Report: Iowa to play in 2016 Emerald Classic

Iowa's men's basketball team will compete in the 2016 Emerald Coast Classic in Destin, Fla., tournament director Maury Hicks told the Memphis (Tenn.) Commercial Appeal on Thursday.

According to the report, headliners Memphis, Virginia and Providence will join the Hawkeyes in the two-day tournament. Illinois and Iowa State headline this year's tournament. Iowa officials declined to confirm the report.

It marks the second consecutive season Iowa will play a tournament in Florida. This year, Iowa plays three games in the 2015 AdvoCare Invitational, which includes Alabama, Dayton, Monmouth, Notre Dame, Southern California, Wichita State and Xavier. Each game will be televised on an ESPN network.

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