- Purdue's Zach Edey, Toronto's Own and Consensus 2022-23 National Player of the Year, Returns to Canada -
PHOENIX, AZ – Position Sports, in association with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, announced the field for the 2023 Hall of Fame Series Toronto at the Coca-Cola Coliseum on December 9. The highly anticipated doubleheader will mark the first Hall of Fame event in Toronto since the James Naismith Classic at Scotiabank Arena in 2019.
The doubleheader will feature the following games:
Purdue vs. Alabama
TCU vs. Clemson
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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Purdue vs. Alabama |
The Boilermakers and Crimson Tide, both No. 1 seeds in the last NCAA Tournament, split the four all-time meetings. Alabama won the last matchup on November 20, 2011, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 65-56.
Zach Edey, the consensus 2022-23 National Player of the Year, was born and raised in Toronto and initially played baseball and hockey in the Leaside neighborhood. He later took up basketball and attended Leaside High School before transferring after his sophomore year to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Notably, Edey represented the Canadian National Team in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers last summer.
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“We are excited to head to Toronto to play another great opponent in Alabama. It promises to be an outstanding event with four outstanding teams in a great city, and I know our fans and players are looking forward to the opportunity.” Matt Painter | Purdue
“This is an exciting opportunity for our players and coaches to face an exceptional opponent in Toronto,” head coach Nate Oats said. “Purdue is one of the top programs in the country, and we are thrilled to play in a tournament-like atmosphere in an awesome venue.” Nate Oats | Alabama
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TCU vs. Clemson |
The Tigers lead the all-time series, 3-0. TCU and Clemson last met on November 24, 2019, in Las Vegas (62-60 in OT).
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“We are excited to play in the 2023 Hall of Fame Series Toronto. It will be a great experience to face a quality opponent like Clemson and do with a unique situation of playing a game in a foreign country.” Jamie Dixon | TCU
“We’re excited about the opportunity to compete in an outstanding Hall of Fame event in Toronto. I have great respect for Coach Dixon and the TCU program, and we’re excited about competing against a high-level opponent. It should be a great day of college basketball!” Brad Brownell | Clemson
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 20
Phoenix - Footprint Center
Arizona State vs. Fresno State (W)
Arizona vs. Gonzaga (W)
Arizona St. vs. Northwestern (M)
Arizona vs. Alabama (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.