ESPN Events Invitational facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
ESPN Events Invitational

Sport	College Basketball (men's)
Founded	2006
No. of teams	8 (2006–2023) 4 (2024) 16 (2025)
Most recent champion(s)	Florida
Most titles	Gonzaga (3)

The ESPN Events Invitational is a yearly college basketball tournament. It takes place around Thanksgiving weekend. The tournament has had other names in the past, like the Orlando Invitational. It started in 2006. The games are played at the State Farm Field House. This arena is part of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. You can find it near Orlando, Florida, inside the Walt Disney World Resort. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference helps organize the event.

For many years, from 2006 to 2023, eight different college teams played in the tournament. Each team was guaranteed to play three games. If a team lost its first game, it would play in a "consolation bracket." This meant they could still play for fifth place. Teams that won their first game would compete for first, third, or fourth place. The tournament was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tournament Format Changes

How the Tournament Works

In 2024, the tournament changed its format. Only four teams competed. The winners of the first games, called semifinals, played in the championship game. The two teams that lost in the semifinals played each other for third place.

For 2025, the tournament will be much bigger. It will include 16 teams and last for five days. There will be 20 games played across three different brackets. The first part is the eight-team Adventure Bracket. It will be played over three days. Then, during the last two days, eight other teams will play in two separate four-team brackets. These are called the Magic Bracket and the Imagination Bracket.

Past Champions and Standings

This table shows the top teams from past ESPN Events Invitational tournaments.

Year	First Place	Second Place	Third Place	Fourth Place
2006	Arkansas	West Virginia	Marist	Western Michigan
2007	NC State	Villanova	George Mason	Kansas State
2008	Gonzaga	Tennessee	Georgetown	Maryland
2009	Florida State	Marquette	Alabama	Michigan
2010	Notre Dame	Wisconsin	Boston College	California
2011	Dayton	Minnesota	Indiana State	Fairfield
2012	Gonzaga	Davidson	Oklahoma	West Virginia
2013	Memphis	Oklahoma State	LSU	Butler
2014	Kansas	Michigan State	Marquette	Tennessee
2015	Xavier	Dayton	Monmouth	USC
2016	Gonzaga	Iowa State	Florida	Miami
2017	West Virginia	Missouri	St. John's	UCF
2018	Villanova	Florida State	Oklahoma State	LSU
2019	Maryland	Marquette	USC	Harvard
2020	No tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2021	Dayton	Belmont	Kansas	Iona
2022	Oklahoma	Ole Miss	Siena	Seton Hall
2023	Florida Atlantic	Virginia Tech	Texas A&M	Iowa State
2024	Florida	Wichita State	Wake Forest	Minnesota

Tournament Brackets

• – Denotes overtime period

2025 Tournament Teams

The 2025 ESPN Events Invitational will have three brackets:

• The eight-team Adventure bracket will be played November 24–26. Teams include Bradley, Liberty, Princeton, Rhode Island, Temple, Towson, UC San Diego, and Vermont.
• The four-team Magic Bracket will be played November 27–28. It will include BYU, Dayton, Georgetown, and Miami.
• The four-team Imagination Bracket will also be played November 27–28. It will feature Charlotte, Furman, Illinois State, and Richmond.

2024 Tournament Results

The 2024 tournament took place from November 28 to November 29.

	Consolation November 29 ESPN2					Semifinals November 28 ESPN/ESPN2					Championship November 29 ESPN
						Minnesota		66
						Wichita State		68*
	Minnesota		51									Wichita State	51
	Wake Forest		57								18	Florida	88
						18	Florida	75
							Wake Forest	58

2023 Tournament Results

The 2023 tournament was held from November 23 to November 26.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 26					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 24					First Round Thursday, November 23					Semifinals Friday, November 24					Championship Sunday, November 26
												Penn State	77
											12	Texas A&M	89
						Penn State		78								12	Texas A&M	89
						Butler		88								19	Florida Atlantic	96
											19	Florida Atlantic	91
												Butler	86
	Butler		70																		19	Florida Atlantic	84
	Boise State		56																			Virginia Tech	50
											Iowa State		68
											VCU		64
	7th-Place Game					VCU		61								Iowa State		62			3rd-Place Game
						Boise State		65								Virginia Tech		71
	Penn State		74								Boise State		75								12	Texas A&M	73
	VCU		86								Virginia Tech		82									Iowa State	69

