The Quinnipiac University men’s basketball team is reportedly set to play in the 2016 Orlando Classic. Ryan Restivo of NYC Buckets reported the news on Wednesday afternoon. Quinnipiac University athletics has yet to offer official comment.
I was told that Quinnipiac will be the @MAACSports representative in the 2016 Orlando Classic #MAAChoops
— Ryan Restivo (@ryanarestivo) April 8, 2015
The eight-team, non-elimination tournament played over Thanksgiving weekend guarantees three games to each team to determine its final ranking. The tournament takes place at the HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney World Resort.
As the host, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference invites one MAAC team to the sunshine state each year. Last season, Rider was the conference representative. The Broncs fell to No. 20 Michigan State, Georgia Tech, and Santa Clara in consecutive games. Marist was the last MAAC squad to record a victory, a 50-33 win against Vanderbilt, in the 2011 tournament. The Red Foxes finished in third place in 2006, the highest finish for a MAAC team in the tournament history.
Quinnipiac will make its first mid-season national tournament appearance since it played in the 2012 Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. There the Bobcats faced Iona, Connecticut and George Mason. The national exposure will pay great dividends for the Bobcats who have struggled to fill their schedule with quality BCS out-of-conference opponents.
Monmouth will play in the event in November 2015. The remainder of the slate consists of Alabama, Dayton, Iowa, Notre Dame, USC, Wichita State and Xavier.
