Conway, S. C., November 21, 2019 – The field for the 2020 Myrtle Beach Invitational was revealed Thursday, with the third annual in-season collegiate basketball tournament attracting schools from three different time zones ranging from neighboring North Carolina in the east to Utah State in the west.
The event, taking place November 19, 20 and 22, at the HTC Center on the campus of Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C., will feature Charlotte (Conference USA), Dayton (Atlantic 10), Loyola (Missouri Valley), Missouri (Southeastern), Nebraska (Big Ten), Penn (Ivy), Pittsburgh (Atlantic Coast) and Utah State (Mountain West).
Entering this week’s play, Utah State is ranked 15th in the Associated Press poll. The Aggies enter the 2019-2020 season after winning 28 of 34 games last year enroute to capturing the Mountain West post-season title to advance to the NCAAs.
Dayton, Loyola and Nebraska competed in the 2019 National Invitational Tournament where the Huskers advanced to the second round before being eliminated by TCU, which advanced to the semifinals in New York. Loyola is two seasons removed from the Ramblers 2018 appearance in the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
The appearances by Charlotte and Pittsburgh marks the third-straight year schools from Conference USA and the ACC have competed in the Myrtle Beach Invitational. The Big Ten, Ivy League and Mountain West will be represented in the event for the first time with Nebraska, Penn and Utah State participating next year. The Atlantic 10, Missouri Valley and SEC will have a school competing for the second time.
Owned and operated by ESPN, this year’s Myrtle Beach Invitational, being played this week at the HTC Center, features Baylor (Big 12), Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt), Middle Tennessee (Conference USA), Mississippi State (SEC), Ohio (Mid-American), Tulane (American Athletic), Utah (Pac-12) and Villanova (BIG EAST).
UCF captured the inaugural Myrtle Beach Invitational title by defeating Western Kentucky 78-62 in the championship game at the HTC Center. The Knights advanced to the second round of the 2019 NCAA Championships were UCF was eliminated 77-76 by Duke.