2022 Tournament Results

The 2022 tournament was held from November 24 to November 27.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 27					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 25					First Round Thursday, November 24					Semifinals Friday, November 25					Championship Sunday, November 27
											Florida State		63
											Siena		80
						Florida State		60								Siena		62
						Stanford		70								Ole Miss		74
											Ole Miss		72
											Stanford		68
	Stanford		48																		Ole Miss		55
	Memphis		56																		Oklahoma		59
											Oklahoma		69
											Nebraska		56
	7th-Place Game					Nebraska		61								Oklahoma		77			3rd-Place Game
						Memphis		73								Seton Hall		64
	Florida State		58								Memphis		69								Siena		60
	Nebraska		75								Seton Hall		70								Seton Hall		55

2021 Tournament Results

The 2021 tournament was held from November 25 to November 28.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 28					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 26					First Round Thursday, November 25					Semifinals Friday, November 26					Championship Sunday, November 28
											Dayton		76
											Miami (FL)		60
						Miami (FL)		69									Dayton	74
						North Texas		63								4	Kansas	73
												North Texas	59
											4	Kansas	71
		Miami (FL)	64																		Dayton		63
	10	Alabama	96																		Belmont		61
											10	Alabama	68
												Iona	72
	7th-Place Game					10	Alabama	80								Iona		65			3rd-Place Game
							Drake	71								Belmont		72
	North Texas		57								Belmont		74								4	Kansas	96
	Drake		54								Drake		69									Iona	83

2019 Tournament Results

The 2019 tournament was held from November 28 to December 1.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, December 1					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 29					First Round Thursday, November 28					Semifinals Friday, November 29					Championship Sunday, December 1
											5	Maryland	76
												Temple	69
						Temple		65								5	Maryland	80
						Texas A&M		42									Harvard	73
											Texas A&M		51
											Harvard		62
	Temple		66																		5	Maryland	84
	Davidson		53																			Marquette	63
											USC		54
											Fairfield		47
	7th-Place Game					Fairfield		56								USC		79			3rd-Place Game
						Davidson		67								Marquette		101
	Texas A&M		62								Davidson		63								Harvard		62
	Fairfield		67								Marquette		73								USC		77

2018 Tournament Results

The 2018 tournament was held from November 22 to November 25.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 25					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 23					First Round Thursday, November 22					Semifinals Friday, November 23					Championship Sunday, November 25
											Villanova		83
											Canisius		56
						Canisius		63								Villanova		77
						Memphis		71								Oklahoma State		58
											Oklahoma State		84
											Memphis		64
	Memphis		75																			Villanova	66
	College of Charleston		78																		14	Florida State	60
												College of Charleston	55
											19	LSU	67
	7th-Place Game					College of Charleston		74								19	LSU	76			3rd-Place Game
						UAB		51								14	Florida State	79*
	Canisius		62									UAB	63									Oklahoma State	90
	UAB		68								14	Florida State	81								19	LSU	77

2017 Tournament Results

The 2017 tournament was held from November 23 to November 26.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 26					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 24					First Round Thursday, November 23					Semifinals Friday, November 24					Championship Sunday, November 26
											Missouri		95
											Long Beach State		58
						Long Beach State		74								Missouri		90
						Oregon State		69								St. John's		82
											St. John's		82
											Oregon State		77
	Long Beach State		80																			Missouri	79
	Nebraska		85																		23	West Virginia	83
											UCF		68
											Nebraska		59
	7th-Place Game					Nebraska		84									UCF	45			3rd-Place Game
						Marist		59								23	West Virginia	83
	Oregon State		65								23	West Virginia	84								St. John's		46
	Marist		46									Marist	78								UCF		43

