STARKVILLE, Miss. ? For the second-straight year, Mississippi State has been invited to play in the SEC/Big East Invitational.
The Bulldogs are slated to battle DePaul on Thursday, Dec. 10 in Tampa, Fla., at the St. Pete Times Forum, the same venue where MSU captured the SEC Tournament crown back in March following a magical four-game run that culminated with a 64-61 win against Tennessee in the finals.
The second part of the double-header in Tampa features Florida and Syracuse, two programs that have won national championships this decade. Times have not been set, but both games will be televised by ESPN2.
“We’re very excited to be a part of the SEC/Big East Invitational again and playing in the great city of Tampa, a place we’ve come to really enjoy,” 12th-year MSU coach Rick Stansbury said.
The third annual SEC/Big East Challenge actually begins on Dec. 9 in New York City at historic Madison Square Garden with Georgia battling St. John’s on ESPN2 and perennial powers Kentucky and Connecticut facing off on ESPN.
“Once again, this exciting annual matchup will bring together eight great teams for two consecutive nights of exciting college basketball in two great cities,” said Pete Derzis, senior vice president and general manager for ESPN Regional Television.
Mississippi State and DePaul, which posted a 9-24 record last season, have met just once, with the Blue Demons staking a 62-60 victory on Dec. 28, 1988, in the opening round of the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans.
Last year at the SEC/Big East Invitational in Cincinnati, the Bulldogs dropped a hard-fought 75-63 decision to the University of Cincinnati. Overall in this event, the Big East holds a 5-3 advantage against the SEC.
Tickets for all games are expected to go on sale in early summer. For more information, log on to www.secbigeastinvitational.com.
Confirmed Matchups and Times
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Madison Square Garden
Georgia vs. St. John’s (ESPN2, time TBD)
UConn vs. Kentucky (ESPN, time TBD)
Thursday, December 10, 2009
St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL
DePaul vs. Mississippi State (ESPN2, time TBD)
Syracuse vs. Florida (ESPN, time TBD)
