Gonzaga, Tennessee, GCU and Nevada to Faceoff in Doubleheader on December 9
PHOENIX, AZ – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the field of teams for the first-ever Jerry Colangelo Classic presented by Citi, a newly developed college basketball showcase held in conjunction with Talking Stick Resort Arena on Sunday, December 9, 2018. The one-day doubleheader will feature the University of Tennessee vs. Gonzaga University and University of Nevada vs. Grand Canyon University.
“Jerry Colangelo, the remarkable Chairman of the Board for the Basketball Hall of Fame, has a storied history with the city of Phoenix. We are very proud to host the inaugural Jerry Colangelo Classic at Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix in his honor,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “The four teams participating in this year’s event, and their fans, are certainly in for a treat of great basketball and Arizona winter weather.”
“I’m very excited to be hosting a collegiate basketball event with the Basketball Hall of Fame in the beautiful city I call home,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “Talking Stick Resort Arena, home of the Phoenix Suns, is a fantastic venue and we hope the fans will take the time to explore Phoenix and all the city has to offer.”
Tickets for the Jerry Colangelo Classic will go on-sale to the general public on May 29 at 10:00 a.m. PT via all Ticketmaster locations and the Talking Stick Resort Arena box office. Game times and television broadcast information will be released at a later date.
Quotes from Participating Head Coaches
“We look to play a challenging, national schedule every year. Adding a game like this against an elite, well-coached program like Gonzaga is going to serve as a great early-season test for us. I appreciate the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for giving our program the opportunity to be a part of this inaugural event that salutes one of the most respected figures in the game in Jerry Colangelo.” – Rick Barnes, University of Tennessee
“Coach Barnes has done another phenomenal job of building Tennessee back to a national power like he has done at all his other previous schools. We are looking forward to playing in a high-level nationally-relevant game in a city where our program has some great memories. Personally, it will be a very special experience honoring a great man, and a friend, in Jerry Colangelo.” – Mark Few, Gonzaga University
“We feel this is a great opportunity to play in another NBA arena, which is an environment similar to what you would experience in an NCAA tournament setting. Coach Dan Majerle has done a great job at Grand Canyon, as they are one of the power programs in the WAC. His teams always play with tremendous passion and do a great job of executing on both ends. We know that playing in Phoenix will not be a neutral site due to Grand Canyon having such phenomenal fan support. It will be an extremely challenging game.” – Eric Musselman, University of Nevada
“Playing an opponent like Nevada will only make us better, so we’re excited to be a part of the Jerry Colangelo Classic. Mr. Colangelo has been a big part of my life. He is a huge part of this university. To be able to play in an event named after him is a great honor for GCU. It will be a great experience for our kids to play where the Suns play, and it’s always great to go back to a building where I have so many special memories.” – Dan Majerle, Grand Canyon University
About Talking Stick Resort Arena
Talking Stick Resort Arena is Arizona’s premier sports and entertainment venue. Centrally located in downtown Phoenix and host to dozens of concerts and live events each year, Talking Stick Resort Arena is home to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and IFL’s Arizona Rattlers. For more information, visit www.talkingstickresortarena.com.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate, men and women. For more information on these and other upcoming events, please visit our website at www.hoophall.com or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA.
For more information:
Visit us on the web: www.hoophall.com
… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/bhof
… on Twitter/Instagram: @Hoophall #ColangeloClassic
… or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA