Alabama Basketball: Previewing the 2021 ESPN Events Invitational

After a 4-0 start to the season at home, Alabama Basketball will travel for the first time as the Crimson Tide will be participating in the ESPN Events Invitational Tournament later this week. A three-day event of games, this tournament will provide multiple intriguing matchups, as well as a rematch from last season’s NCAA Tournament.

Alabama Basketball participating in the 2021 ESPN Events Invitational

When previewing this tournament, there are multiple questions to be answered about this tournament, one of the most-exciting of many throughout this week.

When and Where?

Despite a four-day event, games will only be played on three days (Thursday, November 25/Friday, November 26/Sunday, November 28). The games will be played at HP Field House in Orlando, FL.

The Field

Aside from Alabama, the ESPN Events Invitational field includes eight total teams that are headlined by a few NCAA Tournament caliber teams such as No. 4 ranked Kansas, Drake, Belmont, and Iona. In addition to those four, Dayton, Miami, and North Texas are also quality opponents as well.

Bracket

The first round tournament matchups that will take place on Thursday, November 25 are listed below:

• Miami (3-1) vs Dayton (1-3) – 12:00 pm ET
• No. 4 Kansas (3-0) vs North Texas (2-1) – 2:00 pm ET
• Iona (5-0) vs No. 10 Alabama (4-0) – 5:00 pm ET
• Drake (3-0) vs Belmont (3-2) – 7:30 pm ET

Players to Watch

We know about Alabama’s deep roster, but who are some other players to watch in this tournament?

• G Ochai Agbaji (Kansas) – 26.3 PPG, 4 RPG, 57.7 FG%, 41.7 3P%, 90 FT%
• G Kameron McGusty (Miami) – 19 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 46.8 FG%, 81.8 FT%
• F Nelly Junior Joseph (Iona) – 16.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 56.3 FG%
• G Tylor Perry (North Texas) – 17.3 PPG, 2.7 APG, 2.7 SPG, 59.3 FG%, 56.3 3P%, 1.000 FT%
• G Tyson Jolly (Iona) – 16 PPG, 5 RPG, 47.4 FG%, 46.2 3P%
• F Thomas Bell (North Texas) – 15 PPG, 8.7 RPG
• C Nick Muszynski (Belmont) – 15 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3 APG, 51.7 FG%, 86.7 FT%
• F Tremell Murphy (Drake) – 15 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 59.1 FG%, 57.1 3P%, 84.6 FT%
• G Isaiah Wong (Miami) – 16 PPG, 4 RPG, 53.2 FG%
• F Toumani Camara (Dayton) – 11 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 57.6 FG%
• G Christian Braun (Kansas) – 10.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3 APG, 59.1 FG%
• G Remy Martin (Kansas) – 9.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 91.7 FT%
• F David McCormick (Kansas) – 9.3 PPG, 6 RPG, 2.7 BPG, 50 FG%

If Alabama Wins/Loses?

If Alabama defeats Iona on Thursday, the Crimson Tide will face the winner of the Drake/Belmont matchup on Friday, November 26. If Alabama wins the second round matchup, it will set-up a championship game against the other-side of the bracket’s winner on Sunday, potentially a Top 10 matchup with Kansas.

As you’ve likely guessed as well, if Alabama loses to Iona on Thursday, the Crimson Tide will face the loser of the Drake/Belmont game on Friday. Depending on the result of that game, Alabama would face one of other-side of the bracket’s teams on Sunday (Dayton, Kansas, Miami, North Texas).

Prediction

Alabama should win at-least two games in Orlando, but it will not be an easy task however. The Crimson Tide’s first round opponent in Iona is a very-tough matchup, and will provide an early preview of a first round NCAA Tournament caliber opponent. As for potential matchups beyond the Gaels, Alabama should beat Iona, and set-up potential showdowns with either Drake or Belmont, and should reach the championship game where Kansas will likely await.