FYI

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/lo...-headlines

Disney in mix for college hoops
Wide World of Sports will host an 8-team basketball tourney this coming season.
Alan Schmadtke
Sentinel Staff Writer

May 11, 2006

National college basketball is coming back to Orlando -- for the holidays.

Disney World and ESPN Regional are putting the final touches on an eight-team tournament to be held Thanksgiving weekend with the idea of growing the scope of it each year.

The three-day event will be staged at the 5,500-seat Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

"It will happen. That's our pledge right now, that we're going to get this thing off the ground," said Clint Overby, senior director of events for ESPN Regional. "We have a number of teams under contract, but some [others] are still in the working stage. We have a good base right now."

Overby and Wide World of Sports spokesman Darrell Fry declined to identify teams that have committed to the event, but teams that have held serious discussions with the network include Arkansas, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Minnesota and Southern Illinois, according to published reports and contacts at those schools.

An official announcement about the tournament could come as soon as next week, Overby and Fry said.

UCF is not involved. The Golden Knights are scheduled to play in another early-season tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The NCAA permits schools to play in one preseason event every two years.

Meanwhile, Division II Rollins College is putting together an eight-team Division I event after Christmas that it will host.

"But you know what? We'd still play in that other tournament [at Disney] if they'd have us," Rollins Coach Tom Klusman said. "Our kids would love to play some of those teams."

Orlando is hardly a college basketball hotbed, and its history with the sport is mixed. Various pre-conference tournaments with differing formats have come and gone through the years.

However, none of those events enjoyed television backing from an entity such as ESPN Regional, based in Charlotte, N.C.

Orlando did host first- and second-round games of the NCAA Tournament in 1993, '96, '99 and 2004, and Stetson University has said it again will bid Orlando as a host site.
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Here's some links to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex
http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/d...e=HomePage

http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/d...etailPage2

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/par...rtsMapPage

KnightLight Wrote:Arkansas, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Minnesota and Southern Illinois

UCF is not involved

This could be a great tournament. I can't wait to see who the other 3 teams will be.

Beating VT is always a hoot.

WVU has never played Arkansas
WVU leads series 46-29 Virginia Tech
WVU leads series 2-1 Minnesota
WVU leads series 1-0 Southern Illinois

WVU82 Wrote:

KnightLight Wrote:Arkansas, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Minnesota and Southern Illinois

UCF is not involved. The Golden Knights are scheduled to play in another early-season tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The NCAA permits schools to play in one preseason event every two years.

This could be a great tournament. I can't wait to see who the other 3 teams will be.

Beating VT is always a hoot.

WVU has never played Arkansas
WVU leads series 46-29 Virginia Tech
WVU leads series 2-1 Minnesota
WVU leads series 1-0 Southern Illinois

Hope many WVU fans can make the trip.

FYI...Disney parks are crowded over Thanksgiving...and top hotels sellout early for that week/weekend.

KL

It's amazing how many of these tournaments are popping up all over the place. I think it's a good idea because it will put a little more of a spotlight on college basketball earlier in the season.



http://www.averageguysports.com

With those facilities, all Disney needs is an on-site large football stadium and they can start their own college.

I can see it now, the 2012 Rose Bowl - the Disney University Mousketeers vs. ????

Disney has been hosting the Division 2 Tip-Off Classic for years down there. I guess this is their taking a step up.

bearcatfan Wrote:With those facilities, all Disney needs is a on-site large football stadium and they can start their own college.

I can see it now, the 2012 Rose Bowl - the Disney University Mousketeers vs. ????

When the voters in Tampa were fighting a stadium tax to build Raymond James Stadium (it barely passed...only because they added that after the first 5-10 years of tax that some of the $$$ would go to police/fire depts).

Disney/Orlando/Bucs had preliminary discussions about building an NFL Stadium at Disney.

KL

PS. It's a great place to catch a pre-season games (Braves play there) and every week thousands of kids/families, etc...show up all the time for AAU events, National events, Cheerleading, Baseball, Football, Volleyball, Tennis...you name it.

Mountaineers might celebrate Thanksgiving in Orlando

Jack Bogaczyk
Charleston, WV Daily Mail Sports Editor
Thursday May 11, 2006

http://www.dailymail.com/news/Sports/2006051127/

THE youth movement in West Virginia University's basketball program doesn't mean the Mountaineers will play a flock of non-conference turkeys in 2006-07.

However, WVU is planning to play on Thanksgiving.

Published reports in Virginia and Illinois have WVU as part of an eight-team field for a new holiday tournament being created in Orlando, Fla., by Disney and ESPN. It's one of those exempt tournaments (three games count as one in scheduling).

A very solid field, according to reports and other college basketball sources, includes WVU, Virginia Tech, Arkansas, Minnesota, Southern Illinois and, perhaps, Winthrop and Marist, although the field isn't finalized and contracts have yet to be signed.

ESPN Regional Television officials didn't return phone calls about the event, which sources say is seeking a title sponsor. Games will be played at the 5,500-seat Milk House on the Disney Wide World of Sports complex.

WVU Deputy Athletic Director Mike Parsons said the Mountaineers "have had discussions on it but no contract yet."

You can tell it's a made-for-TV deal because of the schedule. Games are scheduled Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving), 24 and 26. The 25th is a Saturday and reserved for college football telecasts.

Cal said Memphis will probably play in this next year.

