Puerto Rico Tip-off 2012: Teams, Schedule, Live Stream, Bracket, TV Info

The sixth annual Puerto Rico Tip-Off looks like it may be the most exciting one yet. There are a number of high-profile participants in the 2012 field, including a top-ranked team in the polls—NC State.

While the Wolfpack are the favorites to win, there are plenty of underdogs that just can’t wait for a chance to pull an upset.

Let’s take a look at where and when you can watch all of these exciting games, break down the entrants, check out the bracket and much more in our 2012 Puerto Rico Tip-Off preview.

 

Where: Coliseo Ruben Rodriquez, Bayamon, Puerto Rico

When: November 15, 16 and 18, 2012

Watch: ESPNU, ESPN2

Live Stream: ESPN3

 

Field

No. 6 NC State (1-0)

The Wolfpack is the overwhelming favorite in this event, coming off a solid Sweet 16 run in the 2012 NCAA tournament and entering the tournament with a hefty No. 6 ranking in the Week 2 AP Poll.

This squad is returning four starters that averaged double figures in points last year, and they figure to play even better during the 2012-13 campaign. We don’t expect NC State to lose down in PR.

 

UNC Asheville (1-1)

The Bulldogs were another surprise tournament team in 2012, hanging tough with an undermanned Syracuse but eventually falling in the first round.

Regardless, we give them some credit and they could be a giant-killer here, but their 0-17 lifetime record against NC State shows that they will not get past the Wolfpack.

 

Tennessee (1-0)

This Volunteers team has a real chance to prove it has rebuilt on the fly under second-year coach Cuonzo Martin. They are in the “others receiving votes” section of the AP Poll and are just a few wins from finding themselves with a dignifying number next to their name.

 

UMass (1-0)

The Minutemen barely escaped Harvard on Tuesday afternoon, beating the Crimson on a last-second three-pointer to open the 2012-13 campaign. Now they are taking a quick flight down to Bayamon to try to build a winning streak.

 

Akron (1-1)

The Zips stumbled out of the gate with an OT loss to Coastal Carolina, but seem to have things going now with five starters averaging at least 10 points and senior center Zeke Marshall pulling down 8.5 boards and blocking 4.5 shots per game.

 

Oklahoma State (1-0)

Sophomore Le’Bryan Nash will be looking to lead the Pokes to a surprise run through the 2012 Puerto Rico Tip-Off, but he’s going to need a lot of help from Markel Brown and the rest of the returning players from last season.

 

Penn State (1-0)

The Nittany Lions aren’t truly known for their basketball program, and have a poor 68-83 all-time record during in-season tournaments. Sophomore Tim Frazier will be attempting to change all that by leading this squad on a deep, surprise run this weekend.

Providence (2-0)

The Friars will be representing the Big East and are a dark horse in this tourney. While they had trouble getting past a lowly NJIT squad to start the season, they rebounded with a shellacking of Bryant before taking the trip to PR.

Now they have a chance to use that momentum by knocking off UMass in the opening round.

Bracket and TV Schedule

*All times ET, information courtesy of PuertoRicoTipOff.com. Printable bracket can be found here. 

Date	Time (ET)	Game	Network
Thu, Nov 15	10:30 a.m.	Akron vs. Oklahoma State	ESPNU
	12:30 p.m.	UNC Asheville vs. Tennessee	ESPNU
	5 p.m.	NC State vs. Penn State	ESPN2
	7:30 p.m.	Providence vs. Massachusetts	ESPNU
Fri, Nov 16	10:30 a.m.	Semifinal #1	ESPNU
	1 p.m.	Consolation #1	ESPN3
	5 p.m.	Semifinal #2	ESPN2 or ESPNU
	7:30 p.m.	Consolation #2	ESPN3
Sun, Nov 18	11 a.m.	7th-place Game	ESPN3
	1:30 p.m.	5th-place Game	ESPNU
	3:30 p.m.	3rd-place Game	ESPNU
	6:30 p.m.	Championship Game	ESPN2

 

Prediction

While we would love to see a bunch of close games, the reality is that the Wolfpack are simply the most dominant team in this tournament and shouldn’t have any troubles.

It’s likely going to come down to NC State against either Tennessee or Oklahoma State in the finals, but Lorenzo Brown will lead his squad to a handy victory against whomever his team faces.