# Legends Classic (basketball tournament)

The Legends Classic is an annual, early-season, college basketball tournament which started in 2007 and takes place at the beginning of the college basketball season in November. Four teams (from four conferences) compete in the Legends Classic. The tournament has been held at various venues in the New York metropolitan area, primarily the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

## History

The Legends Classic began in 2007 with the first two events being played at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. In that first year, only the four regional-round hosts were guaranteed to play four games, as Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia, and New Mexico State each hosted a pair of games, before advancing to the semifinals in Newark. Since the 2008–09 season, each team has been guaranteed to play four games.
In 2013, the field for the event decreased from 12 teams to 8 teams from eight separate conferences. Two games were held at four different regional sites selected before the tournament. Four teams advanced to the semifinals and finals at Barclays Center in New York City, while the remaining four teams played in a tournament format at a predetermined on-campus site. After a showcase format was used in 2020, following the withdrawal of teams due to COVID-19-related issues, the size of the field was reduced to four, starting in 2021, with all games played at the same venue.

### Yearly champions, runners-up, and MVPs

| Year | Winner | Score | Opponent | Tournament MVP | Other participants | Venue |
| 2024 | Texas | 67–58 | Saint Joseph's | Tre Johnson, Texas | Texas Tech, Syracuse | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| 2023 | Auburn | 77–60 | St. Bonaventure | Johni Broome, Auburn | Notre Dame, Oklahoma State | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| 2022 | Arizona State | 87–62 | Michigan | Desmond Cambridge Jr., Arizona State | Pittsburgh, VCU | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| 2021 | Virginia | 58–40 | Providence | Jayden Gardner, Virginia | Northwestern, Georgia | Prudential Center, Newark |
| 2020 | Changed to a Showcase due to COVID-19 | Changed to a Showcase due to COVID-19 | Changed to a Showcase due to COVID-19 | Evan Mobley, USC | Boston College, BYU, Florida, St. John's, UConn, USC | Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville |
| 2019 | Auburn | 79–65 | Richmond | Austin Wiley, Auburn | New Mexico, Wisconsin | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| 2018 | St. John's | 87–86$^{OT}$ | VCU | Shamorie Ponds, St. John's | California, Temple | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| 2017 | Texas A&M | 98–87 | Penn State | Robert Williams, Texas A&M | Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| 2016 | Notre Dame | 70–66 | Northwestern | Matt Farrell, Notre Dame | Colorado, Texas | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| 2015 | Marquette | 78–73$^{OT}$ | Arizona State | Henry Ellenson, Marquette | LSU, NC State | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| 2014 | Villanova | 60–55 | Michigan | Dylan Ennis, Villanova | VCU, Oregon | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| 2013 | Pittsburgh | 88–67 | Stanford | Lamar Patterson, Pittsburgh | Texas Tech, Houston | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| 2012 | Indiana | 82–72$^{OT}$ | Georgetown | Jordan Hulls, Indiana | UCLA, Georgia | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| 2011 | Vanderbilt | 64–62 | Oregon State | John Jenkins, Vanderbilt | NC State, Texas | Izod Center, East Rutherford |
| 2010 | Syracuse | 80–76 | Georgia Tech | Rick Jackson, Syracuse | Michigan, UTEP | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City |
| 2009 | Florida | 73–58 | Rutgers | Erving Walker, Florida | Michigan State, UMass | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City |
| 2008 | Pittsburgh | 57–43 | Washington State | Sam Young, Pittsburgh | Mississippi State, Texas Tech | Prudential Center, Newark |
| 2007 | Texas | 97–78 | Tennessee | D. J. Augustin, Texas | New Mexico State, West Virginia | Prudential Center, Newark |

#### Most appearances

| School | |
| Texas | 4 |
| Pittsburgh | 4 |
| Michigan | 3 |
| VCU | 3 |
| Texas Tech | 3 |
| Auburn | 2 |
| Georgia | 2 |
| NC State | 2 |
| Northwestern | 2 |
| Syracuse | 2 |

