Buckeye basketball is back.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team will take on Memphis to open the season as part of the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic on Nov. 25 at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Following the Buckeyes matchup with the Tigers, they will take on either West Virginia or Texas A&M on the second day of the three-day tournament.
The well-rounded field of teams also includes Creighton, Dayton, Utah and Wichita State. Seven of the eight teams in the field had originally planned on competing in the Battle 4 Atlantis, with Dayton replacing Duke in the final slot for the inaugural Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic.
Photo courtesy of Sanford Pentagon.
What follows is the schedule for the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic:
Nov. 25 (All times ET)
2 p.m. West Virginia vs. Texas A&M (ESPN)
4:30 p.m. Ohio State vs. Memphis (ESPN2)
7 p.m. Creighton vs. Utah (ESPN2)
9:30 p.m. Dayton vs. Wichita State (ESPN2)
Nov. 26
12 p.m. Semifinal No. 1 (ESPN)
2:30 p.m. Semifinal No. 2 (ESPN)
6:30 p.m. Consolation semifinal No. 1 (ESPN2)
9 p.m. Consolation semifinal No. 2 (ESPN2)
Nov. 27
TBD
Photo courtesy of Sanford Pentagon.
Every one of the 12 games in the Bad Boy Mowers Classic will air on ESPN or within its network tree, like the Buckeyes’ game against Memphis on ESPN2.
Tickets sales begin November 1, but there is a limited amount available for each game. Spectators must wear masks, which will be available free of charge at the entrances.
Dr. Jeremy Cauwels, who is the senior vice president of quality at Sanford Health, is also a member of the NCAA COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group, which is responsible for providing guidance to NCAA schools regarding training, practice and competition.
“We aim to provide the blueprint for safely returning to competition for college sports as we navigate COVID-19’s presence in our lives,” Cauwels said in a statement. “We want student-athletes to be able to play the sports they love, but we want them and everyone else around them to be in a safe environment.”
Each member of each team’s traveling party will be tested regularly for COVID-19 upon arriving in Sioux Falls and must remain in a controlled environment throughout the entirety of their stay.
Per the release, Sanford Health and the Sanford Pentagon will work closely with the schools and individual states, prepared to make changes based on guidelines and safety measures for everyone involved.
Jesse Smith, who is the vice president of operations for the Sanford Sports Complex, expressed excitement for the tournament on behalf of the Sanford Sports Complex.
“Since opening in 2013, the Sanford Pentagon has earned the reputation of being a premier place to host Division I basketball games,” Smith said in a statement. “We are privileged to welcome these eight teams to Sioux Falls and will provide them a safe and memorable experience to start their season.”
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