PROVO, Utah -- The BYU men's basketball team will be playing in one of the nation's premier tournaments this season as the Cougars participate in the 2007 Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational.
A matchup against preseason No. 7 Louisville awaits the Cougars on Nov. 23 at Las Vegas' Orleans Arena. BYU will then face either Old Dominion or preseason No. 2 North Carolina on Saturday. Opening round games will be played at campus sites around the country, including two games in the Marriott Center. BYU will host Jackson State, a 2007 NCAA Tournament participant with a record of 21-14 a year ago, on Nov. 16 before facing Hartford (13-18 in 2006-07) on Nov. 20.
With a 24-10 overall record last season, Louisville advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round and finished the year ranked No. 16 nationally. The Cardinals return four starters and their top seven scorers, including junior forward Terrence Williams. North Carolina advanced to the NCAA Regional Final last season while posting a 31-7 overall record and a No. 4 final ranking. The Tarheels return six of their top eight players, including All-American Tyler Hansbrough and guards Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington. Old Dominion also participated in last year's NCAA Tournament and finished the season with a 24-9 mark. The Monarchs return two starters and five letterwinners from last year's squad.
The field of eight teams also includes South Carolina State and Iona. Each team will play four games -- the first two at campus sites, and the final two at the Orleans.
All-Tournament Passes are available for the two-day event in Las Vegas through the BYU Ticket Office. Contact 801-322-BYU1 or CLICK HERE.
FIRST ROUND
NOV. 11 SOUTH CAROLINA ST @ OLD DOMINION
16 JACKSON STATE @ BYU
17 HARTFORD @ LOUISVILLE
18 IONA @ NORTH CAROLINA
SECOND ROUND
NOV. 18 JACKSON STATE @ LOUISVILLE
20 SOUTH CAROLINA ST @ NORTH CAROLINA
20 HARTFORD @ BYU
20 IONA @ OLD DOMINION
THIRD ROUND AT ORLEANS ARENA -- LAS VEGAS (All Game Times Pacific)
NOV. 23 IONA VS SOUTH CAROLINA STATE, 1:00 PM
JACKSON STATE VS HARTFORD, 3:30 PM
LOUISVILLE VS BYU, 6:00 PM
NORTH CAROLINA VS OLD DOMINION, 9:00 PM
FINAL ROUND AT ORLEANS ARENA -- LAS VEGAS (All Game Times Pacific)
NOV. 24 LOSER OF IC/SCS VS LOSER OF JSU/UH, 11:30 AM
WINNER OF IC/SCS VS WINNER OF JSU/UH, 2:00 PM
LOSER OF UL/BYU VS LOSER OF UNC/ODU, 4:30 PM
WINNER OF UL/BYU VS WINNER OF UNC/ODU, 7:30 PM (ESPN2)