Elite men’s college basketball teams to compete at Pentagon
Contact:
Paul Heinert
Sanford Health Media Relations
605-366-2432 / paul.heinert@sanfordhealth.org
SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Oct. 14, 2020 — An elite field of men’s college basketball programs will compete in the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Nov. 25-27.
The Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic is a new event whose eight men’s programs have a combined 70 appearances in the Sweet Sixteen and 20 trips to the Final Four. The field of men’s teams includes Creighton, Dayton, Memphis, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Utah, West Virginia and Wichita State. All 12 games will air live on the ESPN family of networks.
“Since opening in 2013, the Sanford Pentagon has earned the reputation of being a premier place to host Division I basketball games,” said Jesse Smith, vice president of operations for the Sanford Sports Complex. “We are privileged to welcome these eight teams to Sioux Falls and will provide them a safe and memorable experience to start their season.”
Tickets will go on sale Nov. 1, with a limited amount available for each game. Masks are required for all spectators and will be available for free at the door.
Bad Boy Mowers, based in Batesville, Arkansas, and nationally known for its zero-turn mowers, is the title sponsor of the tournament. The company has a long history of supporting major college basketball events and post-season college football games.
“This is going to be an epic three days of basketball, and we are excited to help bring some of the most prominent teams in college basketball to Sioux Falls,” said Lennie Foree, marketing director of Bad Boy Mowers. “It’s become a Thanksgiving tradition to kick the college basketball season off with a bang, and we’re so proud to be able to give fans a taste of hoops during the holiday week.”
“Complete Sports Management is proud to partner with Sanford Health to put on the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic,” said Lea Miller-Tooley, tournament director. “This partnership puts the health and wellness of the student-athlete at the forefront of this event, and we’re excited to be part of the highly anticipated relaunch of college basketball.”
Jeremy Cauwels, M.D., who is the senior vice president of quality at Sanford Health, is also a member of the NCAA COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group. The committee is responsible for providing guidance to NCAA schools regarding training, practice and competition.
“We aim to provide the blueprint for safely returning to competition for college sports as we navigate COVID-19’s presence in our lives,” said Dr. Cauwels. “We want student-athletes to be able to play the sports they love, but we want them and everyone else around them to be in a safe environment.”
All members of each team’s traveling party will be tested regularly for COVID-19 once they arrive in Sioux Falls. All traveling members will remain in a controlled environment during their entire stay.
Sanford Health and the Sanford Pentagon will work closely with the schools and individual states and be ready to adjust based on guidelines and safety measures for all involved.
Schedule
Nov. 25 (All times Central)
1 p.m. West Virginia vs. Texas A&M
3:30 p.m. Ohio State vs. Memphis
6 p.m. Creighton vs. Utah
8:30 p.m. Dayton vs. Wichita State
Nov. 26
11 a.m. Semifinal No. 1
1:30 p.m. Semifinal No. 2
5:30 p.m. Consolation semifinal No. 1
8 p.m. Consolation semifinal No. 2
Nov. 27
TBD
Media availability
The Sanford Pentagon will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. CST this afternoon. Media are invited to attend in person or via this Zoom link.
Meeting ID: 960 9609 7686
Passcode: 101420
Participants will be:
Steve Young – president, Sanford Sports
Jesse Smith – vice president of operations, Sanford Sports Complex
Jeremy Cauwels, M.D., senior vice president of clinic quality, Sanford Health
Media credentials
Media members interested in covering the event in person must apply for credentials at crossoverclassic.com/media. The deadline to apply is Oct. 30.
About the Sanford Pentagon
The cornerstone of the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is the Sanford Pentagon, a 160,000-square-foot, five-sided facility featuring nine basketball courts, including the 1950s/1960s-inspired Heritage Court. The venue combines state-of-the-art amenities — including high-definition video boards and executive suites — with period-specific finishes that are a nod to the nostalgic days of basketball.
The 3,200-seat Pentagon is home to Sanford POWER Basketball Academy, Sanford POWER Volleyball Academy, the NBA G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women’s and Men’s Basketball tournaments and the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame. For more information, visit sanfordpentagon.com.
About Bad Boy Mowers
Bad Boy Mowers, located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, in Batesville, Arkansas, has built its reputation on delivering a better zero-turn mower for a better value, and is currently celebrating its eighteenth year of business. Bad Boy’s reputation for reliability, power and durability has been built in to every mower made from the very beginning. Delivering more innovation, from the patented SwingAway design, EZ-Ride and Armor-Tek 5 Deck advantages, and coupled with its legendary build strength, every Bad Boy Mower is designed to be easy to operate, easy to maintain and last for years with its ruggedness, power and reliability. Bad Boy Mowers is sold through a nationwide dealer network (badboymowers.com).
About Complete Sports Management
Complete Sports Management is a sports management agency whose core capabilities include the creation of sporting events, event management, sponsorship, hospitality, ticketing and travel. A global brand with a boutique touch, CSM operates the most prestigious collegiate and professional events all over the world. Learn more at cs-mgmt.com.
