BOCA RATON, Fla. – The College of Charleston men's basketball team will travel to Boca Raton, Florida to participate in the inaugural Field of 68 Tip-Off. Charleston will play Liberty on Dec. 1 followedy by No. 13 Florida Atlantic on December 2. The three-year event will begin at FAU this year, then head to Charleston in 2024 and be held at Liberty in 2025.
"This is something we felt as though we needed because of how difficult it is for all of us to schedule quality opponents. It gives two of us a neutral site and a road opportunity against high-quality Quad 1 and Quad 2 opponents," said Charleston Director of Athletics Matt Roberts. "I'm really hoping this spurs others to follow and join us in the future."
The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman and Rob Dauster will be on-site at FAU for the entire event, hosting pre-game shows and the network's popular After Dark show following the games.
STORYLINES
- The College of Charleston men's basketball team is coming off an 84-78 win over Kent State on Sunday, November 26 in Kent. Charleston erased a six-point halftime deficit to secure their first comeback win of the season.
- The win was the Cougars first true road game and win of the season after playing in the Veterans Classic and Myrtle Beach Invitational to open the season. Charleston's 34 days between home games is the fourth longest stretch in the nation.
- The Cougars join the Flames and Owls in the Field of 68 Tip-Off, a new, innovative, three-year round-robin series between three of the top mid-major programs in the country. The games will be held at Charleston next season and at Liberty in 2025.
- Both of the Cougars competitors won ESPN MTE tournaments already this season with Liberty claiming the Myrtle Beach Invitational title and FAU winning the ESPN Events Invitational. FAU is currently ranked No. 13 in the nation while Liberty is receiving votes in the AP Poll.
- Charleston currently ranks 37th in the country in bench points per game (32.0) while running a consistent 11-man rotation. The Cougars also currently rank 10th in the nation in three-point attempts per game (32.0)
- Ante Brzovic will be one to watch over the weekend. The junior from Croatia currently sits at 975 career points. He scored 499 during his rookie year at D2 Southeastern Oklahoma State and 407 last season with the Cougars.
- Graduate transfers Frankie Policelli and Bryce Butler are also closing in on career milestones with Policelli entering Friday's contest with 972 career points and Butler with 1957 career points.
HOW TO WATCH
- Charleston's Friday contest vs. Liberty will be broadcast on FloHoops, while the Saturday contest vs. No. 13 Florida Atlantic will air on ESPNU.
- The neutral site game between the Cougars and Flames will not be ticketed by Florida Atlantic for in-person attendance in Boca Raton.
- As always, fans can listen to the Voice of the Cougars Everett German live on the Varsity App.
