Men's Basketball Slated for Charleston Classic

May 21, 2009

CORAL GABLES, FLA. – The University of Miami men’s basketball program is among eight teams scheduled to compete in the 2009 Charleston Classic at the Carolina First Arena in Charleston, S.C., from Nov. 19-22.

The Hurricanes will be joined by 2009 NIT champion Penn State, Davidson, South Carolina, USF, La Salle, UNC Wilmington and Tulane in the second annual bracket-format tournament. There will be 12 games as each team competes in one game per day, with the two remaining undefeated teams squaring off in a championship game on Sun., Nov. 22.

Miami (19-13), winners of the 2007 Puerto Rico Tip-Off and third-place finishers in the 2008 Paradise Jam, are among four postseason teams in the field. The Hurricanes advanced to the second round of the 2009 NIT in their fourth postseason appearance in the last five years.

“This tournament will pose a good challenge for our team early in our non-conference schedule,” said Miami head coach Frank Haith, who is embarking on his sixth season at the helm. “We’re going to have a lot of newcomers in this program next year, but I’m excited about the talent level, and I think this tournament is going to be a good test to open the 2009-10 season.”

Fellow ACC member Clemson won the inaugural Charleston Classic in 2008, defeating Temple, 76-72.

ESPN Regional Television, the nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, will produce the event with game times and networks to be announced at a later date.