroit
Teams: Bowling Green, Detroit Mercy, Hampton and Loyola (Md.)
Subregional Semifinals
Regional Round (On-Campus) Games
Hall of Fame Classic — Kansas City, Mo.
Campus Sites: Nov. 6, 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, 19, 20
Bracket: Nov. 19-20
Championship Round Teams: Missouri State, Nebraska, Texas Tech and USC.
Subhost Round Teams: Mississippi Valley State, Robert Morris, Southeastern Louisiana and Stetson
Championship Semifinals
Host (On-Campus) Games
Subhost (On-Campus) Games
Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans Fort Meyers Tip-Off
Campus Sites: Nov. 11, 14, 16-17
Hosts Bracket: Nov. 19, 21: Fort Meyers, FL
Host Teams: Boston College, Loyola Chicago, Richmond and Wyoming.
Visitors Bracket: Nov. 23, 24: Lewiston, N.Y.
Visiting Teams: Grambling State, IUPUI, Niagara and St. Francis-Brooklyn.
Host Semifinals
Visitor Semifinals
On-Campus Games
MGM Resorts Main Event — Las Vegas
Campus Sites: Nov. 7-20
Campus Only Teams: McNeese State
Bracket: Nov. 19-21
Heavyweight Bracket Teams: Arizona State, Mississippi State, Saint Mary’s and Utah State
Middleweight Bracket Teams: Hartford, Iona, Long Beach State and Utah Valley.
Semifinals
Undercard (On-Campus) Games
Cancun Challenge — Cancun, Mexico
Campus Sites: Nov. 7, 9, 11-12, 14, 17
Bracket: Nov. 20, 21
Riviera Division Teams: Bradley, Penn State, SMU and Wright State
Mayan Division Teams: Jacksonville State, North Florida, Southern Mississippi and Western Carolina
Semifinals
On-Campus Games
Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis
Campus Sites: Nov. 9, 10, 16-19
Bracket: Nov. 21-23: Paradise Island, Bahamas
Teams: Butler, Dayton, Florida, Middle Tennessee, Oklahoma, Stanford, Virginia and Wisonsin
Midland Bracket: Nov. 21, 23: Spartanburg, S.C.
Midland Teams: Charleston Southern, Coppin State and Wofford Terriers
Quarterfinals
Regional Round (On-Campus) Games
NIT Season Tip-Off — Brooklyn, N.Y.
Campus Games: Nov. 6, 9, 10, 12-14, 16, 17
Bracket: Nov. 21, 23
Teams: Kansas, Louisville, Marquette, Tennessee, Bethune-Cookman, Louisiana and Vermont.
Semifinals
Non-Bracketed Games
AdvoCare Invitational — Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Campus Sites: Nov. 13, 15, 17-19, 21
Bracket: Nov. 22, 23, 25
Teams: Canisius, College of Charleston, Florida State, LSU, Memphis, Oklahoma State, UAB, Villanova and Furman
Quarterfinals
Non-Bracketed Games
The Wooden Legacy — Fullerton, Calif.
Bracket: Nov. 22-23, 25
Teams: Fresno State, Grand Canyon, Hawaii, La Salle, Miami, Northwestern, Seton Hall and Utah.
Quarterfinals
Continental Tire Las Vegas Holiday Invitational
Campus Sites: Nov. 16-19
Host Bracket: Nov. 22, 23: Las Vegas
Host Teams: UMass, Nevada, Southern Illinois and Tulsa
Visiting Bracket: Nov. 23, 24: Little Rock
Visiting Teams: Arkansas- Pine Bluff, Cal Baptist, Howard and Little Rock
Host Semifinals
Visitor Semifinals
On-Campus Games
Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational — Las Vegas
Campus Sites: Nov. 10-19
Bracket: Nov. 22, 23
Teams: Michigan State, North Carolina, Texas, UCLA, Presbyterian, St. Francis (Pa.), Tennessee Tech, The Citadel and ULM
Host Semifinals
On-Campus Games
Emerald Coast Classic — Niceville, Fla.
Campus Sites: Nov. 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20
Bracket: Nov. 23, 24
Teams: Baylor, Cincinnati, George Mason, Ole Miss, Nicholls State, N.C. Central, Southern and Western Michigan
Semifinals
On-Campus Games
Hall of Fame Belfast Classic — Belfast, Northern Ireland
Campus Sites: Nov. 18, 20, 21, 23, 24
Bracket: Nov. 29- Dec. 1
Goliath Bracket: Buffalo, Milwaukee, San Francisco and Stephen F. Austin
Samson Bracket: Albany, Dartmouth, LIU Brooklyn and Marist
Samson Semifinals
Goliath Semifinals
On-Campus Games
Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic — Las Vegas
Campus Sites: Dec. 9, 15, 17, 19
Bracket: Dec. 22, 23
Teams: Drake, New Mexico State, San DIego, Washington State, Cal State Northridge, Rider, Northern Colorado and SIU Edwardsville
Semifinals
On-Campus Games
Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic — Honolulu, Hawaii
Bracket: Dec. 22-23, 25
Teams: Bucknell, Charlotte, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana State, Rhode Island, TCU and UNLV
Quarterfinals
Non-Bracketed Exempt Multi-Team Events
Gotham Classic — Nov. 6-20
Teams: Duquesne, Notre Dame, Radford, UIC and William & Mary.
