- LSU to Begin Title Defense; USC’s Top-Ranked Recruits to Make Collegiate Debuts -
PHOENIX (June 21, 2023) – Position Sports, in association with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, announced the field for the 2023 Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena on November 6. The highly anticipated quadruple-header will kick off the 2023-24 college basketball season with four marquee matchups at the home of the Stanley Cup Champions, Vegas Golden Knights.
The quadruple-header will feature the following games:
LSU vs. Colorado (W)
USC vs. Ohio State (W)
Georgia vs. Oregon (M)
USC vs. Kansas State (M)
Tickets for the event are scheduled to go on sale in July. On-sale date, game times, fan experience information, credentials, and television broadcast details will be released at a later date.
For more Hall of Fame Series information and updates, please visit HOFSeries.com or follow @HOFSeries on all social platforms.
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LSU vs. Colorado (W) |
LSU, which returns Angel Reese, the 2023 NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, will open its title defense against Colorado as the expected preseason favorite. The Buffaloes have posted back-to-back 20-win campaigns and, last season, won 25 games en route to a berth in the Sweet 16.
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“We are honored to be a part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Series to begin our season against Colorado in Las Vegas. It gives us the opportunity to open our season against a high-quality opponent that has been to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments.” Kim Mulkey | LSU
“We are honored to be included in the Hall of Fame series in Las Vegas and to be playing LSU on Opening Night. It will certainly be an exciting environment to kick off the 2023-24 season. We have loved playing in Las Vegas with the Pac-12 Tournament and are excited for this really cool opportunity.” JR Payne | Colorado
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USC vs. Ohio State (W) |
The Buckeyes lead the all-time series, 4-3. Ohio State, who made their fourth-ever Elite Eight appearance in this year’s NCAA tournament, won the last meeting between the schools when they hosted USC on November 19, 2006. USC’s 21 wins last season were their most since 2013-14 (22) and they solidified their lineup with the addition of the reigning national Gatorade Player of the Year and top-ranked incoming freshman, Juju Watkins.
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“We want to challenge ourselves on the biggest stages, and the chance to play in this premier event in Vegas is a tremendous opportunity. Ohio State is coming off of an Elite Eight appearance, and with the backing of the Hall of Fame as well as a top-notch TV partner, we knew it was a game we wanted to take part in. USC fans get to see our Women of Troy in a marquee event in a big-time arena on opening night of the 2023-24 season. We are looking forward to the challenge.” Lindsay Gottlieb | USC
“I’m extremely excited to have our team open the year at the 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame event at T-Mobile Arena. The environment will be incredible, and USC is an outstanding opponent who will provide a challenging start to the season.” Kevin McGuff | Ohio State
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Georgia vs. Oregon (M) |
Georgia and Oregon will meet for only the second time in their history. The Ducks defeated the Bulldogs, 87-74, on December 20, 1975, in the Indiana Classic played in Bloomington, Indiana. This time around, taking center stage in this matchup is Oregon’s Kario Oquendo, who spent the previous two seasons at Georgia before transferring to the Ducks in early June.
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“The start of the season is obviously always exciting, but it’s even more so considering we’ll be playing on a national stage in a premier event like the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas. We’re looking forward to the challenge of representing the SEC against Oregon, which traditionally is one of the Pac-12’s top programs year in and year out.” Mike White | Georgia
“We are looking forward to tipping off our season with this matchup against Georgia. This is a great venue, and we appreciate the Hall of Fame inviting us to compete.” Dana Altman | Oregon
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USC vs. Kansas State (M) |
Kansas State and USC face off for the first time since the Wildcats eliminated the Trojans in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, 80-67. Kansas State is coming off an Elite 8 appearance last season, while USC’s much publicized recruiting class, which includes Isaiah Collier (ESPN.com’s No. 1 recruit) and Bronny James (No. 20), will all be making their collegiate debuts.
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“We are looking forward to opening the year playing the Hall of Fame Series on Nov. 6 in Las Vegas. It will be an exciting atmosphere at T-Mobile Arena and is the perfect way to start the 2023-24 season.” Andy Enfield | USC
“We’re excited about the opportunity to showcase our basketball program at this signature event to tip off the 2023-24 season. Las Vegas has established itself as a premier destination for college hoops, and I can’t wait for our passionate fan base to watch our team in a world-class venue like T-Mobile Arena. Coach (Andy) Enfield has built a tremendous basketball program at USC, and I know our team is excited about this challenge.” Jerome Tang | Kansas State
The Hall of Fame Series, which is owned and operated by Position Sports, is a collection of multi-game, singular events that will showcase several of the top collegiate basketball teams in exciting non-conference matchups played both domestically and abroad. In March, the Phoenix-based company and the Hall of Fame reached an exclusive 10-year agreement.
Additional Hall of Fame Series events:
NOVEMBER 10
Charlotte - Spectrum Center
Charlotte vs. Liberty (M)
Virginia vs. Florida (M)
Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina (M)
DECEMBER 16
San Antonio - AT&T Center
Baylor vs. Miami, Fla. (W)
Tennessee vs. NC State (M)
DECEMBER 20
Phoenix - Footprint Center
Arizona State vs. Fresno State (W)
Arizona vs. Gonzaga (W)
Arizona St. vs. Northwestern (M)
Arizona vs. Alabama (M)
DECEMBER 9
Toronto - Coca-Cola Coliseum
Purdue vs. Alabama (M)
TCU vs. Clemson (M)
The Hall of Fame Series joins other previously announced Naismith Hall of Fame events, including the Hall of Fame Tip-Off, Hall of Fame Women's Showcase, Hall of Fame Classic, and Jerry Colangelo Classic.
About Position Sports:
Position Sports, established in 2005, is a premium event production and brand marketing firm that specializes in event operations, activation development, media relations, and digital engagement. Over the years, Position Sports has worked with many of the world’s leading brands, including Nike, Jordan Brand, Red Bull, the Basketball Hall of Fame, ESPN Events, USA Basketball, Upper Deck, MLB, and T-Mobile in nearly every major U.S. city and on a global scale. Position Sports provides clients with the expanded strategic direction needed to succeed in the sports marketing arena, also known as Positioning. To learn more, visit positionsports.com or follow @positionsports on Twitter and Instagram.
About Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith 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 hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.
About T-Mobile Arena:
T-Mobile Arena, the 20,000-seat venue located on the Las Vegas Strip between Park MGM and New York-New York, opened April 6, 2016. The arena hosts more than 100 events annually including major headline entertainment, awards shows, UFC, boxing, basketball and other sporting events, family shows and special events. T-Mobile Arena also is the home of the Vegas Golden Knights, a National Hockey League expansion team and the city’s first professional sports team, as well as UFC’s exclusive Las Vegas arena destination. The venue, named the No. 1 venue on Billboard Magazine’s 2018 Arena Power List as well as the “Best New Major Concert Venue” by Pollstar Magazine in 2016, features 50 luxury suites, more than two dozen private loge boxes, complete broadcast facilities, and other specially designed exclusive hospitality offerings and fan amenities destined to create a guest experience second to none. Toshiba Plaza, an adjacent two-acre outdoor entertainment space, features performance stages, a variety of video screens and other interactive content and display areas. Designed and built to prioritize environmental sustainability, T-Mobile Arena was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2016. T-Mobile Arena is a privately funded joint venture between AEG and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information, visitT-MobileArena.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.