OVU Featured on Sports Illustrated Website

VIENNA, WV -- Ohio Valley University’s participation in a D-I pre-season basketball tournament is already making headlines in the national sports community. Featured as the lead story on the Sports Illustrated college hoops web site Friday morning appeared the headline “Tiny Ohio Valley to play 2k Hoops Classic.”

With five weeks to go before our community’s Fighting Scots take to the hardwood in the 2k Hoops Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, people are already calling to find out just who OVU is and how head coach Bill McGee intends to take on his first opponent Buffalo, November 7 at 4 p.m. in Storrs, Connecticut.

Should McGee’s team make it to the second round, his team would then take on former national champs U-Conn (University of Connecticut) in an ESPNU televised game.

“Landing opportunities to play in these types of prestigious tournaments, and gaining national media exposure, has a tremendous recruitment impact on smaller universities like ours,” said OVU Marketing Director Marty Davis. “We are excited to be the first team from West Virginia to ever compete in this tournament and we are honored to be asked to support such a worthwhile cause.”

The event tips off the college basketball season as 16 teams from 16 conferences compete at four sites across the country. Several of the nation’s top teams will host the opening rounds of the tournament and play for the chance to advance to the championship rounds at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The initiative leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of basketball coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities and advocacy programs. Coaches vs. Cancer provides critical mission outreach, while raising funds in support of the Society’s lifesaving cancer research, education, advocacy, and community service. Since 1996, the Event has raised approximately $3.3 million for the benefit of Coaches vs. Cancer.