- Arizona and Arizona State Men’s and Women’s Teams to Participate in Event -
PHOENIX, AZ – Position Sports, in association with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, announced the field for Jerry Colangelo’s 2023 Hall of Fame Series Phoenix at Footprint Center on December 20. The highly anticipated day will feature both the Arizona and Arizona State men’s and women’s teams, marking the first time all four teams have played in the same location on the same day.
Additionally, the Arizona and Arizona State men’s teams will both play in Phoenix on the same day for the first time since the Southwest Showdown on December 4, 2001, at America West Arena, when Arizona defeated Illinois and Arizona State knocked off Utah.
"The Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series Phoenix will be an unforgettable event, showcasing why Footprint Center is a premier sports and entertainment venue," said Phoenix Suns and Mercury Chief Executive Officer Josh Bartelstein. "Our state has a rich basketball heritage, and it will be on full display on December 20 with the men's and women's teams from Arizona and Arizona State all playing top-level competition in the home of the Suns and Mercury."
Jerry Colangelo’s Hall of Fame Series Phoenix, which will feature two separate sessions, includes the following matchups:
Session 1
Arizona State vs. Fresno State (W)
Arizona vs. Gonzaga (W)
Session 2
Arizona St. vs. Northwestern (M)
Arizona vs. Alabama (M)
In addition to the aforementioned Jerry Colangelo’s Hall of Fame Series Phoenix, Footprint Center will also play host to the Jerry Colangelo Classic on December 16. The Jerry Colangelo Classic will feature the following matchups: Grand Canyon vs. Portland, Santa Clara vs. Washington State, UNLV vs. Saint Mary's, and UCSB vs. Loyola Marymount.
Tickets for both Jerry Colangelo events in Phoenix 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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Arizona State vs. Fresno State (W) |
The Sun Devils have won all four prior meetings. Arizona State posted a 68-52 victory in the last contest on December 20, 2018, in Tempe.
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“We are extremely excited to be playing in Jerry Colangelo’s Hall of Fame Series here in our backyard, Phoenix. We can’t wait to have our fans cheering us on in the Footprint Center when we take on Fresno State. It will be a phenomenal experience for both programs to be playing in such a prestigious event. This will be another great opportunity for our program to prepare for Pac-12 play.” Natasha Adair | Arizona State
"We are excited and grateful to be part of the inaugural Hall of Fame Series. It's a great opportunity for our program to feature in this event and play in the state-of-the-art Footprint Center in Phoenix." Jaime White | Fresno State
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Arizona vs. Gonzaga (W) |
This marks the inaugural matchup between the Wildcats and Bulldogs.
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“We are extremely excited to be a part of Jerry Colangelo's Hall of Fame Series in Phoenix. It's a great way to promote basketball and the state of Arizona. I feel like there are not enough tournaments and recognition on the west coast, so we want these tournaments with marquee games. For us, it's a big game against Gonzaga, and people are going to see some really good basketball. I love being part of anything the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame does, and it's a great weekend to do it because there's a great tournament in Phoenix with the TOC. We moved some things around to play in the tournament and are so excited to play in it!” Adia Barnes | Arizona
“We are really excited to play in Jerry Colangelo’s Hall of Fame Phoenix. It’s a great opportunity to get our team some high-level competition and play in an incredible venue. We are looking forward to testing our team with a very challenging non-conference schedule.” Lisa Fortier | Gonzaga
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Arizona State vs. Northwestern (M) |
The Sun Devils have won two of three meetings against the Wildcats. Arizona State knocked off Northwestern, 90-55, in the last matchup on December 20, 2004, in Tempe.
Arizona State is tipping off in Phoenix for just the second time since 2002 after facing Saint Mary’s College on December 18, 2019. The Sun Devils' last win in Phoenix came on December 13, 2001, vs. Montana State.
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“Arizona State is thrilled to be able to compete in Jerry Colangelo’s Hall of Fame Phoenix. We always enjoy competing in Phoenix, where our fans have a chance to support us. Jerry Colangelo has done so much for the game of basketball, so it’s an honor to participate in an event supporting his legacy.” Bobby Hurley | Arizona State
“We are excited about the opportunity to play Arizona State in Phoenix this year. This will be a tremendous challenge for us, as It will present a high level non-conference game on the road in a tournament-like atmosphere.” Chris Collins | Northwestern
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Arizona vs. Alabama (M) |
The Crimson Tide are 3-1 all-time vs. the Wildcats, including a 76-73 win the last time they met on December 9, 2018, in Tuscaloosa.
The Wildcats have won 10 straight games in Phoenix, including a 67-64 triumph in their last visit to the Valley of the Sun on December 5, 2017, vs. Texas A&M. The last time the Wildcats lost in Phoenix was January 23, 1945, vs. Williams Air Base.
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“Jerry Colangelo’s Hall of Fame Phoenix promises to be a fun day for basketball in the state of Arizona and we are thrilled to be part of it. We have tremendous fans and alumni in the Phoenix area and we know Tucson travels, so we look forward to seeing them in the Footprint Center. And taking on a high-level team like Alabama to close out our non-conference schedule will prepare us even more for the Pac-12 schedule after the holidays.” Tommy Lloyd | Arizona
“We are excited about the opportunity to play in such a prestigious event as the Hall of Fame Series against a quality opponent in Arizona. During my time at Alabama, we try to challenge our teams during the non-conference schedule, and playing Arizona affords us that opportunity.” Nate Oats | Alabama
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 6
Las Vegas - T-Mobile Arena
LSU vs. Colorado (W)
USC vs. Ohio State (W)
Georgia vs. Oregon (M)
USC vs. Kansas State (M)
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 9
Toronto - Coca-Cola Coliseum
Purdue vs. Alabama (M)
TCU vs. Clemson (M)
The Hall of Fame Series and Jerry Colangelo Classic join other previously announced Naismith Hall of Fame events, including the Hall of Fame Tip-Off, Hall of Fame Women's Showcase, and the Hall of Fame 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 Footprint Center:
Located in the heart of Downtown Phoenix, for more than 30 years Footprint Center has been the home of the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Rattlers and a multitude of live concerts and events each year. Following a $245 million transformation, Footprint Center is the preeminent destination for sports and entertainment in the southwest. The reimagined arena features state-of-the-art improvements that offer a world-class experience to all who step inside the doors. For more information, visit FootprintCenter.com.