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LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Illinois, Iowa State, Virginia Tech and UAB headline the eight-team field for the 2015 Emerald Coast Classic, presented by Global Sports. Chattanooga, Alabama State, Chicago State, Jacksonville State also are competing in the tournament.

First and second-round games will be played at on-campus sites Nov. 19 through Nov. 24, with the third round and championship round scheduled Thanksgiving weekend on Nov. 27-28 at Northwest Florida State College.

“We have assembled another great field in the second year of this event, reinforcing our goal of making this one of the top preseason college basketball events annually,” said tournament director Maury Hanks, who is also chief executive officer for Global Sports.

Virginia Tech begins its first season under head coach Buzz Williams, who comes from Marquette where he led the Eagles to NCAA Tournament appearances in five of the past six seasons.

“We are excited about playing in the Emerald Coast Classic next season,” Williams said. “This tournament provides an outstanding field and we are looking forward to competing in this event in such a desirable location on the panhandle of Florida. This is quickly becoming a popular destination for college basketball.”

Iowa State is ranked No. 14 in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches preseason polls, after a 28-8 season ending with a Sweet 16 appearance.

Illinois, under third-year coach John Groce, is projected by several publications to return to the NCAA Tournament in 2015. The Fighting Illini have 11 returning players from last year's team which finished 20-15 while competing in the National Invitation Tournament.

UAB posted an 18-13 record last year, while ranking second in the NCAA in rebounding averaging 45.5 boards per game. Third-year coach Jerod Haase has nine players on the Blazers 12-man roster for 2014-15 who are either freshmen or sophomores.

The third round and championship finals will be played at The Arena on the campus Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Fla.

Global Sports has produced 25 multi team college basketball tournaments in the past seven years with four more coming during the 2014-15 season.

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