Advocare Orlando

[copious1218]

Headed to Orlando with the family over Thanksgiving and hoping to catch a few MU games.  Anyone know when the opponents and times will be released?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Last year they announced the bracket on July 11

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Last year they announced the bracket on July 11

Probably going to wait for the bracket to decide if I'll be going. 

[copious1218]

Last year they announced the bracket on July 11

Thanks TAMU.  A few more weeks. 

[BM1090]

Pro: Thanksgiving weekend so I don't need to use any time off.
Con: Disney prices over Thanksgiving.....

[Dr. Blackheart]

http://espnevents.com/orlando-invitational/

Attaching the website so it sits within this thread.  Small nit, but I don't think it is Advocare anymore, btw.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Pro: Thanksgiving weekend so I don't need to use any time off.
Con: Disney prices over Thanksgiving.....

I went in 2009, I thought the prices were cheap, as it's a slow weekend for Disney.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I went in 2009, I thought the prices were cheap, as it's a slow weekend for Disney.

Not sure it's slow over Thanksgiving...they turn over the parks for Christmas at this time too. 

https://wdwprepschool.com/disney-world-crowd-calendar/#Crowd_Calendar_at_a_glance_graphic

[Mr. Nielsen]

Humm. We were there Wednesday thru Tuesday. Monday was a ghost town. Saturday was not to bad.

[copious1218]

http://espnevents.com/orlando-invitational/

Attaching the website so it sits within this thread.  Small nit, but I don't think it is Advocare anymore, btw.

It still was as of November 2018 when the field was announced.  No idea if its changed since then.

http://espnevents.com/orlando-invitational/news-and-updates/2019-field-announcement/

[MU82]

Not a big fan of Orlando, but it's drive-able for me and Mrs. 82, and I do like a tournament that plays games on Thanksgiving itself.

Just took a quick look at the Marriott and Hilton sites; finding many rooms under 150/night, as well as rooms one can book with points.

Probably can't make a commitment for at least another couple months, though I might book a cancel-able room just because ...

[mubb3434]

Booked my hotel a couple of months ago. Looking forward to this tournament!

[war1980rior]

Any specific seating sections "Marquette Heavy" or reserved for MU?

[Dr. Blackheart]

Any specific seating sections "Marquette Heavy" or reserved for MU?

It's a high school gym with open bars. JB will be on press row so you can heckle him. Sit where you want, but most MU fans sit behind the team bench. Tickets are cheap relative to other holiday tournaments but they sell an all sessions pass. There is an ESPN Zone nearby between sessions.

[war1980rior]

Thx Doc!  Not a tedious drive for me, so it should be do-able.

[Herman Cain]

I am hoping to attend this year .

[BossplayaOtto]

My family and I will be there.

[MU82]

Not that I'm "afraid" of anybody, but I'd just as soon avoid Davidson in the first round (and second, for that matter).

They are always well-coached, and they return all 5 starters from a team that won 24 games.

[brewcity77]

Not that I'm "afraid" of anybody, but I'd just as soon avoid Davidson in the first round (and second, for that matter).

They are always well-coached, and they return all 5 starters from a team that won 24 games.

I would love a bracket that has Harvard, Temple, and TAMU on our side of it. Should all be decent sides but also winnable games. I think that Maryland, USC, and Davidson are the three toughest opponents in this format (Davidson is really tough to prepare for on short notice) and Fairfield just isn't very good. Prefer to avoid them until the final day, hopefully playing either Maryland or USC in the championship.

[pbiflyer]

FYI team hasn't picked a hotel yet, but many teams stay at the Gaylord.

[dgies9156]

Pro: It's 1.5 hours at the most from my house in Florida.
Pro: Texas A&M is a participant and we may be able to kick the Cowboy's backside.
Pro: Anytime I get to see our Warriors is a good time.

Con: We may be in Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with our children.
Con: It's at Disney and not at the Amway Center.
Con: Orlando is a thousand tourist traps in search of an audience.

Translation -- I'll be there if I am in Florida.

[Uncle Rico]

I hope it's A&M just to see if Willie's head explodes

[MU82]

Pro: It's 1.5 hours at the most from my house in Florida.
Pro: Texas A&M is a participant and we may be able to kick the Cowboy's backside.
Pro: Anytime I get to see our Warriors is a good time.

Con: We may be in Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with our children.
Con: It's at Disney and not at the Amway Center.
Con: Orlando is a thousand tourist traps in search of an audience.

Translation -- I'll be there if I am in Florida.

Totally agree with your last Con. Not a fan of Orlando ... at all.

I'm hoping I can go and, if I do, you will be there. Looking forward to the party you will host!

[pbiflyer]

I was born in Orlando. You couldn't pay me enough money to live there now. We only visit for events and my daughter's annual birthday trip to Universal.
But I have hotel reservations. MU  Thanksgiving events are fun!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If I had to seed the teams right now I'd go with:

1. Maryland
2. Marquette
3. USC
4. Davidson
5. Harvard
6. Temple
7. Texas A&M
8. Fairfield

Which would put us matched up with Buzz in the first round. As intriguing as that would be, my guess is that the four high major teams will not face each other in the first round, which would make the bracket look something like:

Winner of Maryland/Fairfield vs. winner of TAMU/Davidson
Winner of Marquette/Temple vs. winner of USC/Harvard

Assuming MU wins at least their first two matchups, it should be a very solid OOC tournament for them. I'm pretty sure they'll stick Maryland with Fairfield, everyone else is a good add for the SOS.