The Tribune

EIGHT teams are expected to participate in the third annual Battle 4 Atlantis, the richest Division I men’s pre-season college basketball tournament, set for November 28-30.

The pulse-pounding event will be televised live on NBC Sports Network and AXS TV from the 3,900-seat arena at the famed Atlantis, Paradise Island resort, in the Bahamas.

The 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis field combines teams with 191 NCAA Tournament appearances, 25 Final Four appearances and five National Championships and features University of Kansas, Villanova University, University of Tennessee, University of Southern California, University of Iowa, Xavier University, Wake Forest University, and University of Texas at El Paso.

This talented field will battle through a 12-game tournament televised live to sports fans nationwide. Starting November 28, AXS TV will air coverage of the tournament at 1pm EST and 3:30pm EST, while NBC Sports will broadcast the daily 7pm and 9:30pm games.

The Battle 4 Atlantis first game brackets, beginning November 28, are as follows:

Game 1: Villanova University vs University of Southern California (live at 1pm EST on AXS TV)

Game 2: University of Kansas vs Wake Forest University (live at 3:30pm EST on AXS TV)

Game 3: Xavier University vs University of Iowa (live at 7pm EST on NBC Sports Network)

Game 4: University of Tennessee vs University of Texas at El Paso (live at 9:30pm EST on NBC Sports Network)

Following last year’s Battle 4 Atlantis Championship game between Duke University and University of Louisville, Duke’s head coach Mike Krzyzewski expressed his satisfaction with the tournament.

“We are ecstatic about the win. It was an endurance race for both teams. It was a heck of a tournament for us. We had great hospitality. Everyone you meet has a smile on their face and a warm heart.”

“We are excited to welcome the 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis teams to Paradise. Battle 4 Atlantis continues to be the leading pre-season college basketball tournament and will be for many years to come,” says George Markantonis, president and managing director of the Atlantis resort.