2016 Jimmy V Men's Basketball Classic Matchups Announced

The 2016 Jimmy V Men's Basketball Classic doubleheader will be headlined by Arizona State, Duke, Florida and Purdue - to be played on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. The 22nd annual event will air on ESPN - pitting Purdue against Arizona State at 7 p.m. and Florida vs. Duke at 9 p.m. - will once again be played from New York City's famed Madison Square Garden.

The four teams have a rich history between them, including a combined seven national championships. Duke and Purdue advanced to the 2016 NCAA Championship and Florida earned a berth to the NIT. Duke was ranked as high as No. 5 in the Associated Press poll to begin the season, while Purdue peaked at No. 9.

Purdue vs. Arizona State: The Jimmy V Classic will mark the sixth time the two teams are matched up with the Boilermakers owning a 3-2 mark. The series dates back to 1968, and the last two meetings were on a neutral court in Las Vegas (2002) and Honolulu (1978).

Florida vs. Duke: The series dates back to 1921 and the Jimmy V Classic game will mark the 17th meeting between the two teams. Duke leads the series 12-4, including a 70-65 Blue Devil victory in a 1994 national semifinal. As a No. 5 SEED in 2000, Florida knocked out top-seeded Duke 87-78 in the Sweet 16.

The early-season event will be part of the 10th annual Jimmy V Week for Cancer Research - the weeklong initiative across multiple ESPN platforms and programs featuring special content to help raise funds for cancer research. ESPN's 2015 Jimmy V Week for Cancer Research raised a record-setting $3.2 million for The V Foundation for Cancer Research - a million more than the 2014 previous fundraising record of $2.2 million. In nine years, Jimmy V Week has raised $13.7 million for cancer research.

Coaches Quotes
"Arizona State is excited and proud to take part in the 2016 Jimmy V Classic. Being from that area, I know the experience of taking part in any game or event at The Garden is amazing, and it will be good to connect with our alumni in that part of the country. The V Foundation has become synonymous with college basketball in making a difference in the fight against cancer, and we look forward to being a part of that this season." - Bobby Hurley, Arizona State

"Duke is honored to participate in the Jimmy V Classic, one of the prominent events in college basketball each season. Certainly, Florida represents a significant challenge. Facing this level of competition, played in one of the world's premier sporting venues at Madison Square Garden, will provide us with invaluable experience as we develop our team. Personally, the Jimmy V Classic means so much to me as Jim and I became brothers toward the end of his life. He recruited me to be a part of his vision for The V Foundation, and I am very proud to be associated with that team's tireless efforts to find a cure for cancer." - Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University and United States National Team Head Coach

"We're excited for the Gators to be part of the Jimmy V Classic next season. This is not only one of the premier events in college basketball, but it obviously also supports an important cause, so it's an honor for us to compete and I know our guys will be thrilled for the opportunity to play at Madison Square Garden." - Mike White, Florida

"We are thrilled for the opportunity to play Arizona State in The Garden for the Jimmy V Classic and in support of The V Foundation. This is a very special event for a great cause and to have a chance to compete with three other outstanding teams on the national stage is exciting for our program." - Matt Painter, Purdue

Tickets for the Jimmy V Men's Classic will be available for purchase at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, Ticketmaster charge by phone at (866) 858-0008 and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com at a later date to be announced.

The V Foundation for Cancer Research
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, the Foundation has funded more than $150 million in cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations to cancer research and related programs. Due to generous donors, the Foundation has an endowment that covers administrative expenses. The Foundation awards peer-reviewed grants through a competitive awards process vetted by a Scientific Advisory Committee. For more information on The V Foundation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.

ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend COLLEGE FOOTBALL games; 13 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 250-plus hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 700,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Boca Raton, Boise, Birmingham, Dallas-Fort Worth, Albuquerque, St. Petersburg and Las Vegas, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

To post a comment, you must register and login.