2016 Tournament Results

The 2016 tournament was held from November 24 to November 27.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 27					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 25					First Round Thursday, November 24					Semifinals Friday, November 25					Championship Sunday, November 27
												Indiana State	71
											21	Iowa State	73
						Indiana State		62								21	Iowa State	73
						Stanford		65									Miami (FL)	56
											Stanford		53
											Miami (FL)		67
	Stanford		66																		21	Iowa State	71
	Seton Hall		52																		11	Gonzaga	73
											11	Gonzaga	82
												Quinnipiac	62
	7th-Place Game					Quinnipiac		79								11	Gonzaga	77			3rd-Place Game
						Seton Hall		90									Florida	72
	Indiana State		77								Seton Hall		76								Miami (FL)		56
	Quinnipiac		80								Florida		81								Florida		65

2015 Tournament Results

The 2015 tournament was held from November 26 to November 29.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 29					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 27					First Round Thursday, November 26					Semifinals Friday, November 27					Championship Sunday, November 29
												Alabama	45
											23	Xavier	64
							Alabama	64								23	Xavier	87
						20	Wichita State	60									USC	77
											20	Wichita State	69
												USC	72
		Alabama	74																		23	Xavier	90
	17	Notre Dame	73																			Dayton	61
											17	Notre Dame	68
												Monmouth	70
	7th-Place Game					17	Notre Dame	68								Monmouth		70			3rd-Place Game
							Iowa	62								Dayton		73
	20	Wichita State	65								Iowa		77								USC		73
		Iowa	84								Dayton		82								Monmouth		83

2014 Tournament Results

The 2014 tournament was held from November 27 to November 30.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 30					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 28					First Round Thursday, November 27					Semifinals Friday, November 28					Championship Sunday, November 30
											Santa Clara		57
											Tennessee		64
						Santa Clara		44									Tennessee	67
						Rhode Island		66								11	Kansas	82
											11	Kansas	76
												Rhode Island	60
	Rhode Island		61																		11	Kansas	61
	Georgia Tech		64																		20	Michigan State	56
											20	Michigan State	77
												Rider	45
	7th-Place Game					Rider		54								20	Michigan State	79			3rd-Place Game
						Georgia Tech		61									Marquette	68
	Santa Clara		68								Marquette		72								Tennessee		59
	Rider		60								Georgia Tech		70								Marquette		67

2013 Tournament Results

The 2013 tournament was held from November 28 to December 1.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, December 1					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 29					First Round Thursday, November 28					Semifinals Friday, November 29					Championship Sunday, December 1
												Purdue	87
											5	Oklahoma State	97
						Purdue		54								5	Oklahoma State	76
						Washington State		69									Butler	69
											Butler		76
											Washington State		69
	Washington State		67																		5	Oklahoma State	68
	Saint Joseph's		72																		21	Memphis	73
											21	Memphis	87
												Siena	60
	7th-Place Game					Siena		66								21	Memphis				3rd-Place Game
						Saint Joseph's		78									LSU
	Purdue		68								LSU		82								Butler		68
	Siena		63								Saint Joseph's		65								LSU		70*

2012 Tournament Results

The 2012 tournament was held from November 24 to November 27.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 25					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 23					First Round Thursday, November 22					Semifinals Friday, November 23					Championship Sunday, November 25
											West Virginia		87
											Marist		44
						Marist		50								West Virginia		60
						Vanderbilt		33								Davidson		63*
											Vanderbilt		62
											Davidson		75
	Marist		44																			Davidson	67
	Clemson		59																		17	Gonzaga	81
											UTEP		61
											Oklahoma		68
	7th-Place Game					UTEP		48									Oklahoma	47			3rd-Place Game
						Clemson		69								17	Gonzaga	72
	Vanderbilt		73									Clemson	49								West Virginia		70
	UTEP		49								17	Gonzaga	57								Oklahoma		77

2011 Tournament Results

The 2011 tournament was held from November 24 to November 27.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 27					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 25					First Round Thursday, November 24					Semifinals Friday, November 25					Championship Sunday, November 27
											Texas Tech		49
											Indiana State		60
						Texas Tech		70								Indiana State		69
						DePaul		76								Minnesota		76
											Minnesota		86
											DePaul		85
	DePaul		68																		Minnesota		70
	Arizona State		64																		Dayton		86
											Dayton		80
											Wake Forest		76
	7th-Place Game					Wake Forest		56								Dayton		56			3rd-Place Game
						Arizona State		84								Fairfield		49
	Texas Tech		61								Arizona State		44								Indiana State		72
	Wake Forest		70								Fairfield		55								Fairfield		66

