Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The bracket for the 2012 Diamond Head Classic, scheduled from December 22-25 at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been set for the eight competing teams: host Hawaii, plus Arizona, East Tennessee State, Indiana State, Miami (Fla.), Ole Miss, San Diego State and San Francisco.
The Sycamores will open up play in the tournament against Ole Miss, of the Southeastern Conference. On the same side of the bracket as Indiana State will be San Diego State and San Francisco. San Diego State is ranked No. 16 nationally in ESPN.com's early men's preseason Top 25 poll.
The other first round matchups include Arizona versus East Tennessee State and Miami at Hawaii.
First round game times will be announced at a later date. ESPNU will carry eight of the tournament games, including all four first-round games. ESPN2 will air the third place game as well as the championship game on Christmas Day, along with one of the semifinals on Dec. 23.
ESPN3 will have one game, and the entire tournament will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com and through smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
The 2012 Diamond Head Classic, an eight-team men's college basketball tournament, will feature 12 games over the three days. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout will face off in a championship match.
The family-friendly tournament and resort destination of Honolulu will host the teams to three days of play, practices and the unique spirit of Aloha from the Hawaiian Islands. Teams will also have the opportunity to attend the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl played during the same week. Additional information, including travel packages, can be found on the Diamond Head Classic website at www.diamondheadclassic.com.
The Diamond Head Classic is owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television (ERT), a subsidiary of ESPN.
The University of Southern California won the inaugural tournament in 2009, followed by Butler in 2010.
The Sycamores competed in the Old Spice Classic at the Walt Disney World Resort last season. Indiana State has not played a men's basketball game in the state of Hawaii since the 2004-05 campaign.
ISU is 0-1 all-time against Ole Miss, falling 70-64 to the Rebels on December 9, 1989 at the Illini Classic in Champaign, Ill. Versus the rest of the field, ISU is 3-0 against San Diego State and 0-2 against Hawaii.
The Sycamores have never faced San Francisco, Arizona, East Tennessee State or Miami (Fla.).
