Forget Christmas, it's not even Thanksgiving yet. However, several college basketball programs have already tipped off the season of giving.
Kansas and Missouri renewed their Border War rivalry this past Sunday in a preseason contest that sold out the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. and raised nearly $2 million, with the help of revenue generated from pay-per-view live streaming, to aid survivors of hurricanes and Harvey and Irma. Typically, colleges are only allowed two exhibition games. However, this season they've been allowed a third to help raise money for charities helping with disaster relief efforts and teams aren't thinking twice about putting their talents on display for the betterment of others.
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Georgia and Michigan State, ranked No. 2 in the coach's poll, will face each other Sunday at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. Proceeds from the tickets, whose prices start at $17.50 and go on sale Wednesday.
“This is a great opportunity for our programs to help make an impact with the relief and rebuilding efforts in areas that were affected by this summer’s hurricanes,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said in a release. “We look forward to playing back in Grand Rapids where we have a strong fan base. They’ll see us play a very good Georgia team that is very well coached and features a great player in Yante Maten, who’s returning to his home state. Combining a competitive basketball game with a worthy cause makes for an outstanding event.”
Wisconsin has already sold out its Kohl's Center, where it will welcome Northern Iowa on Nov. 1. South Carolina and Virginia Tech will get it on in a game, being billed as "Hoops for Hurricane Relief." Set for 2 p.m. tip on Nov. 5th at Columbia's Colonial Life Arena. Tickets are going for $10 apiece.