C of C, Clemson to headline tournament

Cougars' new basketball arena to host event

CLEMSON — ESPN is putting the finishing touches on a mid-November basketball tournament at the new Carolina First Center with Clemson and College of Charleston serving as the headliners.

The deal has not been finalized, but sources with knowledge of the situation said ESPN is ironing out the details on an exempt tournament that could run for four years in Charleston and eventually include South Carolina, The Citadel and Charleston Southern.

Sources said six teams have committed to playing in this year's tournament, which would run Nov. 14, 15 and 16 at the new home for College of Charleston's basketball team. The plan is to have an eight-team tournament, with the Tigers and Cougars matched in opposite brackets.

The tournament would be what the NCAA classifies as exempt, or a "multi-team event." The NCAA allows teams to play a maximum of 29 regular-season games, or 27 regular season games plus four games in a multi-team event.

NCAA rules would prohibit Clemson and College of Charleston from returning to the tournament in the next four years, but ESPN's idea is to have the Gamecocks, Bulldogs and Buccaneers play host to the tournament over that time period.

Cougars athletic director Joe Hull said it would be "premature to comment on the situation at this time."

If the tournament becomes a reality, College of Charleston's scheduled opener could end up getting moved. The Cougars have already announced they'll open their new arena against South Carolina on Nov. 17 — a day after the conclusion of the proposed tournament.

The 5,000-seat Carolina First Center will replace John Kresse Arena as the home of the Cougars. Placing the Tigers and Cougars in opposite brackets would allow for the possibility of the two teams facing each other in the championship game.

Charlie Bennett contributed to this report. Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the new Clemson blog at charleston.net/blogs