Ranking the Bracketed Exempt Tournaments for 2017-18

A look at the (at least) 23 bracketed exempt tournaments coming November/December to a neutral court near you. Tournaments are separated by 4- and 8-team fields, and listed from strongest to weakest.

8-TEAM TOURNAMENTS
1 PK80 Motion (Nov. 23-24, 26)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 66.25
The Field: Butler, Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Ohio State, Portland State, Stanford, Texas
The Favorite: Duke
The Sleeper: Stanford
The Pick: Duke

2 Battle 4 Atlantis (Nov. 22-24)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 77.125
The Field: Arizona, Northern Iowa, Purdue, SMU, Stanford, Tennessee, Villanova, Western Kentucky
The Favorite: Arizona
The Sleeper: Tennessee
The Pick: Arizona

3 PK80 Victory (Nov. 23-24, 26)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 89.125
The Field: Arkansas, Connecticut, DePaul, Michigan State, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Portland
The Favorite: Michigan State
The Sleeper: Oklahoma
The Pick: Michigan State

4 Maui Invitational (Nov. 20-22)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 90.125
The Field: Cal, Chaminade, LSU, Marquette, Michigan, Notre Dame, VCU, Wichita State
The Favorite: Wichita State
The Sleeper: Marquette
The Pick: Michigan

5 Diamond Head Classic (Dec. 22-23, 25)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 91.75
The Field: Akron, Davidson, Hawaii, Miami, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Princeton, USC
The Favorite: USC
The Sleeper: Middle Tennessee
The Pick: USC

6 Charleston Classic (Nov. 16-17, 19)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 112
The Field: Auburn, Clemson, Dayton, Hofstra, Indiana State, Ohio, ODU, Temple
The Favorite: Auburn
The Sleeper: Dayton
The Pick: Temple

7 Cayman Islands Classic (Nov. 20-22)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 120.25
The Field: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Iowa, Louisiana, Richmond, South Dakota State, UAB, Wyoming
The Favorite: Cincinnati
The Sleeper: UAB
The Pick: Iowa

8 Puerto Rico Tip-Off (Nov. 16-17, 19)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 120.5
The Field: Appalachian State, Boise State, Illinois State, Iowa State, South Carolina, Tulsa, UTEP, Western Michigan
The Favorite: South Carolina
The Sleeper: Boise State
The Pick: Boise State

9 Wooden Legacy (Nov. 23-24, 26)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 149.25
The Field: Cal State Fullerton, Georgia, Harvard, Sacramento State, Saint Joseph's, Saint Mary's, San Diego State, Washington State
The Favorite: Saint Mary's
The Sleeper: Georgia
The Pick: Saint Mary's

10 AdvoCare Invitational (Nov. 23-24, 26)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 154.75
The Field: Long Beach State, Marist, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon State, Saint John's, UCF, West Virginia
The Favorite: West Virginia
The Sleeper: UCF
The Pick: West Virginia

11 Paradise Jam (Nov. 17-20)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 164.75
The Field: Colorado, Drake, Drexel, Houston, Liberty, Mercer, Quinnipiac, Wake Forest
The Favorite: Houston
The Sleeper: Colorado
The Pick: Wake Forest

12 Islands of the Bahamas Showcase
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 174.375
The Field: Bradley, Coastal Carolina, Iona, James Madison, Northern Kentucky, UTSA, Vermont, Weber State
The Favorite: Vermont
The Sleeper: Coastal Carolina
The Pick: Vermont

13 Gulf Coast Showcase
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 199.75
The Field: FAU, Georgia Southern, Kansas City, Manhattan, Missouri State, Northern Illinois, Penn, Towson
The Favorite: Towson
The Sleeper: Coastal Carolina
The Pick: Missouri State

14 Great Alaska Shootout (Nov. 22-25)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 205.25
The Field: Alaska-Anchorage, Bakersfield, Cal Poly, Central Michigan, College of Charleston, Idaho, Sam Houston State, Santa Clara
The Favorite: College of Charleston
The Sleeper: Bakersfield
The Pick: College of Charleston
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4-TEAM TOURNAMENTS
1 CBE Hall of Fame Classic (Nov. 20-21)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 19.5
The Field: Baylor, Creighton, UCLA, Wisconsin
The Favorite: UCLA
The Pick: Baylor

2 NIT Season Tip-Off (Nov. 23-24)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 32.5
The Field: Rhode Island, Seton Hall, Vanderbilt, Virginia
The Favorite: Virginia
The Pick: Seton Hall

3 Legends Classic (Nov. 20-21)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 63
The Field: Oklahoma State, Penn State, Pitt, Texas A&M
The Favorite: Texas A&M
The Pick: Penn State

4 Emerald Coast Classic (Nov. 24-25)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 71.25
The Field: Maryland, New Mexico, Saint Bonaventure, TCU
The Favorite: TCU
The Pick: Maryland

5 Las Vegas Invitational (Nov. 23-24)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 79.5
The Field: Arizona State, George Washington, Kansas State, Xavier
The Favorite: Xavier
The Pick: Xavier

6 Hall of Fame Tip-Off (Nov. 18-19)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 98
The Field: Boston College, La Salle, Northwestern, Texas Tech
The Favorite: Northwestern
The Pick: Texas Tech

7 Cancun Challenge (Nov. 21-22)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 117
The Field: Evansville, Fresno State, George Mason, Louisiana Tech
The Favorite: Louisiana Tech
The Pick: Fresno State

8 MGM Grand Main Event (Nov. 20, 22)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 131
The Field: Ole Miss, Rice, UNLV, Utah
The Favorite: Utah
The Pick: Ole Miss

9 2K Classic (Nov. 16-17)
Participants Average KenPom Rank: 136.5
The Field: Providence, Saint Louis, Virginia Tech, Washington
The Favorite: Virginia Tech
The Pick: Providence

We aren't in one of these? How come?

Otis said:

We aren't in one of these? How come?

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We are in one for 2018.

Otis said:

We aren't in one of these? How come?

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Because for some stupid reason they decided to have pre-determined opponents for the Barclays Center Classic instead of a bracket. The 2014, 2015, and 2016 Barclays all were 4 teams and bracketed. Don't know why they changed that.

SelectionSunday said:

Because for some stupid reason they decided to have pre-determined opponents for the Barclays Center Classic instead of a bracket. The 2014, 2015, and 2016 Barclays all were 4 teams and bracketed. Don't know why they changed that.

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Probably to ensure we play Alabama, can't have BYU ruin that match up

bemidjigopher said:

Probably to ensure we play Alabama, can't have BYU ruin that match up

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Simple fix to that, if that's the reason

Semifinals = Gophers vs. Alabama, BYU vs. UMass

Or they could just have four good teams, I'd be happy with BYU and BAMA. Sucks UMASS is down