Triple-header to feature Colorado State, Liberty, Mississippi State, North Texas,
Stephen F. Austin and UMass
Fort Worth, TX – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the field of teams for the first-ever Basketball Hall of Fame Classic to be held at Dickies Arena on Saturday, December 11, 2021. The one-day triple-header will feature Mississippi State vs. Colorado State, North Texas vs. UMass, and Stephen F. Austin vs. Liberty. Game times, ticket information and television broadcast details will be released at a later date.
“We’re very excited to be hosting our first collegiate showcase in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, a region several of our Hall of Famers have played in and call home,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “We appreciate the hospitality Dickies Arena will provide to the fans and the six teams participating in the Hall of Fame Classic and we know it will be a fantastic event.”
The Basketball Hall of Fame Classic is one event in the Hall of Fame’s series of collegiate events, which continues to grow in an effort to celebrate the game outside the museum walls. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to continue its relationship with Learfield IMG College for sponsorship representation of its portfolio of collegiate events and Position Sports in an event operations and media relations capacity.
As the health and safety of the athletes, fans and staff is of the utmost importance, the Basketball Hall of Fame will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely in the coming months and provide updates as needed.
Quotes from Participating Head Coaches
“We are excited for the opportunity to play a tough and well coached team like Mississippi State and be part of this great event hosted by the Basketball Hall of Fame.” - Niko Medved, Colorado St.
“Liberty is privileged to play in the Hall of Fame Classic against an exceptional opponent in Stephen F. Austin. This is a wonderful and exciting opportunity for our team to play in a tournament-like atmosphere at Dickies Arena.” - Ritchie McKay, Liberty
“We’re excited about the opportunity to play Colorado State. It will be a very competitive, tough game. They’re well-coached, extremely talented and return a majority of their team that went to the NIT Final Four last year. We’re looking forward to playing in an event that benefits the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, which I think is really important.” - Ben Howland, Mississippi St.
“We’re excited to be part of one of college basketball’s premiere events. At North Texas, we strive to compete at the highest level and to do so in our backyard where Mean Green nation can turn out makes it even better. Many thanks to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame for the opportunity.” - Grant McCasland, North Texas
“We are very excited and grateful to participate again with the Basketball Hall of Fame events. Playing at a neutral site in Fort Worth will give our Metroplex alumni who don’t always get a chance to watch us play in the Sawmill an opportunity to easily support The Jacks against one of the best programs in college basketball. Coach Ritchie McKay again has done a wonderful job since his return to Liberty University winning 3-straight Conference Championships. It is a game I know our players will be very excited about competing in.” - Kyle Keller, Stephen F. Austin
“We are very excited to travel to Dallas/Fort Worth this December to take on a talented North Texas team. We have been fortunate to participate in events hosted by the Basketball Hall of Fame over the years, and we are looking forward to yet another first-class experience later this year.” - Matt McCall, UMass
About Dickies Arena
Dickies Arena is a 14,000 seat, spectacular multipurpose venue located adjacent to the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus in Fort Worth, Texas. The facility is the result of a pioneering public-private partnership between the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, the State of Texas and a group of private-sector participants, including foundations, individuals and organizations. The arena is owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by the not-for-profit operating entity, Trail Drive Management Corp. (TDMC). The state-of-the-art arena hosts concerts, sporting events and family entertainment, and is home to Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo performances. For more information, visit www.DickiesArena.com.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall #BHOFClassic or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.