| 8/22/2024 | Men’s Basketball BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic men’s basketball team is set to play Oklahoma State in the 2024 Shriners Children’s Hospital Charleston Classic from Nov. 21-24, held at the TD Arena. ESPN Events released the bracket on Thursday afternoon.Hosted by ESPN Events and aired on several ESPN platforms, the Owls will take the national stage early as incoming Head Coach John Jakus and the new Owls roster will get to showcase their talents to the world. Florida Atlantic participated in the 2023 ESPN Events Invitational at Walt Disney World, where they walked out of the happiest place on Earth as champions, taking the win against Butler, followed by beating No. 12 Texas A&M, and concluding in an 84-50 victory over Virginia Tech in the championship game.Jakus was introduced as the head men’s basketball coach in March. Jakus arrived to Paradise with knowledge of conferences like the Big 12 and the West Coast Conference. Previously one of the most respected assistant coaches in the nation, Jakus spent stints with two of college basketball’s marquee programs in Baylor and Gonzaga.With more opportunities this upcoming season, the Owls were on the big stage for much of last season, playing 23 national TV games with impressive wins over No. 4 Arizona on FOX, No. 12 Texas A&M on ESPN2, Virginia Tech on ESPN and Memphis on CBS.The field is filled with successful teams and post-season success. Florida Atlantic, Drake, and Nevada played in the NCAA tournament in two consecutive years, while Seton Hall and VCU played in the NIT. During the 2023 Final Four run, both Miami and FAU represented South Florida for their first Final Four appearance in program history.In the eight-team field, Florida Atlantic will face the Oklahoma State Cowboys for the first time since 2006 on Nov. 21 at 2:30 p.m., which will be aired on ESPN2 or ESPNU. The Owls last faced the Cowboys on Nov. 10, 2006, at OK State, where they fell 95-50. This will mark the first neutral site matchup between these two programs. The Cowboys are led by Head Coach Steve Lutz, who is in his first season at OK State after spending one year at Western Kentucky (22-14).Florida Atlantic will take on Miami or Drake in either a semifinal or a consolation game on November 22. The championship game is set for Sunday, Nov. 24 at 8:30 p.m. and will air on ESPN. All tournament tickets for the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic will go on sale in early September. Fans can sign up for the ticket pre-sale at www.charlestonclassic.com. Single-session tickets will go on sale in October, pending availability. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance as Premium Lower Sideline tickets have sold out before October for the past three years. BRACKET  ABOUT SHRINER’S HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN Shriners Children’s is a leader in providing care for orthopedic conditions, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries and other spine disorders, rehabilitation, sports injuries and craniofacial conditions. We also offer specialized services, including orthotics and prosthetics and motion analysis. We strive to provide the care and support our patients need to reach their goals and discover their full potential. All care and services are provided regardless of the families’ ability to pay or insurance status. To view our full range of specialties, please visit shrinerschildrens.org. FOLLOW THE OWLS To stay up to date on all things FAU men’s basketball, follow the Owls on social media @FAUMBB. |
