ESPN and The V Foundation announced on Tuesday that Missouri Basketball will face Villanova in the 17th annual Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden.
The Tigers and Wildcats will be the first half of a double-header, starting at 6 p.m. CT. Marquette and Washington will meet at 8 p.m. CT. It will be the second all-time meeting between Mizzou and Villanova. Missouri won a 72-53 decision on Dec. 28, 1985, at the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii.
This will mark Missouri’s first-ever appearance in the Jimmy V Classic, which showcases top programs on ESPN and will conclude the fifth annual Jimmy V Week, a weeklong initiative (Nov. 30 to Dec. 6) across multiple ESPN platforms and programs featuring special content to help raise funds for cancer research.
Tickets for the Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic will go on sale in the fall via Ticketmaster and at the Madison Square Garden Box Office.
“We are proud to be a part of this year’s event and we want to thank The V Foundation and ESPN for this opportunity to showcase our program on a national level,” Head Coach Frank Haith said. “This is obviously a marquee event played at a historic venue (Madison Square Garden) in New York City and it will be a big time basketball game vs. Villanova. I have tremendous respect for Jay (Wright) and his program. This will be another great early-season test for our team.”
Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic Dinner Oct. 13 ESPN analysts Bill Raftery and Dereck Whittenburg, along with St. John’s men’s basketball coach and former ESPN analyst Steve Lavin, will serve as honorary chairmen of the 17th Jimmy V Basketball Classic Dinner Auction Thursday, Oct. 13. The head coaches for all six Classic teams are expected to appear at the event, held at New York’s Chelsea Piers’ PIER SIXTY and presented by ESPN, Madison Square Garden, and The V Foundation. Proceeds from the dinner and auction will benefit The V Foundation to fund cancer research. For additional information or to reserve tickets call The V Foundation at 1-800-4JimmyV or log on to www.jimmyv.org.
The V Foundation The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $100 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. Administrative and fundraising expenses are paid by the Foundation’s endowment. The Foundation awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Advisory Board. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.
