BOISE, Idaho — Boise State men's basketball is set to compete in the Cayman Islands Classic for the second time in program history. The Broncos participated in the tournament in 2018, winning two of three contests.
Event host Caymax Sports Ltd. on Tuesday announced the eight-team field for 2024 features Boise State, Boston College, Duquesne, Hampton, High Point, Missouri State, Old Dominion and South Dakota State.
This year's Cayman Islands Classic is scheduled for Nov. 24 - Nov. 26 at the John Gray Coliseum at Georgetown, Grand Cayman. Tuesday's announcement said the tournament bracket and ticket options will be unveiled at a later date.
Head coach Leon Rice and the Broncos went 2-1 in their 2018 appearance, with the loss coming to eventual champion Creighton. The event marks Boise State's 10th appearance in an early-season tournament since 2013, including the 2023 ESPN Events Invitational and 2022 Myrtle Beach Classic.
Boise State, South Dakota State and Duquesne are each coming off appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The Jackrabbits, who defeated the Broncos 68-66 in Boise in November 2022, went 22-13 overall this past season. The Dukes captured national attention after defeating BYU in their March Madness opener.
Boston College and High Point also earned postseason trips last season, competing in the NIT and CBI, respectively. Boise State has won at least two games in four of its last five appearances at an ESPN-owned multi-team event.
Rice is entering his 15th season at the helm, eyeing a fourth-straight bid to the NCAA Tournament. Boise State is the only Mountain West team returning a pair of all-conference players, with Tyson Degenhart and O'Mar Stanley back in the City of Trees.
Per Bart Torvik, the trio of Degenhart, Stanley and San Jose State transfer Alvaro Cardenas rank in the top-five returners in the Mountain West. Boise State also reeled in NAIA All-American Javan Buchanan and former Arizona center Dylan Anderson out of the transfer portal this offseason.
Cayman Islands Classic history:
- 2023 — Utah State, champion; Stephen F. Austin, runner-up
- 2022 — Kansas State, champion; LSU, runner-up
- 2019 — George Mason, champion; New Mexico State, runner-up
- 2018 — Creighton, champion; Clemson, runner-up
- 2017 — Cincinnati, champion; Wyoming, runner-up
"We have an exceptionally competitive lineup of teams in this year's tournament, and we are thrilled to welcome them," said Joe Wright, owner and chief executive officer of Caymax Sports Ltd. "We're eagerly anticipating the intense competition as they vie for the prestigious Cayman Islands Classic championship. Our tournament promises an unforgettable experience," Wright said. "Amidst the backdrop of the Cayman Islands' unparalleled beauty and luxurious accommodations, teams and fans alike are in for a truly spectacular treat."
For more information on this year's Cayman Islands Classic field, click here. Brackets and travel packages will be released on the event's website.
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