Matchups set for 2023 Empire Classic, Indiana to face UConn on Nov. 19

  • 08/14/2023 11:46 am in

The matchups for the 2023 Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden were announced today.

Indiana will play against UConn on Sunday, Nov. 19 in New York City at 1 p.m. ET. Depending on the outcome of Sunday’s games, the Hoosiers will then face Louisville or Texas on Monday, Nov. 20.

Indiana’s non-conference schedule for the 2023-24 season was officially released on June 27. The Hoosiers will play three regular-season games at home before the Empire Classic. Indiana will play Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 7, Army on Nov. 12 and Wright State on Nov. 16.

The 2023 Empire Classic is presented by Continental Tire benefiting Wounded Warrior Project.

Here’s more information on each of the teams, via the event organizer, the Gazelle Group:

UConn just won the 2023 National Championship after a dominating NCAA Tournament run in Dan Hurley’s fifth season at the helm. Additionally, the Huskies are currently ranked #1 on ESPN’s Way-Too-Early 2023-24 Preseason Poll. UConn will be making their fifth Empire Classic appearance (1999, 2007, 2013, 2018). They won the event in 2013, defeating Indiana 59-58 in the championship game.

Indiana finished the season 23-12 and reached the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Mike Woodson (former New York Knicks Head Coach) just finished his second year at his alma mater after leading Indiana to the past two NCAA Tournaments. This will be the Hoosiers second appearance in the Empire Classic (2013).

Texas finished the season 29-9 under Rodney Terry and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big 12 Tournament. Texas will make its seventh appearance in the Empire Classic, the most of any school (1997, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2019). They won the event in 2014, defeating California 71-55 in the championship game.

Louisville will look to rebound next season under head coach, Kenny Payne, who previously was an assistant at Kentucky and the New York Knicks. This will be Louisville’s first time participating in the Empire Classic.

And here’s a release from IU on the Empire Classic matchups:

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana men’s basketball team will open the Empire Classic benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project presented by Continental Tire with a semifinal matchup against defending national champion Connecticut at 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 19 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Indiana and UConn have met 10 total times, including the last two in New York. The Huskies hold the series edge at 6-4. IU won the last matchup by a score of 57-54 on Dec. 10, 2019 in the Jimmy V Classic.

The championship game of the event will be played at approximately 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 20, while the third-place game will be played at 4:30 p.m. ET. Television designations will be determined at a later date.

Indiana will be making its second appearance in the Empire Classic. IU defeated Washington, 102-84, in the opening round of the 2013 Empire Classic before falling to UConn, 59-58, in the title game.

The series of games will mark a homecoming for Indiana head coach Mike Woodson, who was the head coach of the New York Knicks from 2012-14. Woodson was drafted 12th overall in the 1980 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks and played with the franchise from 1980-81. He also served two stints as an assistant coach with the Knicks from 2011-12 and 2020-21.

UConn, the 2023 national champion, will be making the program’s fifth appearance in the event. Texas, a 2023 Elite Eight participant, will be making its seventh appearance in the Empire Classic, the most of any program. Louisville, guided by former New York Knicks assistant coach Kenny Payne, will be making its debut in the tournament.

Nov. 19 – Semifinals

1 p.m. ET – UConn vs. Indiana
3 p.m. ET – Texas vs. Louisville

Nov. 20

4:30 p.m. ET – Third-Place Game
7 p.m. ET – Championship Game

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