Preseason favorites Bradley, Ohio & Princeton headline 2024 Myrtle Beach Invitational field

With the regular-season opening for the eight schools competing in the sixth annual Myrtle Beach Invitational, three of the participating teams are listed as preseason conference favorites – Bradley (Missouri Valley), Ohio (Mid-American), and Princeton (Ivy League).

The 2024 Myrtle Beach Invitational will be played on November 21, 22, and 24 at the HTC Center on the campus of Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C.  Joining Bradley, Ohio, and Princeton in the 2024 field are Middle Tennessee (Conference USA), Portland (West Coast), South Florida (American Athletic), Texas State (Sun Belt), and Wright State (Horizon).

Here are the preseason polls.

• Missouri Valley – Bradley 1st (Duke Deen, preseason Player of the Year/First Team, Darius Hannah, First Team, Zek Montgomery, Second Team)
• Conference USA – Middle Tennessee 4th (Camryn Weston, First Team)
• Mid-American – Ohio 1st (AJ Clayton, First Team, AJ Brown, Second Team
• West Coast – Portland 8th (Vukasin Masic top returnee from 2023-2024 team)
• Ivy League – Princeton 1st (returnee Caden Pierce, 2023-2024 Ivy POY; Xaivian Lee, First Team All-Ivy 2023-2024)
• American – South Florida 3rd (Jayden Reid, Second Team)
• Sun Belt – Texas State 7th (Tyrel Morgan, Third Team)
• Horizon – Wright State 5th (Brandon Noel, preseason Player of the Year/First Team, Alex Huibregtse, Second Team)

With the sudden passing of South Florida Amir Abdur-Rahim, who was entering his second season at the school after leading the Bulls to the American Athletic regular-season title, Ben Fletcher was named interim coach on October 29.  READ MORE

Fletcher and Wright State’s Clint Sargent will be the first-season coaches in the 2024 Myrtle Beach Invitational.

Mitch Henderson is the “dean” of MBI coaches as he has led Princeton the past 12 seasons with a 232-122 record (65.5%) with seven post-season appearances highlighted by a NCAA “Sweet 16” berth in 2023.