The Bahamas will play host this year to the largest early-season event in all of college basketball. 

The new Baha Mar Hoops event is a weeklong slate of events headlined on the men’s side by Louisville and Maryland and on the women’s side by defending National Champion Stanford and a pair of top-five teams: Maryland and NC State. 

“We are thrilled to welcome the men’s and women’s NCAA teams for the first-ever Baha Mar Hoops event,” said Graeme Davis, President of Baha Mar. “At the heart of the resort destination is our determination to inspire the youth from around the world. We have designed Baha Mar facilities and offerings with the intention of hosting events such as Baha Mar Hoops and look forward to watching these impressive collegiate athletes play basketball in the beautiful Bahamas.”

The men’s tournament will conclude with the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship on Nov. 25 and 27. 

The women’s tournament, billed as the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship, will kick off on Nov. 25. 

“In most early season events, you are lucky if you see one top-10 match-up; we may have three such games in Nassau,” said Women’s Tournament Director and ESPN analyst Debbie Antonelli. “In all my years in the game, I don’t know if I have ever seen so many quality teams in one field. Every game will have an NCAA Tournament level of play and several of these games will be on par with the Final Four. Fans are in for a treat with not only Baha Mar but the play on the court.”

In all, 23 games will be played across three events during the week of Thanksgiving, from Nov. 22-27. 

For more, visit Baha Mar Hoops.

— CJ