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First, the news:
Sources: Orlando will host the following eight early season events during the first few weeks of the college basketball season.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 15, 2020
Champions Classic
Jimmy V Classic
Wooden Legacy
Preseason NIT
Orlando Invitational
Charleston Classic
Myrtle Beach Invitational
Diamond Head Classic
Orlando has already been home to the NBA restart as well as the playoffs. Many college tournaments are now moving their contests to Orlando as well. Details are not yet conclusive on when these will all be played, how games will be spaced out or if multiple venues will be used. Even though it isn’t all laid out yet, this feels like a positive step.
The start date has now been pushed back and the non-con has been trimmed down but some of the early season tournaments appear set to go on. Another good thing to come from this is the opportunity to test out a bubble setup with a tournament schedule. Should the early season tournaments work in a bubble, it is not a stretch to see how March Madness could be worked out. It is still very much up in the air, but there is some cause for hope.