CNY Hoops Classic — Nov. 6-19
Teams: Binghampton, Colgate, Cornell and NJIT
Barclays Center Classic — Nov. 8-18, 24
Teams: Central Arkansas, North Alabama, Pittsburgh, Saint Louis and Troy
Georgia Tech MTE — Nov. 9-23
Teams: East Carolina University, Georgia Tech, Lamar, Prairie View A&M and UTRGV
Hub City Classic — Nov. 9-23
Teams: Boston University, Drexel, Eastern Michigan, Fairleigh Dickinson and Rutgers University
Maryland MTE — Nov. 9-23
Teams: Hofstra University, Marshall University, University of Maryland, Mount St. Mary’s and North Carolina A&T
Hardwood Showcase — Nov. 9-23, Nov. 16-18: Arlington, Texas
Teams: Arkansas, University of Indiana, Montana State, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, UC Davis and UT Arlington
Wolfpack Classic — Nov. 10- Dec.1
Teams: Maine, Maryland Eastern Shore, Mercer, N.C. State, North Texas and Saint Peters
Men Against Breast Cancer Cup — Nov. 10-24
Teams: Alabama A&M, BYU, Houston, Northwestern and Rice University
Ohio Valley Hardwood Showcase — Nov. 11-23
Teams: University of Kentucky, North Dakota, Tennessee State, Virginia Military and Winthrop University
Buckeye Basketball Classic — Nov. 11-23
Teams: Cleveland State, Ohio State, Purdue Fort Wayne, Samford and South Carolina State
Junkanoo Jam and Bimini Jam — Nov. 9-10, 25, Nov. 15-20: Bimini, Bahamas
Teams: Cal State Bakersfield, Central Michigan, San Jose State, Weber State, Air Force, High Point University, South Dakota and UMBC
Jersey Mikes’ Jamaica Classic Montego Bay — Campus Sites: Nov. 10, 12, 21, 24 Montego Bay, Jamaica: Nov. 16-18
Teams: Georgetown University, Loyola Marymount University, Ohio, South Florida, Austin Peay University, Campbell University, Central Connecticut State and Florida A&M
Vancouver Showcase — Nov.18-20
Teams: Minnesota, Santa Clara, Texas A&M and University of Washington
Goldie and Herman Ungar Classic — Campus Sites: Nov. 12, 13 Mobile, Ala.: Nov. 16-19
Teams: Chattanooga, Jacksonville, South Alabama and Southeast Missouri State
Vandy MTE — Nov. 16-23
Teams: Alcorn State, Kent State, Liberty University, Savannah State and Vanderbuilt
John Bach Classic — Nov. 16-18
Teams: Columbia, FIU, Fordham and Youngstown State
Brown Bears Tip-Off Classic — Campus Sites: Nov. 12 Providence, R.I.- Nov. 16-18
Teams: Army West Point, Brown, Sacred Heart University and UMass Lowell
NKU MTE — Nov. 16-18
Teams: Coastal Carolina, Manhattan, Northern Kentucky and UNC Asheville
Portland Classic — Campus Sites: Nov. 13, 19 Portland, OR: Nov. 21, 23, 24
Teams: Cal Poly, Portland, Texas State and USC Upstate
Pacific Classic — Nov. 22-24
Teams: Abilene Christian University, Elon, Pacific and UC Riverside
Men Against Breast Cancer Oakland Hoops Challenge — Nov. 23-25
Teams: James Madison University, Northern Illinois University, Oakland and Oral Roberts
Elgin Baylor Classic — Campus Sites: Nov. 28, Dec. 7 Seattle: Nov. 23-25
Teams: Denver, Fairfield, Longwood University and Seattle
visitcurrituckOBX,com Battle in the Blue Ridge — Nov. 23-25
Teams: Arkansas State, Eastern Illinois, Gardner-Webb and UNCW
Delaware Invitational — Campus Sites: Nov. 13, 16, 18, 20, 27 Newark, Del.: Nov. 23-26
Teams: Delaware, Louisiana Tech and UNC Greensboro
Boise Thanksgiving Tournament — Campus Sites: Nov. 13, 17, 18, 27, Dec. 1 Boise, Idaho: Nov. 23-24
Teams: Idaho, Northwest Nazarene, Portland State and UC Santa Barbara
