Latest news with #DickVitaleInvitational
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas Longhorns announce 2025-26 Men's basketball schedule under coach Sean Miller
Texas Longhorns announce 2025-26 Men's basketball schedule under coach Sean Miller Sean Miller's debut as head coach will come against Duke at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., to open the season. The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team is preparing for its first season under head coach Sean Miller, with a revamped roster and a challenging schedule ahead. Texas finalized its roster earlier in the offseason, adding several players from the transfer portal and retaining key contributors. With the team set, the Longhorns have shifted their focus to the 2025-26 schedule. On Wednesday, Texas announced its Southeastern Conference home and away opponents, offering fans an early look at which teams will visit the Moody Center next season. The Longhorns will host defending national champion Florida but will not travel to Gainesville as they did last season. Texas will also face Georgia both home and away after only hosting the Bulldogs a year ago. Texas and Texas A&M will continue their in-state rivalry with two regular-season matchups, one in Austin and one in College Station. Dates and times for all SEC games have not yet been announced. The Longhorns have gradually released more scheduling information throughout the offseason. Most recently, Texas revealed it will host Virginia in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 3. Sean Miller's debut as head coach will come against Duke at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., to open the season. Here is the non-conference schedule as announced so far: Nov. 4 : vs. Duke (Dick Vitale Invitational) : vs. Duke (Dick Vitale Invitational) Nov. 15 : vs. UMKC : vs. UMKC Nov. 24-26 : Maui Invitational (field includes N.C. State, Boise State, Arizona State, USC, Washington State, Seton Hall and Chaminade) : Maui Invitational (field includes N.C. State, Boise State, Arizona State, USC, Washington State, Seton Hall and Chaminade) Dec. 3 : vs. Virginia (ACC/SEC Challenge) : vs. Virginia (ACC/SEC Challenge) Dec. 12: at UConn Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Duke Basketball Makes Big Announcement on Tuesday
Duke Basketball Makes Big Announcement on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Duke Blue Devils dominated the ACC this past season under head coach Jon Scheyer in his third year at the helm. They finished with an impressive 35–4 overall record and went 19–1 in conference play, capturing both the ACC regular season and tournament titles before earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Advertisement However, their championship hopes were cut short after a heartbreaking second-half collapse against the Houston Cougars in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. Looking ahead to next season, Duke will experience significant roster turnover. The Blue Devils are losing standout freshmen Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach, along with veteran guard Tyrese Proctor — all of whom are heading to the NBA. Despite the departures, Scheyer has assembled one of the most talented rosters on paper. Incoming five-star recruits Cayden and Cameron Boozer, Dame Sarr, and Sebastian Wilkins headline the freshman class, while key returners such as Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, Patrick Ngongba II, and Darren Harris bring continuity. On Tuesday, Duke made a notable offseason announcement by unveiling jersey numbers for their 2025–26 roster, giving fans an early glimpse at what next year's team will look like. Fans reacted to some of the jersey numbers: Advertisement "We going all the way forreal this time!" A fan said. Someone else added, "New year new squad same goal." Another fan posted, "dame sarr #7 bouta look crazy." "Going to be weird to see a team with no jersey number above 21," one more fan commented. Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Donnan-Imagn Images Duke will open the regular season in the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational, facing an early test right out of the gate against the Texas Longhorns. While the Blue Devils will be headlined by their highly touted freshman class, it may be the returning players who determine just how far this team can go. Their experience and leadership could be the key difference in turning Duke from a Final Four contender into a true national championship threat — something that was clearly lacking in their late-game collapse against a veteran Houston squad last season. Advertisement Related: Isaiah Evans Returning to Duke, Key Building Block for Jon Scheyer This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kentucky coach Mark Pope reveals emotional reaction to Otega Oweh return
