Earlier this week, FanRag Sports Network columnist Jon Rothstein reported that Utah, UNLV, Ole Miss, and Rice will headline the 2017 MGM Grand Main Event in Las Vegas.
Similar to last years time frame, the fourth-annual MGM Main Event will take place from Nov. 20-22.
Utah will play Ole Miss and UNLV will face Rice on Monday Nov. 20th with the winners and losers facing each other on Wednesday Nov. 22nd, according to Rothstein.
Last year’s event highlighted two four-team brackets playing in the Grand Garden Arena from Nov. 21-23. The Heavyweight Bracket included Alabama, BYU, Saint Louis and Valparaiso while the Middleweight Bracket featured Ball State, Coastal Carolina, Coppin State and Southern Utah.
The championship game between Valpo and BYU would end up being a rematch after the Crusaders beat the Cougars in the semifinals of NIT tournament last March. Valpo would come out on top again, defeating BYU 92-89 in the final seconds of the game.
Quick scouting report:
- UNLV: The Runnin’ Rebels currently sit last place in the Mountain West with a 10-16 record on the season. UNLV has lost six straight games after a 76-74 loss to San Jose State on Feb. 11.
- Utah: After a 79-61 loss to Oregon on Thursday, the Utes are 17-9 and sit sixth in a Pac-12 conference that has three potential Final Four candidates in Arizona, Oregon and UCLA.
- Rice: The Owls are riding a five-game winning streak after beating UTSA 80-68 on Thursday and sit third in Conference USA. The Owls have three double-digit scorers while averaging 81.7 ppg.
- Ole Miss: Possible NCAA Tournament team, the Rebels are currently 16-10 after defeating LSU 96-76 behind Terrence Davis’ career-high 33 points. Davis has become Mississippi’s go-to guy as the Rebels look to finish out their season in the top half of the SEC.