KnightLight Wrote:

bearcatfan Wrote:With those facilities, all Disney needs is a on-site large football stadium and they can start their own college.

I can see it now, the 2012 Rose Bowl - the Disney University Mousketeers vs. ????

When the voters in Tampa were fighting a stadium tax to build Raymond James Stadium (it barely passed...only because they added that after the first 5-10 years of tax that some of the $$$ would go to police/fire depts).

Disney/Orlando/Bucs had preliminary discussions about building an NFL Stadium at Disney.

KL

PS. It's a great place to catch a pre-season games (Braves play there) and every week thousands of kids/families, etc...show up all the time for AAU events, National events, Cheerleading, Baseball, Football, Volleyball, Tennis...you name it.

"When the voters in ***insert any major market *** were fighting a stadium tax to build Raymond James Stadium (it barely passed...only because they added that after the first 5-10 years of tax that some of the $$$ would go to police/fire depts)."

Taxpayers in all cities are hesistant hand out coporate welfare checks, otherwise why all the trouble in Orlando over a new NBA arena or in new home for the Marlins in Miami.

Tampa is a good sports market, but like everybody else they are tired of making millionaires even richer.

"Community stadium my a$$"

CyberBull Wrote:

KnightLight Wrote:

bearcatfan Wrote:With those facilities, all Disney needs is a on-site large football stadium and they can start their own college.

I can see it now, the 2012 Rose Bowl - the Disney University Mousketeers vs. ????

When the voters in Tampa were fighting a stadium tax to build Raymond James Stadium (it barely passed...only because they added that after the first 5-10 years of tax that some of the $$$ would go to police/fire depts).

Disney/Orlando/Bucs had preliminary discussions about building an NFL Stadium at Disney.

KL

PS. It's a great place to catch a pre-season games (Braves play there) and every week thousands of kids/families, etc...show up all the time for AAU events, National events, Cheerleading, Baseball, Football, Volleyball, Tennis...you name it.

"When the voters in ***insert any major market *** were fighting a stadium tax to build Raymond James Stadium (it barely passed...only because they added that after the first 5-10 years of tax that some of the $$$ would go to police/fire depts)."

Taxpayers in all cities are hesistant hand out coporate welfare checks, otherwise why all the trouble in Orlando over a new NBA arena or in new home for the Marlins in Miami.

Tampa is a good sports market, but like everybody else they are tired of making millionaires even richer.

"Community stadium my a$$"

Agree.

Almost every "public" funded sports project is a rip-off.

Orlando was able to fight off a new Arena for the Magic about 3-4 years ago (Magic only wanted to pay $5 Million out of the $250 Million Cost!).

Magic/Orlando are trying to come up with a much better agreement for the City...but the bottom line will be...Billionaire Rich DeVos will be the WINNER in any deal for a new Arena.

KL

The Milkhouse is a very nice facility at Disney in the sports area behind the baseball stadium.

tournament is set
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story...BHeadlines

Teams in the ESPNU Classic are:
Arkansas, Southern Illinois, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Minnesota, Montana, Marist, and Western Michigan

Each team will play three games Nov. 23, 24 and 26. Games will be on ESPN2 (nine games) and ESPNU (three). The two teams with the best record will meet in a championship game on Nov. 26 (the other six will play a game for a place). Southern Illinois is expected to be a favorite to win the Missouri Valley in 2007, while Arkansas, Virginia Tech and Montana should be in competition for a top half finish in their respective leagues and a potential NCAA berth.

WVU to play in new men's basketball tourney

http://www.dailymail.com/news/Sports/2006051923/

Mickey Furfari
For the Daily Mail
Friday May 19, 2006

MORGANTOWN -- It's official.

West Virginia University is going to play in a new men's basketball tournament next November over Thanksgiving weekend.

It's called The ESPNU Classic, a three-day, eight-team event at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando on Nov. 23, 24 and 25.

In all, 12 games will be played. The entire competition will be televised live -- nine games on ESPN2 and three on ESPNU.

Besides West Virginia, the field will include Arkansas, Marist, Minnesota, Montana, Southern Illinois, Virginia Tech and Western Michigan.

Each team will play three games, with losers continuing to compete but in the consolation bracket.

The two teams undefeated after two days will meet for the championship.

Pairings and game times will be determined later.

Since the NCAA has raised the maximum number of regular-season games that a team can schedule, WVU will have two weeks of competition before going to Orlando.

The ESPNU Classic announcement was made Thursday by Pete Derzis, senior vice-president and general manager of ESPN Regional Television, and Rich Ensor, commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

ERT, a subsidiary of ESPN, Inc., will own and operate The ESPNU Classic. The MAAC will serve as the sponsoring conference.

"I am certainly impressed with the quality of teams appearing in this tournament," WVU coach John Beilein said.

"With the competition and ESPN television exposure, it will be a great experience for our team."

WVU probably will be the youngest squad in that event. Frank Young, 6-5 senior forward, is the only starter returning from a team that posted a 22-10 record and reached the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.

Marist and Virginia Tech each will return all five starters.

Five of the eight teams made 2006 postseason appearances. Besides WVU, those are Arkansas, Minnesota, Montana and Southern Illinois.

WVU never has played Arkansas, Marist, Montana or Western Michigan in men's basketball.

It is 46-29 in an ancient, recently lapsed series with Virginia Tech.

The Hokies' new coach, Seth Greenberg, decided to drop WVU after the 2003-04 season.