The bracket for the 2021 ESPN Events Invitational was revealed today. The eight-team tournament will be held Thanksgiving weekend – Thursday, Nov. 25, Friday, Nov. 26 and Sunday, Nov. 28 – at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla.
Field Highlights
- Five of the eight teams in the field reached the 2021 NCAA Tournament: Alabama (Sweet 16), Kansas and North Texas (second round), as well as Drake and Iona
- Dayton played in the 2021 National Invitation Tournament
- Four of the eight teams are seeded in ESPN.com’s latest Bracketology: No. 1-seed Kansas, No. 4 Alabama, No. 12 Belmont and No. 16 Iona.
- Kansas returns to the ESPN Events Invitational for the first time since winning the tournament in 2014. Dayton will be making its third appearance (2011, 2015) while Iona (2009) and Miami (2016) return for the second time
The 2021 ESPN Events Invitational, a bracket-format tournament, will feature 12 games over the three days. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout will face off in a championship match Sunday, Nov. 28.
All games will air on ESPN, ESPN, or ESPNU.
Ticket information and travel packages will be announced later this summer. Fans can sign up on the event website for a pre-sale to guarantee first access and a $10 discount on all price levels. Travel packages, which include a discounted rate at the Gaylord Palms Resort as well as transportation to/from the arena, will soon be available via Anthony Travel. To learn more and sign up for notifications visit https://book.anthonytravel.com/d/espn-events-invitational.
ESPN Events Invitational
November 25, 26 and 28
HP Field House (ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla.)
Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Network |
Thu, Nov. 25 | Noon | Dayton vs. Miami | ESPN or ESPN2 |
2 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. | North Texas vs. Kansas | ESPN or ESPN2 | |
5 p.m. | Alabama vs. Iona | ESPN or ESPN2 | |
7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. | Belmont vs. Drake | ESPN2 or ESPNU | |
Fri, Nov. 26 | 11 a.m. | Consolation #1 | ESPN2 |
1 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. | Semifinal #1 | ESPN or ESPN2 | |
4:30 p.m. | Consolation #2 | ESPN2 or ESPNU | |
6:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. | Semifinal #2 | ESPN2 or ESPNU | |
Sun, Nov. 28 | TBD | Seventh Place Game | TBD |
TBD | Fifth Place Game | TBD | |
TBD | Third Place Game | TBD | |
TBD | Championship | TBD |
Contact: Charley Green, Media Coordinator at 214-734-8028 or [email protected]