SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Field of 68, a college basketball media network bringing basketball fans premier sports content, is partnering with Sanford Sports and the Sanford Pentagon to launch a new, innovative event on the opening day of the college basketball season.
On Nov. 4, the Sanford Pentagon will host ‘The Field of 68 Opening Day Showcase,’ an event featuring matchups between six of the best programs in college basketball.
The inaugural event features the matchups of Saint Louis vs. Santa Clara, College of Charleston vs. Southern Illinois and McNeese State vs. South Dakota State. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. CT, August 1 at ticketmaster.com. The times of the games will be released later. The games will be broadcast on The Field of 68’s YouTube Channel and X feeds, and the network’s popular After Dark show will go live from the Sanford Pentagon at10:00.
Southern Illinois head coach Scott Nagy returns to South Dakota having previously led the South Dakota State Jackrabbits through the transition to the Division I ranks. He made the NCAA Tournament three times in a five-season span in Brookings.
Current South Dakota State head coach Eric Henderson will be looking to make it to his third NCAA Tournament this season by kicking off the season against potential top-25 team, McNeese State.
These games mark the seventh NCAA Division I events announced for the 2024-25 season at the Sanford Pentagon. The Nebraska women will play South Dakota on Nov. 16 followed by the Nebraska men taking on Saint Mary’s on Nov. 17. Tickets for those games go on sale Aug. 15. The Iowa women’s basketball team will play Kansas on Nov. 20. The Iowa men’s basketball team will play Utah on Dec. 21.