The post Kentucky coach Mark Pope reveals emotional reaction to Otega Oweh return appeared first on ClutchPoints. Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball guard Otega Oweh could have stayed in the NBA Draft and played professionally next season. Instead, he's headed back to Lexington with All-American expectations, and no one was more excited about it than his head coach. Advertisement Oweh put Kentucky coach Mark Pope on the spot on Sunday, putting a mic and camera in front of his face and asking for his reaction when Oweh called to give him the good news. 'I was on a plane, and I don't understand why or how, but the call actually came through,' Pope began. 'Otega called me and said, 'Coach, let's do this. I'm coming back. I was looking around. I think the pilot was about to throw me out of the plane, so I was like, 'OTEGA! I got to call you back later! But just hold that thought!'' When Pope was back on the ground and managed to call Oweh back, he said, tears streamed down his face. Advertisement 'I knew a couple of things,' Pope continued. 'One, I know how excited you are and how much you want to go play in that league. I know it's the dream of a lifetime.' 'It's super humbling to see you do two things,' he added. 'One, how much you want to get better, and how committed you are to getting better. And secondly, to see how much you understand and appreciate what you have right now. That's special stuff. Now we're getting back to work.' 'There's no place I'd rather be,' Oweh replied. Oweh spent the first two years of his basketball career at Oklahoma before transferring to Kentucky for 2024-25. In his first season in Lexington, he averaged 16.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, shooting right around 50 percent from the field. Advertisement The second-team All-SEC selection helped guide the Wildcats to a 24-12 record and the program's first Sweet 16 appearance since 2019. Related: Flau'jae Johnson, Olivia Miles headline stacked USA Basketball roster Related: Duke basketball included in 1st-ever Dick Vitale Invitational vs. Texas
Miami Herald
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Duke, Texas to play in inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational
Duke and Texas will play in the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational in Charlotte on Nov. 4, ESPN announced Monday. The announcement coincides with Vitale's 86th birthday and his new multiyear contract with the network. 'Dick is the heart of college basketball, and his kindness, generosity and courage are a constant inspiration to us all,' ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in the release. 'Through the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, we will celebrate him and his profound impact on the sport.' The Longhorns and Blue Devils will play at the Spectrum Center, home to the Charlotte Hornets. Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
The Herald Scotland
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
ESPN signs Dick Vitale to extension, creates annual event in his honor
Additionally, ESPN unveiled the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, an annual men's college basketball event that will honor the color commentator and former coach. The inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational will feature Duke against Texas on Nov. 4 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. REQUIRED READING: The 2025 NBA draft deadline has passed. Who are the college basketball winners and losers? "I couldn't believe it when I got the call from ESPN," Vitale said to ESPN. "They said, 'we want to have a big game called the Dick Vitale Invitational.' I said, 'are you serious?!' All of the people at ESPN, starting with (ESPN chairman) Jimmy Pitaro, and all of my friends and colleagues have been so great to me especially with my recent battles with cancer. They've been by my side from day one and to do this is unbelievable. Long after I'm gone, to still have a game out there with my name attached to it? Wow, that is truly unbelievable!" Vitale has been with ESPN since 1979, joining as a college basketball analyst shortly after the network went on the air. During that time, he has called over 1,000 games and become synonymous with ESPN's college basketball coverage with his high energy, colorful personality and famous catchphrases. His latest contract will stretch his ESPN tenure to nearly 50 years. Vitale's on-air work has earned him induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. In April, he received the Dean Smith Award, which is given out annually by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to "an individual in college basketball who embodies the spirit and values" of the iconic former North Carolina coach. Vitale has been a more infrequent presence on ESPN over the past several years as he has undergone treatment for various forms of cancer. He called his first game in nearly two years in February, when Clemson upset No. 2 Duke. "Dick is the heart of college basketball, and his kindness, generosity and courage are a constant inspiration to us all," Pitaro said in a statement. "Through the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, we will celebrate him and his profound impact on the sport. We are also thrilled that Dick will remain a signature voice on ESPN through the 2027-28 season."
