Fans and alumni of the Florida State Seminoles and Florida Gators will get a chance to see their men’s basketball teams in South Florida in time for the holiday season as both teams will take part in the 2016 MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.
The Orange Bowl Committee announced that both schools will return for the annual double header basketball tournament, taking place this year on December 17th. Game times will be announced at a later date for the 23rd annual tournament.
The Seminoles will be making their eighth appearance, coming in with a record of 6-1. They will face the Manhattan Jaspers, who are making their first appearance. FSU returns two of their stop starters from last season, including Dwayne Bacon, as well as a top 10 recruiting class looking to make it back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
The Gators will be making their 18th appearance and have a previous record of 15-2. Florida will face the Charlotte 49ers, who are also making their first Orange Bowl Classic appearance. Florida returns three of their top four scorers from last season’s team that went to the quarterfinals of the NIT in Mike White’s first year as head coach.
The Orange Bowl Basketball Classic will be Florida’s only appearance in South Florida this season, while Florida State will head down to play in-state and ACC rivals Miami during the upcoming campaign.
