Boston College To Play in 2024 Veterans Classic
June 05, 2024 | Men's Basketball
Eagles to face VCU in doubleheader at the Naval Academy on Friday, Nov. 8
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Boston College is set to participate in the 11th edition of the Veterans Classic men's basketball doubleheader on Friday, Nov. 8 at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Â
The Eagles will take on perennial Atlantic 10 power VCU at 6 p.m., followed by host Navy facing Harvard at 8:30 p.m. Â CBS Sports Network will televise both games, as it has since the inception of the event. Â
Held annually around Veterans Day, the Veterans Classic honors our nation's veterans and showcases the U.S. Naval Academy. Â Each of the visiting teams immerse themselves in the inner workings of the U.S. Naval Academy through guided tours followed by lunch with the Brigade of Midshipmen on the day before the games. Â Veterans from all service branches are honored during the course of the Friday night doubleheader.
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"The Veterans Classic is one of the most respected events in college basketball and we are excited to participate," said head coach Earl Grant. Â "Not only will we face a high-caliber opponent in VCU, but our program will have the honor of spending a day with the Midshipmen, learning first-hand about the great history and traditions of the United States Naval Academy. Â To play at the Naval Academy during Veterans Day weekend will make for a special road trip and experience for our players."
VCU posted a 24-14 record last season and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NIT. Â Boston College and VCU have met on just one prior occasion. Â The Rams came away with a 69-50 victory over the Eagles on Dec. 28, 2013, in a game played at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.Â
"We're thrilled to be part of this year's Veterans Classic," said head coach Ryan Odom, who was the head coach at Utah State when the Aggies defeated Richmond in the 2021 Veterans Classic. Â "I had the opportunity to participate in this event a couple of years ago, and I can't say enough good things about the experience, especially the opportunity for our players to tour the Naval Academy. Â We have the utmost respect for Coach Grant and the Boston College program, and it will no doubt be a great test for our team."
The Eagles have previously played games in Annapolis when it faced Navy during the 1958-59, 1961-62 and 1965-66 seasons. Â Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk is a Boston College graduate and served in the same role at his alma mater from 1990-97.
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BC becomes the fourth Atlantic Coast Conference program to play in the Veterans Classic. North Carolina played in the second edition of the event in 2015, Pittsburgh followed in 2017, and Virginia Tech competed in the 2021 showcase.
Tickets for the doubleheader are now on sale through the Navy Ticket Office by either calling or texting 1-800-US4-NAVY or by clicking on the TICKETS tab in the masthead of NavySports.com and then selecting BASKETBALL. Â Reserved tickets for the doubleheader in the lower level of Alumni Hall are $40 and upper level general admission seats can be purchased for $25.
"We are excited to once again welcome a talented field in Boston College, Harvard and VCU to the Veterans Classic," said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis. Â "Three great basketball programs from strong academic institutions will make this another great showcase for the Naval Academy on the CBS Sports Network as we continue to pay tribute to our nation's veterans."
Winners of past Veterans Classic games include VCU, Michigan State, North Carolina, Florida, Marquette, Ohio State, Alabama, Maryland, Auburn, Virginia Tech and Houston.  In the nine seasons in which a postseason tournament has been held in the same year as the Veterans Classic, 14 visiting teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament with an additional four teams competing in the NIT.  This honor roll includes Michigan State, which reached the 2015 Final Four, and North Carolina, which advanced to the 2016 national championship game. Â
The field for the 2022 Veterans Classic featured Houston and Princeton, both of which advanced to the Sweet 16 in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Â The 2023 edition saw Duquesne advance to the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament and the College of Charleston also earn a bid to the event. There have been 34 Veterans Classic players who have gone on to play in the NBA.
The Eagles will take on perennial Atlantic 10 power VCU at 6 p.m., followed by host Navy facing Harvard at 8:30 p.m. Â CBS Sports Network will televise both games, as it has since the inception of the event. Â
Held annually around Veterans Day, the Veterans Classic honors our nation's veterans and showcases the U.S. Naval Academy. Â Each of the visiting teams immerse themselves in the inner workings of the U.S. Naval Academy through guided tours followed by lunch with the Brigade of Midshipmen on the day before the games. Â Veterans from all service branches are honored during the course of the Friday night doubleheader.
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"The Veterans Classic is one of the most respected events in college basketball and we are excited to participate," said head coach Earl Grant. Â "Not only will we face a high-caliber opponent in VCU, but our program will have the honor of spending a day with the Midshipmen, learning first-hand about the great history and traditions of the United States Naval Academy. Â To play at the Naval Academy during Veterans Day weekend will make for a special road trip and experience for our players."
VCU posted a 24-14 record last season and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NIT. Â Boston College and VCU have met on just one prior occasion. Â The Rams came away with a 69-50 victory over the Eagles on Dec. 28, 2013, in a game played at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.Â
"We're thrilled to be part of this year's Veterans Classic," said head coach Ryan Odom, who was the head coach at Utah State when the Aggies defeated Richmond in the 2021 Veterans Classic. Â "I had the opportunity to participate in this event a couple of years ago, and I can't say enough good things about the experience, especially the opportunity for our players to tour the Naval Academy. Â We have the utmost respect for Coach Grant and the Boston College program, and it will no doubt be a great test for our team."
The Eagles have previously played games in Annapolis when it faced Navy during the 1958-59, 1961-62 and 1965-66 seasons. Â Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk is a Boston College graduate and served in the same role at his alma mater from 1990-97.
Â
BC becomes the fourth Atlantic Coast Conference program to play in the Veterans Classic. North Carolina played in the second edition of the event in 2015, Pittsburgh followed in 2017, and Virginia Tech competed in the 2021 showcase.
Tickets for the doubleheader are now on sale through the Navy Ticket Office by either calling or texting 1-800-US4-NAVY or by clicking on the TICKETS tab in the masthead of NavySports.com and then selecting BASKETBALL. Â Reserved tickets for the doubleheader in the lower level of Alumni Hall are $40 and upper level general admission seats can be purchased for $25.
"We are excited to once again welcome a talented field in Boston College, Harvard and VCU to the Veterans Classic," said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis. Â "Three great basketball programs from strong academic institutions will make this another great showcase for the Naval Academy on the CBS Sports Network as we continue to pay tribute to our nation's veterans."
Winners of past Veterans Classic games include VCU, Michigan State, North Carolina, Florida, Marquette, Ohio State, Alabama, Maryland, Auburn, Virginia Tech and Houston.  In the nine seasons in which a postseason tournament has been held in the same year as the Veterans Classic, 14 visiting teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament with an additional four teams competing in the NIT.  This honor roll includes Michigan State, which reached the 2015 Final Four, and North Carolina, which advanced to the 2016 national championship game. Â
The field for the 2022 Veterans Classic featured Houston and Princeton, both of which advanced to the Sweet 16 in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Â The 2023 edition saw Duquesne advance to the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament and the College of Charleston also earn a bid to the event. There have been 34 Veterans Classic players who have gone on to play in the NBA.
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