2010 Tournament Results

The 2010 tournament was held from November 25 to November 28.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 28					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 26					First Round Thursday, November 25					Semifinals Friday, November 26					Championship Sunday, November 28
											Boston College		67
											Texas A&M		65
						Texas A&M		74								Boston College		55
						Manhattan		45								Wisconsin		65
											Wisconsin		50
											Manhattan		35
		Texas A&M	54																			Wisconsin	51
	20	Temple	51																		17	Notre Dame	58
											Georgia		83
											Notre Dame		89**
	7th-Place Game						Georgia	58								Notre Dame		57			3rd-Place Game
						20	Temple	65								California		44
	Georgia		61								20	Temple	50								Boston College		68
	Manhattan		58									California	57								California		46

2009 Tournament Results

The 2009 tournament was held from November 26 to November 29.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 29					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 27					First Round Thursday, November 26					Semifinals Friday, November 27					Championship Sunday, November 29
												Creighton	76
											15	Michigan	83*
						Creighton		67								15	Michigan	65
						Xavier		80									Marquette	79
											Marquette		71
											Xavier		61
	Xavier		64																		Marquette		56
	Baylor		69																		Florida State		57
											Alabama		79
											Baylor		76
	7th-Place Game						Baylor	72*								Alabama		51			3rd-Place Game
						20	Iona	62								Florida State		60
	Creighton		55								Florida State		54								15	Michigan	66
	Iona		63								Iona		49									Alabama	68

2008 Tournament Results

The 2008 tournament was held from November 27 to November 30.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 30					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 28					First Round Thursday, November 27					Semifinals Friday, November 28					Championship Sunday, November 30
											12	Tennessee	78
												Siena	64
						Siena		70								12	Tennessee	90
						Wichita State		72								21	Georgetown	78
												Wichita State	50
											21	Georgetown	58
		Wichita State	57																		12	Tennessee	74
	5	Michigan State	65																		9	Gonzaga	83
												Maryland	80
											5	Michigan State	62
	7th-Place Game					5	Michigan State	94									Maryland	59			3rd-Place Game
							Oklahoma State	79								9	Gonzaga	81
	Siena		77									Oklahoma State	71								21	Georgetown	75
	Oklahoma State		68								9	Gonzaga	83									Maryland	48

2007 Tournament Results

The 2007 tournament was held from November 22 to November 25.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 25					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 23					First Round Thursday, November 22					Semifinals Friday, November 23					Championship Sunday, November 25
											South Carolina		74
											Penn State		67
						Penn State		73								South Carolina		61
						Rider		82								NC State		63
											NC State		72
											Rider		63
		Rider	69																			NC State	69
	20	Kansas State	82																		19	Villanova	68
											19	Villanova	76
												UCF	68
	7th-Place Game						UCF	71								19	Villanova	84			3rd-Place Game
						20	Kansas State	73									George Mason	78
	Penn State		59									George Mason	87								South Carolina		68
	UCF		70								20	Kansas State	77								George Mason		69

2006 Tournament Results

The 2006 tournament was held from November 23 to November 26.

	5th-Place Game Sunday, November 26					Consolation 2nd Round Friday, November 24					First Round Thursday, November 23					Semifinals Friday, November 24					Championship Sunday, November 26
											Arkansas		61
											Southern Illinois		53
						Southern Illinois		69								Arkansas		54
						Minnesota		53								Marist		79
											Marist		63
											Minnesota		56
		Southern Illinois	59																		Arkansas		71
	20	Virginia Tech	64																		West Virginia		64
											Western Michigan		71
											Virginia Tech		68
	7th-Place Game					Virginia Tech		77								Western Michigan					3rd-Place Game
						Montana		56								West Virginia
	Minnesota		65								West Virginia		73								Marist		89
	Montana		72								Montana		56								Western Michigan		78

See also

In Spanish: Old Spice Classic para niños