The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN just three years, the Battle 4 Atlantis has become the upstart of the college basketball world and has established a reputation as a top early season tournament on the NCAA calendar.

Its reputation will only continue to grow with the glowing recommendations of some of the most iconic coaching names in NCAA basketball.

Both participating coaches in the 2012 B4A Championship game, which saw Duke top Louisville 76-71 at the Imperial Arena, lauded the tournament for its competitive field, organisation and the Bahamas itself as the backdrop for “an incredible event.”

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzeski said this year’s field was just one of several factors to make this edition of the Battle 4 Atlantis a tournament to remember.

“The tournament field ranks as tough as anything we’ve been apart of NIT, Maui or others and this tournament can get even better as they learn how to put it on even better. It was put on well, but it can keep getting better, the people can’t get any better, they’re already great,” he said.

“We had great hospitality. For us as a team we don’t get a chance to get out, but for fans and families it was great. One of the neat things about being here, everyone you meet has a smile on their face and has a warm heart and it makes for a really inviting experience.”

‘Coach K’ has led the Blue Devils to four of their five national championships and last season surpassed his mentor Bob Knight as the winningest coach in NCAA Division I history.

In addition to four NCAA Championships, he has led the Blue Devils to 11 Final Fours, 12 ACC regular season titles, and 13 ACC Tournament titles.

He was also the head coach of two gold medal winning USA Olympic Basketball teams (2008 and 2012) and applauded the Bahamas recognition of its Olympic heroes at the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

“Going through the airport I noticed how they honoured all the Olympians, with pictures and some form of recognition. It kind of made me stop and say ‘that’s’ a cool thing.’”

Despite a disappointing finish on the court, Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said the interaction with the Bahamian people will be one of the positive memories he takes away from the tournament.

“I want to thank the Bahamas for its incredible hospitality. You have done an incredible job with this tournament making it what it is today with insight. It’s just amazing. The whole thing was a fabulous experience for us. I know our players loved it even though we didnt get to go to the beach and do anything exciting,” Pitino said. “I hope we get to come back in four years again, because Bahamian hospitality is awesome.”

Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals reached the Final Four last season, defeated by eventual national champion Kentucky.

A national championship winning coach in 1996 with Kentucky, he also reached six Final Fours (with three different teams), six regular season conference titles and 10 conference tournament titles.

The B4A has drawn comparisons to the Maui invitational - staged in Maui, Hawaii - for its location and ability to host a high quality field early in the NCAA season.

This year’s Maui Invitational featured one ranked team in the AP top 25 , No. 9 North Carolina.

The B4A featured arguably the most stacked early season NCAA field ever with four ranked teams Louisville (2), Duke (5), Missouri (13) and Memphis (19), plus unbeaten Minnesota, which was ranked 26th.

Organisers look to continue the momentum with the field for the 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.

Headlining the event will be the Kansas Jayhawks, currently ranked No. 12 in the AP poll, Villanova Wildcats, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Tennessee Volunteers, USC Trojans, UTEP Miners, Xavier Musketeers and an eighth team to be announced at a later date.

In year one, the B4A featured what organisers called a “dress rehearsal” to evaluate Atlantis’ ability to host an NCAA tournament.

Georgia Tech, Richmond, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech took part in the event.

In 2011, it transitioned to a full eight-team tournament. Harvard won the inaugural title.