Sophomore guard Von Julien dribbles around a UNC defender as the teams clashed on Nov. 11 in the Smoothie King Center.
This will be the first tournament for men’s basketball under the Mike Dunleavy, Sr. era, as well as the team’s first tournament since the Cure UCD Classic back in the 2013-14 season.
“This tournament coming up…we’re trying to make a statement,” senior center Ryan Smith said. “We’re trying to get our season started off on the right foot.”
The invitational will host eight teams, among them Tulane, Xavier University, and the University of Missouri. The Green Wave will start the tournament in a four-team bracket against the University of Oklahoma and, win or lose, will either play the University of Northern Iowa or Arizona State University.