Louisville Men’s Basketball will be one of four participants in the 2021 Empire Classic. Two other teams, Providence and Gonzaga, have been confirmed for the tournament while the fourth participant is TBD.
Sources: Louisville, Gonzaga, and Providence will headline the 2021 Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden. 4th team is currently TBD.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 1, 2020
I’m sure most Louisville fans hope that the Cards are paired with Gonzaga. Providence is an old Big East foe, but Gonzaga is an intriguing matchup. The Zags have consistently been one of the top teams in the nation this decade under the leadership of Mark Few. Facing them and beating them would be a huge feather in the cap of Chris Mack. Also, it would likely mean that a Cardinal victory would be a big shot to the tournament resume because Gonzaga will likely be ranked highly; non-conference, neutral court victories carry great weight with the tournament committee.
The annual tournament is sponsored by 2K and benefits the Wounded Warriors Project, a non-profit organization that helps soldiers reintegrate into civilian life. It will be held at the World Famous Madison Square Garden, but no dates or times have been set.
