Hall of Fame Classic (basketball tournament)


The Hall of Fame Classic created by the National Association of Basketball Coaches is an annual season-opening college basketball tournament founded in 2001. The tournament is currently held in mid-November at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, which also contains the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Before the 2007 tournament, the final rounds were held at Municipal Auditorium, except for one year at Kemper Arena in 2001.

Tournament format

From the inaugural tournament in 2001 until 2019, twelve teams participated in the tournament. In this format; the first two rounds were played at campus sites on two different days hosted by regional hosts, regional hosts automatically advanced to the championship rounds which are played at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Championship rounds took place one week after the initial round. Teams not hosting advanced to sub regional rounds where they played three games. From 2020 until 2023 and again since 2025, four teams participate in a traditional four team tournament with a Championship and Consolation game. The 2024 Hall of Fame Classic was a showcase doubleheader, instead of a traditional four team tournament.

History

Championship game results

Consolation game results

Brackets

* – Denotes overtime period

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

All matches aired on ESPN Networks

2019

Host Rounds

Championship Round

Subhost Rounds

2018

Host Rounds

Championship Round

Subhost Rounds

2017

Host Rounds

Championship Round

Subhost Rounds

2016

Championship Round

Subhost Rounds

2015

Championship Round

Subhost Rounds

2014

Future fields

2025

, Mississippi State and Nebraska, will headline the 2025 Hall of Fame Classic, with the fourth team to be announced.