## Brackets

* – Denotes overtime period

### 2024

The 2024 tournament took place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, on November 21 & 22, 2024.
| Semifinals November 21 ESPN2 | Semifinals November 21 ESPN2 | Championship November 22 ESPNU | Championship November 22 ESPNU | Championship November 22 ESPNU |
| Syracuse | 66 | | | |
| Texas | 70 | | | |
| Texas | 70 | | Texas | 67 |
| | | | Saint Joseph's | 58 |
| Texas Tech | 77 | | Saint Joseph's | 58 |
| Saint Joseph's | 78 | Consolation Game November 22 ESPNU | Consolation Game November 22 ESPNU | Consolation Game November 22 ESPNU |
| | | | Syracuse | 74 |
| | | | Texas Tech | 79 |

### 2023

The 2023 tournament took place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. It took place on November 16 & 17, 2023.
| Semifinals November 16 ESPNU/ESPN2 | Semifinals November 16 ESPNU/ESPN2 | Championship November 17 ESPN2 | Championship November 17 ESPN2 | Championship November 17 ESPN2 |
| Oklahoma State | 64 | | | |
| St. Bonaventure | 66 | | | |
| St. Bonaventure | 66 | | St. Bonaventure | 60 |
| | | | Auburn | 77 |
| Auburn | 83 | | Auburn | 77 |
| Notre Dame | 59 | Consolation Game November 17 ESPNU | Consolation Game November 17 ESPNU | Consolation Game November 17 ESPNU |
| | | | Oklahoma State | 64 |
| | | | Notre Dame | 66* |

### 2022

The 2022 tournament took place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn The tournament took place from Wednesday, November 16 to Thursday, November 17, 2022.
| Semifinals November 16 ESPNU/ESPN+ | Semifinals November 16 ESPNU/ESPN+ | Semifinals November 16 ESPNU/ESPN+ | Championship November 17 ESPN2 | Championship November 17 ESPN2 | Championship November 17 ESPN2 |
| 20 | Michigan | 90 | | | |
| | Pittsburgh | 61 | | | |
| | Pittsburgh | 61 | 20 | Michigan | 62 |
| | | | | Arizona State | 87 |
| | Arizona State | 63 | | Arizona State | 87 |
| | VCU | 59 | Consolation Game November 17 ESPN2 | Consolation Game November 17 ESPN2 | Consolation Game November 17 ESPN2 |
| | | | | Pittsburgh | 67 |
| | | | | VCU | 71 |

### 2021

The 2021 tournament was set to return to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn but was played at the Prudential Center in Newark. The tournament took place from Monday, November 22 to Tuesday, November 23, 2021. Texas and UCLA were originally set to play, but were replaced by Georgia and Providence.
| Semifinals November 22 ESPNU/ESPN+ | Semifinals November 22 ESPNU/ESPN+ | Semifinals November 22 ESPNU/ESPN+ | Championship November 23 ESPN2 | Championship November 23 ESPN2 | Championship November 23 ESPN2 |
| Virginia | Virginia | 65 | | | |
| Georgia | Georgia | 55 | | | |
| Georgia | Georgia | 55 | Virginia | Virginia | 58 |
| | | | Providence | Providence | 40 |
| Providence | Providence | 77 | Providence | Providence | 40 |
| Northwestern | Northwestern | 72 | Consolation Game November 23 ESPN2 | Consolation Game November 23 ESPN2 | Consolation Game November 23 ESPN2 |
| | | | | Georgia | 62 |
| | | | | Northwestern | 78 |

