I used to look forward to the Maui Classic college basketball tournament, held Thanksgiving week each year from the beautiful island paradise of Maui. That holiday tournament along with The Great Alaska Shootout and a Preseason NIT affair in New York were about as exotic it got for college basketball athletes.
Now, in addition to those long running events, there are tournaments in such locales as Puerto Rico, The U.S. Virgin Islands, South Padre Island, Las Vegas and Disney World. Oh and let's throw that hotbed of college basketball, Cancun into the mix. too.
To fill out these tournaments teams like South Dakota St., Longwood, and Presbyterian were invited to play in these prestigious events.
As long as television wants to cover these games and chambers of commerce want to hold them, expect to see more and more of these events popping up in warm weather outposts, where alumni can tan on the beaches and wives can hit the duty free shops.
