The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Pairings, game times set for 2023 Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project
08.14.2023 | Men's Basketball
Texas will face Louisville in the semifinals on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2:30 p.m. Central at Madison Square Garden.
NEW YORK — The pairings and game times for the 28th annual Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project presented by Continental Tire at Madison Square Garden, the Gazelle Group announced Monday. Television coverage will be announced at a later date.
Texas will face Louisville in the second semifinal on Sunday, Nov. 19 at approximately 2:30 p.m. Central (3:30 p.m. Eastern). UConn will play Indiana in the first semifinal on Nov. 19 at Noon Central (1 p.m. Eastern).
The consolation game between Sunday's two losing teams is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 20 at 3:30 p.m. Central (4:30 p.m. Eastern). The championship game between Sunday's two winning teams is slated for Nov. 20 at approximately 6 p.m. Central (7 p.m. Eastern).
General public tickets for the Empire Classic (@empireclassicbb) can be purchased at this link.
Texas will make its seventh appearance in the Empire Classic. The Longhorns also competed in the event in 1997, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2019. UT won the event in 2014 after posting a 71-55 victory against California in the championship game.
The Longhorns completed the 2022-23 season with an overall record of 29-9 (12-6 Big 12), won the Phillips 66 Big 12 postseason tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight for the first time since 2008. The 29 wins marked the third-most victories in a season in program history. Texas also set a school single-season record for most wins against AP-ranked teams (10-7 mark).
The Longhorns were ranked No. 5 in the final Associated Press poll, marking a tie for the highest ranking in the final AP poll in program history. Texas also was No. 5 in the final AP poll during the 2002-03 Final Four season. UT earned a No. 2 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, marking the highest seed for the Longhorns in the NCAA tourney since 2008 (also a No. 2 seed).
2023 Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project
All games played at Madison Square Garden (all times Central)
Sunday, Nov. 19 – Semifinals
Noon: UConn vs. Indiana
Approx. 2:30 pm: TEXAS vs. Louisville
Monday, Nov. 20 – Consolation/Championship
3:30 pm: Loser of UConn/Indiana vs. Loser of Texas/Louisville
Approx. 6 pm: Winner of UConn/Indiana vs. Winner of Texas/Louisville