### 2020

The field for the tournament for the year 2020 initially included four teams instead of the usual eight due to COVID-19 concerns. BYU replaced Notre Dame after they pulled out of the field. Then later Vanderbilt withdrew from the tournament as well and the format for the competition was changed to a showcase format. The location of the tournament was also relocated to the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The participants in the 2020 group included:
* Boston College
* BYU
* Florida
* St. Johns
* UConn
* USC
All games in the 2020 Tournament are televised on either ESPN or ESPN2. Due to Notre Dame and Vanderbilt not participating in the tournament, the format was changed to a showcase format with the following results.
| Date | Time (EST) | Winner | Opponent | Score | Television | Top Performer/Player of the Game |
| December 1, 2020 | 2:30 pm | USC | BYU | 79–53 | ESPN2 | Evan Mobley (USC), 17 points, 11 rebounds |
| December 2, 2020 | 5:00 pm | BYU | St. John's | 74–68 | ESPN2 | Alex Barcello (BYU), 20 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds |
| December 3, 2020 | 7:00 pm | UConn | USC | 61–58 | ESPN | Evan Mobley (USC), 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks |
| December 3, 2020 | 9:30 pm | Florida | Boston College | 90–70 | ESPN | Keyontae Johnson (Florida), 24 points, 12 rebounds |
MVP: Evan Mobley (USC)
All-Tournament Team: Julian Champagnie (St. John's), Alex Barcello (BYU), James Bouknight (UConn) and Keyontae Johnson (Florida).

### 2019 participants and bracket

* Auburn
* Cal State Northridge
* Colgate
* Green Bay
* McNeese State
* New Mexico
* Richmond
* Wisconsin

#### Championship Round

| First Round November 25 ESPN2 ESPNEWS | First Round November 25 ESPN2 ESPNEWS | First Round November 25 ESPN2 ESPNEWS | Championship November 26 ESPN2 | Championship November 26 ESPN2 | Championship November 26 ESPN2 |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin | 52 | | | |
| Richmond | Richmond | 62 | | | |
| Richmond | Richmond | 62 | | Richmond | 65 |
| | | | 18 | Auburn | 79 |
| 18 | Auburn | 84 | 18 | Auburn | 79 |
| | New Mexico | 59 | Consolation November 26 ESPN2 | Consolation November 26 ESPN2 | Consolation November 26 ESPN2 |
| | | | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | 50 |
| | | | New Mexico | New Mexico | 59 |

### 2018 participants and bracket

* Bowling Green
* California
* Detroit Mercy
* Hampton
* Loyola (Md.)
* St. John's
* Temple
* VCU

#### Championship Round

| First Round November 19 ESPN 2 ESPN3 | First Round November 19 ESPN 2 ESPN3 | First Round November 19 ESPN 2 ESPN3 | Championship November 20 ESPN2 | Championship November 20 ESPN2 | Championship November 20 ESPN2 |
| St. John's | St. John's | 82 | | | |
| California | California | 79 | | | |
| California | California | 79 | St. John's | St. John's | 87* |
| | | | VCU | VCU | 86 |
| VCU | VCU | 57 | VCU | VCU | 86 |
| Temple | Temple | 51 | Consolation November 20 ESPNU | Consolation November 20 ESPNU | Consolation November 20 ESPNU |
| | | | California | California | 59 |
| | | | Temple | Temple | 76 |

##### Sub Regionals

| Sub Regional Games November 19 | Sub Regional Games November 19 | Sub Regional Games November 19 | Championship Game November 20 | Championship Game November 20 | Championship Game November 20 |
| Bowling Green | Bowling Green | 81 | | | |
| Hampton | Hampton | 79 | | | |
| Hampton | Hampton | 79 | Bowling Green | Bowling Green | 67 |
| | | | Detroit Mercy | Detroit Mercy | 82 |
| Detroit Mercy | Detroit Mercy | 91 | Detroit Mercy | Detroit Mercy | 82 |
| Loyola Maryland | Loyola Maryland | 63 | Consolation Game November 20 | Consolation Game November 20 | Consolation Game November 20 |
| | | | Hampton | Hampton | 66 |
| | | | Loyola Maryland | Loyola Maryland | 75 |

