MBB Opens Wooden Legacy vs. GWU on Nov. 28

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team will open the 2013 Wooden Legacy against George Washington on Thursday, Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. at Titan Gym on the campus of Cal State Fullerton.

“The John Wooden Legacy tournament sponsored by ESPN is the highlight of our nonconference season,” said Larrañaga. “We look forward to playing George Washington in the first round. We are very familiar with GW from our time at George Mason. It should be a great game. We look forward to competing against some of the best basketball programs in college. ESPN exempt events are always great.”

The complete bracket for the 2013 Wooden Legacy – held Nov. 28-29 and Dec. 1 in Anaheim near Disneyland – is below. Participating teams include: Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton, College of Charleston, Creighton, George Washington, Marquette, Miami and San Diego State.

Miami is 0-2 against George Washington, meeting in 1971 and again in 1991. Miami will face either Marquette or Cal State Fullerton in the second round, held Nov. 29 in Anaheim, Calif. UM is 2-3 against Marquette, falling the Golden Eagles in the Sweet 16 last season. The Canes have never faced Cal State Fullerton.

Ten of the 12 games of the Wooden Legacy will be aired on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. With one of the Friday, Nov. 29 semifinals to be carried by either ESPN or ESPN2, the bracket features five tournament games on ESPNU, four contests on ESPN2, including the championship game on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 9:30 p.m. ET. ESPN3 will have the two additional games.

The 2013 Wooden Legacy will be held at two sites. The opening two rounds will be played at Titan Gym on the campus of Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29. The games then move to Honda Center with four placement contests featuring the championship game between the remaining unbeaten schools on Sunday, Dec. 1.

The 2013 Wooden Legacy highlights:
– ESPNU will air first-round action between Miami vs. George Washington at 2 p.m. and College of Charleston vs. San Diego State at 8:30 p.m.
– ESPN2 will carry the additional first-round games featuring Marquette vs. Cal State Fullerton at 4:30 p.m. and Creighton vs. Arizona State at 11 p.m.
– Six of the eight teams advanced to 2012 postseason play, including Creighton, Marquette, Miami and San Diego State in the NCAA Championship
– Additional information, including travel packages, can be found on the event web site at www.TheWoodenLegacy.com or on twitter at https://twitter.com/TheWoodenLegacy.

The Wooden Legacy was formed as two vibrant, nationally-recognized in-season collegiate basketball events join forces. The former John R. Wooden Classic will combine with the Anaheim Classic, the eight-team, three-day, 12-game bracketed event that has been staged the past six years in Anaheim.

While the Anaheim Classic started in 2007, the John R. Wooden Classic was established in 1994 as an annual tribute to the legendary coach (who passed away in 2010 at the age of 99) and the excellence he personified. The first 17 John R. Wooden Classic featured a doubleheader. The 2011 and 2012 classics had Wooden’s UCLA team hosting a league and in-state rival in a one-game event.

The inaugural Anaheim Classic was played in 2007, with USC capturing the title. In year’s following, Wake Forest (2008), West Virginia (2009), UNLV (2010), Saint Louis (2011) and Cal (2012) were also Anaheim Classic winners.

The Wooden Legacy (Schedule subject to change)