Location: Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico
2012 Puerto Rico Tip-Off Preview
NC State headlines a solid field for one of the year’s top early season tournaments.
Randy Sartin-US PRESSWIRE
Bracket:
Date | Time (ET) | Game | Network |
Thu, Nov 15 | 10:30 a.m. | Akron vs. Oklahoma State | ESPNU |
| 12:30 p.m. | UNC Asheville vs. Tennessee | ESPNU |
| 5 p.m. | NC State vs. Penn State | ESPN2 |
| 7:30 p.m. | Providence vs. Massachusetts | ESPNU |
Fri, Nov 16 | 10:30 a.m. | Semifinal #1 | ESPNU |
| 1 p.m. | Consolation #1 | ESPN3 |
| 5 p.m. | Semifinal #2 | ESPN2 or ESPNU |
| 7:30 p.m. | Consolation #2 | ESPN3 |
Sun, Nov 18 | 11 a.m. | 7th-place Game | ESPN3 |
| 1:30 p.m. | 5th-place Game | ESPNU |
| 3:30 p.m. | 3rd-place Game | ESPNU |
| 6:30 p.m. | Championship Game | ESPN2 |
Favorite: NC State
The preseason ACC favorites are the lone ranked team in the field. They also get to avoid both Tennessee and Oklahoma State until the championship game.
Challenger: Tennessee
The Vols are receiving votes in both polls, primarily because folks are excited about the prospects of Jarnell Stokes playing an entire season in UT orange. The bad news for Cuonzo Martin’s team is that fellow froncourt star Jeronne Maymon is still sidelined after having knee surgery.
Darkhorse: Massachusetts
The Minutemen provided perhaps the most memorable moment of the season thus far when Sampson Carter’s three-pointer at the buzzer beat Harvard during the 24 hour tip-off marathon. Chazz Williams is one of the more exciting players in the country, and a potential semifinal showdown with NC State could be a must-watch game.
Best Opening Game: NC State vs. Penn State
Thus would be Providence/UMass if the Friars were at full strength, but since they only have six scholarship players we’ll go with the best team in the field going up against one of the tournament’s best players in Tim Frazier of Penn State.
Predicted Order of Finish:
8. UNC Asheville
7. Providence
6. Penn State
5. Akron
4. Oklahoma State
3. Massachusetts
2. Tennessee
1. NC State
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