### 2017 participants and bracket

* Montana
* Oklahoma State
* Oral Roberts
* Penn State
* Pepperdine
* Pittsburgh
* Texas A&M
* UC Santa Barbara

#### Regionals

| Game 1 November 10 Fox College Sports | Game 1 November 10 Fox College Sports | Game 5 November 16 Fox Sports Oklahoma + | Game 5 November 16 Fox Sports Oklahoma + |
| | | Oral Roberts | 48 |
| Pepperdine | 47 | Oklahoma State | 91 |
| Oklahoma State | 78 | | |
| Game 2 November 13 ACC Network Extra | Game 2 November 13 ACC Network Extra | Game 4 November 15 ACC Network Extra | Game 4 November 15 ACC Network Extra |
| | | UC Santa Barbara | 62 |
| Montana | 83 | Pittsburgh | 70 |
| Pittsburgh | 78 | | |
| Game 3 November 15 Big Ten Network | Game 3 November 15 Big Ten Network | Game 7 November 24 Big Ten Network + | Game 7 November 24 Big Ten Network + |
| | | Oral Roberts | 48 |
| Montana | 57 | Penn State | 86 |
| Penn State | 70 | | |
| Game 6 November 17 SEC Network + | Game 6 November 17 SEC Network + | Game 8 November 24 SEC Network | Game 8 November 24 SEC Network |
| | | Pepperdine | 65 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 65 | Texas A&M | 81 |
| Texas A&M | 84 | | |

#### Championship Round

| Semifinals November 20 ESPN 2 ESPN3 | Semifinals November 20 ESPN 2 ESPN3 | Semifinals November 20 ESPN 2 ESPN3 | Championship November 21 ESPN2 | Championship November 21 ESPN2 | Championship November 21 ESPN2 |
| 16 | Texas A&M | 72 | | | |
| | Oklahoma State | 55 | | | |
| | Oklahoma State | 55 | 16 | Texas A&M | 98 |
| | | | | Penn State | 87 |
| Penn State | Penn State | 85 | | Penn State | 87 |
| Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | 54 | Consolation November 21 ESPNU | Consolation November 21 ESPNU | Consolation November 21 ESPNU |
| | | | Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State | 73 |
| | | | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | 67 |

#### Sub Regionals

| Sub Regional Games November 20 | Sub Regional Games November 20 | Sub Regional Games November 20 | Championship Game November 21 | Championship Game November 21 | Championship Game November 21 |
| Oral Roberts | Oral Roberts | 64 | | | |
| Montana | Montana | 69 | | | |
| Montana | Montana | 69 | Montana | Montana | 73 |
| | | | UC Santa Barbara | UC Santa Barbara | 80 |
| UC Santa Barbara | UC Santa Barbara | 92 | UC Santa Barbara | UC Santa Barbara | 80 |
| Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 84 | Consolation Game November 21 | Consolation Game November 21 | Consolation Game November 21 |
| | | | Oral Roberts | Oral Roberts | 76 |
| | | | Pepperdine | Pepperdine | 80 |

### 2016 participants and bracket

* Bryant
* Colorado
* Eastern Washington
* Louisiana–Monroe
* Northwestern
* Notre Dame
* Seattle
* Texas
| Semifinals November 21 | Semifinals November 21 | Semifinals November 21 | Championship November 22 ESPN2 | Championship November 22 ESPN2 | Championship November 22 ESPN2 |
| | Notre Dame | 89 | | | |
| | Colorado | 83 | | | |
| | Colorado | 83 | | Notre Dame | 70 |
| | | | | Northwestern | 66 |
| 22 | Texas | 58 | | Northwestern | 66 |
| | Northwestern | 77 | Consolation November 22 ESPNU | Consolation November 22 ESPNU | Consolation November 22 ESPNU |
| | | | | Colorado | 68 |
| | | | 22 | Texas | 54 |

