We learned around June of last year that our Louisville Cardinals would be participating in the 2016 Battle 4 Atlantis pre-season Tournament. And today it has been determined who the Cardinals will face in their opening game. The Cardinals will open up play in Atlantis against Old Dominion on November 23rd at 9:00pm. The Cardinals will then play the winner/loser of Witcita State and LSU. That would make for an intriguing game with a Final Four rematch against the Shockers or LSU and Antonio Blakeney. Michigan State, St. John’s, VCU, and Baylor are the other teams who have been added. This is considered by most to be the best preseason tournament of the year. 

Louisville last played in the Battle 4 Atlantis during the 2012-13 season where they went 2-1 in the tournament beating UNI and Mizzou before losing to Duke in the title game. The Cardinals would get their revenge on the Blue Devils a few months later beating them in the Final Four in route to a National Championship. It’s ironic that the Cards will play in Atlantis in 2016 because like that 2013 group this group will be a favorite to win the National Title. I certainly wouldn’t mind a little déjà vu here…

The Battle 4 Atlantis is a Kerzner International owned and operated preseason college basketball tournament that takes place in late November of each year, at Atlantis Resorts on Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas usually the week before Thanksgiving. The tournament is known for being the richest Division I Men’s pre-season college basketball tournament. Teams are awarded 2 million to participate in the event.

No doubt this will be a great preseason tournament to start the college basketball season and will be a great gauge to see just how good our Louisville Cardinals will be to start the season. I can’t wait!

2012 Battle 4 Atlantis promo: