5 Early-Season College Basketball Tournaments to Watch in 2023-24

College basketball is almost here!

Check out our list below of the top five early-season tournaments to monitor during November and December:

College Basketball Early-Season Tournaments to Watch

1. Maui Invitational

The best Maui Invitational ever? It’s quite possible. Five of the eight teams in this bracket -- Kansas, Purdue, Marquette, Tennessee, and Gonzaga -- are currently ranked in the Top 18 of the ROTHSTEIN 45. UCLA and Syracuse are also in the event. The semifinals of the 2023 Maui Invitational could very well resemble the feel of a regional site during the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

2. Battle 4 Atlantis

Thanksgiving week in the Bahamas never disappoints. This year’s Battle 4 Atlantis doesn’t feature as many heavyweights as we’ll see in Maui, but there are still multiple blue-blood programs in this event, headlined by North Carolina and Villanova. Arkansas, Memphis, Michigan, Texas Tech, Stanford, and Northern Iowa round out the field.

3. Empire Classic (UConn, Indiana, Texas, Louisville)

Madison Square Garden? Check. The defending national champions? Check. Four elite brands? You better believe it. The field for this season’s Empire Classic is beyond elite and should bring real flavor to The Big Apple. Expect UConn fans -- as usual -- to make the World’s Most Famous Arena their own personal sanctuary.

4. Continental Tire Main Event (Saint Mary’s, San Diego State, Washington, Xavier)

A really good team could leave this event with an 0-2 record. Saint Mary’s, San Diego State, and Xavier are all currently ranked in the Top 28 of the ROTHSTEIN 45 while Washington is expected to be one of the more improved teams in the Pac-12. Each of these matchups in Las Vegas will reflect the feel of an NCAA Tournament game.

5. Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship (Miami, Georgia, Kansas State, Providence)

Three of the programs in this event -- Miami, Kansas State, and Providence -- played in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The other -- Georgia -- is well-coached by Mike White. This tournament will be a good barometer for all teams involved. The winner has a chance to pick up two Quad 1 victories.

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Jon Rothstein is not a FanDuel employee. The reporting of Rothstein is not subject to FanDuel's verification and does not represent the views or input of FanDuel. Betting based on Rothstein's reporting will not guarantee a successful outcome. Always do your own due diligence and use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.

Rothstein has been a college basketball insider for CBS Sports since 2010 and a contributor to the CBS Broadcast Network since 2016. He joined FanDuel in 2022 as a Content Creator. Rothstein is also the host of the College Hoops Today Podcast via Compass Media Networks.