The Youngstown State men's basketball team has accepted an invitation to compete in The Basketball Classic presented by Eracism, Youngstown State Head Coach Jerrod Calhoun announced on Wednesday.
The Basketball Classic is a 32-team tournament with first-round games on campus sites starting March 14. This creates another bracket to follow and gives student-athletes across the country an opportunity to participate in the postseason and compete for a championship.
The Penguins' opponent and the entire bracket will be announced on Sunday, March 13, by the 20-member tournament selection committee. Should YSU receive the opportunity to host a first-round game, ticket information for the event will be released that evening.
"We are excited for the opportunity to continue a successful season," Calhoun said. "If we are selected for a home game, we hope our fans will come out and help create an electric atmosphere.
"It is a credit to our guys and all the hard work they put in this season to be invited to a postseason tournament."
This is the Penguins' third Division I postseason appearance and the second in the last three seasons. Youngstown State accepted a berth to the 2020 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT), but the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
The Penguins first appeared in the postseason when they played in the CIT in 2013. YSU owns a CIT record of 1-1 after defeating Oakland, 99-87, and falling to Canisius, 84-82, in overtime in 2013. Both games were at Beeghly Center.
This season, the Penguins have recorded a winning record for the third consecutive season with a mark of 18-14. It marks just the second time in YSU's Division I history and the first time since 1982-83, 1983-84, and 1984-85 that the Penguins posted three straight winning campaigns.
The Penguins set a school record for most conference victories with 12 Horizon League wins, and their 18 overall wins rank tied for third in YSU's Division I history. Youngstown State also won 18 games during the 2019-20 season.
