Iowa to play in Orlando tournament

Iowa's men's basketball team will compete in the 2015 Orlando Classic, the school and ESPN announced this morning.

The three-game, eight-team tournament will be held Nov. 26-29 at the HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando. It's Iowa's first appearance at the event.

Other teams competing in the tournament include Alabama, Dayton, Wichita State, Xavier, Notre Dame, USC and one other team.

Iowa played Xavier in the opening game of the 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis, a game Iowa won in overtime. Iowa lost to Wichita State in the 2012 Cancun Challenge championship game. Iowa beat Dayton in the opening 2012 NIT game, and the Hawkeyes outlasted Notre Dame in the 2013 Big Ten-ACC Challenge. Iowa played Alabama in the 2006 and 2010 Paradise Jame tournaments. USC competed in the 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis, but did not play Iowa.

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com