### 2015 participants and bracket

* Arizona State
* Belmont
* IUPUI
* Kennesaw State
* LSU
* Marquette
* NC State
* South Alabama
| Semifinals November 23 | Semifinals November 23 | Semifinals November 23 | Championship November 24 ESPN2 | Championship November 24 ESPN2 | Championship November 24 ESPN2 |
| 23 | LSU | 80 | | | |
| | Marquette | 81 | | | |
| | Marquette | 81 | Marquette | Marquette | 78* |
| | | | Arizona State | Arizona State | 73 |
| NC State | NC State | 76 | Arizona State | Arizona State | 73 |
| Arizona State | Arizona State | 79 | Consolation November 24 ESPNU | Consolation November 24 ESPNU | Consolation November 24 ESPNU |
| | | | 23 | LSU | 72 |
| | | | | NC State | 83* |

### 2014 participants and bracket

* Bucknell
* Detroit
* Maryland Eastern Shore
* Michigan
* Oregon
* Toledo
* Villanova
* VCU
| Semifinals November 24 | Semifinals November 24 | Semifinals November 24 | Championship November 25 ESPN2 | Championship November 25 ESPN2 | Championship November 25 ESPN2 |
| 12 | Villanova | 77 | | | |
| 14 | VCU | 53 | | | |
| 14 | VCU | 53 | 12 | Villanova | 60 |
| | | | 19 | Michigan | 55 |
| 19 | Michigan | 70 | 19 | Michigan | 55 |
| | Oregon | 63 | Consolation November 25 ESPNU | Consolation November 25 ESPNU | Consolation November 25 ESPNU |
| | | | 14 | VCU | 77 |
| | | | | Oregon | 63 |

### 2013 participants and bracket

* Houston
* Howard
* Lehigh
* Pittsburgh
* South Dakota State
* Stanford
* Texas Southern
* Texas Tech
| Semifinals November 25 | Semifinals November 25 | Championship November 26 ESPNU | Championship November 26 ESPNU | Championship November 26 ESPNU |
| Pittsburgh | 76 | | | |
| Texas Tech | 53 | | | |
| Texas Tech | 53 | | Pittsburgh | 88 |
| | | | Stanford | 67 |
| Stanford | 86 | | Stanford | 67 |
| Houston | 76 | Consolation November 26 ESPN3 | Consolation November 26 ESPN3 | Consolation November 26 ESPN3 |
| | | | Texas Tech | 76 |
| | | | Houston | 64 |

### 2012 participants and bracket

* Duquesne
* Georgetown
* Georgia
* Indiana
* James Madison
* Liberty
* North Dakota State
* Sam Houston State
* Southern Miss
* University of California, Irvine
* UCLA
* Youngstown State
| Semifinals November 19 | Semifinals November 19 | Semifinals November 19 | Championship November 20 ESPN | Championship November 20 ESPN | Championship November 20 ESPN |
| | Georgia | 53 | | | |
| 1 | Indiana | 66 | | | |
| 1 | Indiana | 66 | 1 | Indiana | 82* |
| | | | | Georgetown | 72 |
| | Georgetown | 78 | | Georgetown | 72 |
| 13 | UCLA | 70 | Consolation November 20 ESPNU | Consolation November 20 ESPNU | Consolation November 20 ESPNU |
| | | | 13 | UCLA | 60 |
| | | | | Georgia | 56 |

### 2011 participants and bracket

* Boston University
* Bucknell
* Cleveland State
* Hofstra
* Morehead State
* North Carolina State
* Oregon State
* Princeton
* Rhode Island
* Texas
* Vanderbilt
* West Alabama
| Semifinals November 19 ESPN3 | Semifinals November 19 ESPN3 | Semifinals November 19 ESPN3 | Championship November 21 ESPN3 | Championship November 21 ESPN3 | Championship November 21 ESPN3 |
| 20 | Vanderbilt | 86 | | | |
| | NC State | 79 | | | |
| | NC State | 79 | 20 | Vanderbilt | 64 |
| | | | | Oregon State | 62 |
| | Texas | 95 | | Oregon State | 62 |
| | Oregon State | 100* | Consolation November 21 ESPN3 | Consolation November 21 ESPN3 | Consolation November 21 ESPN3 |
| | | | | NC State | 77 |
| | | | | Texas | 74 |

### 2010 participants and bracket

* Albany
* Bowling Green
* Detroit
* Gardner-Webb
* Georgia Tech
* Michigan
* Niagara
* Mercer
* Syracuse
* UTEP
* Western Carolina
* William & Mary
| Semifinals November 26 HDNet | Semifinals November 26 HDNet | Semifinals November 26 HDNet | Championship November 27 HDNet | Championship November 27 HDNet | Championship November 27 HDNet |
| | Georgia Tech | 71 | | | |
| | UTEP | 61 | | | |
| | UTEP | 61 | | Georgia Tech | 76 |
| | | | 10 | Syracuse | 80 |
| 10 | Syracuse | 53 | 10 | Syracuse | 80 |
| | Michigan | 50 | Consolation November 27 HDNet | Consolation November 27 HDNet | Consolation November 27 HDNet |
| | | | | UTEP | 65 |
| | | | | Michigan | 56 |

### 2009 participants and bracket

* Arkansas-Fort Smith
* Cornell
* Drexel
* Michigan State
* Georgia Southern
* Florida
* Rutgers
* Toledo
* Valparaiso
* Vermont
* Troy
* UMass
| Semifinals November 27 HDNet | Semifinals November 27 HDNet | Semifinals November 27 HDNet | Championship November 28 HDNet | Championship November 28 HDNet | Championship November 28 HDNet |
| | Rutgers | 83 | | | |
| | UMass | 75 | | | |
| | UMass | 75 | | Rutgers | 58 |
| | | | | Florida | 73 |
| 2 | Michigan State | 74 | | Florida | 73 |
| | Florida | 77 | Consolation November 20 ESPNU | Consolation November 20 ESPNU | Consolation November 20 ESPNU |
| | | | | UMass | 68 |
| | | | 2 | Michigan State | 106 |

### 2008 participants and bracket

* Akron
* Eastern Kentucky
* East Central (Ok.)
* Fairleigh Dickinson
* Indiana (Pa.)
* Mississippi State
* North Alabama
* Pittsburgh
* Texas Tech
* Thiel
* Urbana
* Washington State
| Semifinals November 28 HDNet | Semifinals November 28 HDNet | Championship November 29 HDNet | Championship November 29 HDNet | Championship November 29 HDNet |
| Washington State | 63 | | | |
| Mississippi State | 52 | | | |
| Mississippi State | 52 | | Washington State | 43 |
| | | | Pittsburgh | 57 |
| Pittsburgh | 80 | | Pittsburgh | 57 |
| Texas Tech | 67 | Consolation November 29 HDNet | Consolation November 29 HDNet | Consolation November 29 HDNet |
| | | | Mississippi State | 77 |
| | | | Texas Tech | 73 |

### 2007 participants and bracket

* Arkansas-Monticello
* La Verne
* LeMoyne–Owen
* New Mexico State
* Prairie View A&M
* Schreiner
* University of California, Santa Cruz
* Tennessee
* Texas
* University of California, Davis
* West Virginia
| Semifinals November 23 Versus | Semifinals November 23 Versus | Semifinals November 23 Versus | Championship November 24 Versus | Championship November 24 Versus | Championship November 24 Versus |
| 16 | Texas | 102 | | | |
| | New Mexico State | 87 | | | |
| | New Mexico State | 87 | 16 | Texas | 97 |
| | | | 7 | Tennessee | 78 |
| | West Virginia | 72 | 7 | Tennessee | 78 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 74 | Consolation November 24 | Consolation November 24 | Consolation November 24 |
| | | | | West Virginia | 75 |
| | | | | New Mexico State | 61 |