2020 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic Field Revealed
The field for the 2020 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic will feature Arizona State (Pac-12), tournament host school Hawai’i (Big West), Oklahoma (Big 12), Saint Mary’s (WCC), San Diego State (Mountain West), Seattle University (WAC), Temple (AAC) and Western Michigan(MAC). The 12thannual event will be played at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, on December 22, 23 and 25.
Five teams in the 2020 field were a part of the postseason last season – Arizona State (NCAA), Oklahoma (NCAA), Saint Mary’s (NCAA), Seattle University (CIT) and Temple (NCAA). The field also includes two former Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic champions in the Sooners (2015) and San Diego State (2016).
- Arizona State, which has earned back-to-back bids to the NCAA Tournament, will make its first trip to the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.
- Hawai‘i will host the tournament for the 12th straight year.
- Former tournament champion Oklahoma advanced to the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual national champion Virginia.
- Perennial postseason participant and 2019 NCAA Tournament squad Saint Mary’s makes its third Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic appearance.
- Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic champion San Diego State (2016), currently ranked in the AP Top 25,returns to Honolulu for its third tournament appearance.
- Seattle University makes its first appearance in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic after winning 18 games and appearing in the 2019 CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
- AAC power Temple makes its first trek to the Honolulu in more than 40 years, following a 23-win season and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2019.
- Western Michiganreturns to the tournament for the first time since competing in the inaugural event in 2009.
The Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, an eight-team men’s college basketball tournament, will feature 12 games through three days. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through the bracket. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout will face off in the championship game on the final day of the tournament.
Previous tournament champions of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic include USC (2009, 2017), Butler (2010), Kansas State (2011), Arizona (2012), Iowa State (2013), George Washington (2014), Oklahoma (2015), San Diego State (2016) and TCU (2018).
Additional information for the family-friendly tournament and resort destination of Honolulu, Hawai‘i, can be found on the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic web site at hawaiianairlinesdiamondheadclassic.com.
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