The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis will look to continue its momentum and build on its brand with another tournament played at a high level, featuring some of the best teams in America.

The 2019 tournament will feature another outstanding field, setting the stage for the Gonzaga Bulldogs (WCC), North Carolina Tar Heels (ACC) and Michigan Wolverines (BIG 10) to headline the 8-team group.

The remainder of the field also includes the Oregon Ducks (PAC 12), Seton Hall Pirates (Big East), Iowa State Cyclones (BIG 12), Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC) and Southern Mississippi Eagles (C-USA).

The tournament will again be hosted at the Atlantis resort’s Imperial Arena, November 27-29 during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Three members of the field are currently ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press Top 25 Poll including No.4 Gonzaga, No.7 North Carolina and No.9 Michigan.

Those three teams will also make their return to the Bahamas for their second appearance at the B4A.

The Tar Heels participated in the 2014 tournament where they finished fifth.

Gonzaga and Michigan were both in the 2015 event where they finished third and fifth respectively.

This 2019 field includes five teams that advanced to the previous NCAA Tournament (North Carolina, Gonzaga, Michigan and Seton Hall) and advanced to the round of 32.

Gonzaga also advanced to the Sweet 16 and Michigan advanced to NCAA Tournament title game where they finished as runners-up.

The most recent edition of the tournament featured the title-winning No.4 Virginia Cavaliers, No. 25 Wisconsin Badgers, Florida Gators, Butler Bulldogs, Dayton Flyers, Stanford Cardinal, Oklahoma Sooners and Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.

The tournament is known for being the richest Division I Men’s pre-season college basketball tournament. Schools are awarded $2 million in exchange for their participation in the event.