The Field of 68 launches new series with elite mid-major programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rob DausterMay 9, 2023[email protected]

MT. LAUREL, NJ. — The Field of 68 is launching a new, innovative, three-year round-robin series between three of the country's top mid-major programs: Final Four darling Florida Atlantic, College of Charleston and Liberty.  

The Field of 68 Tip-Off is a three-year event that will begin at FAU this year, head to Charleston in 2024 and then at Liberty in 2025.

This year’s games will take place from Nov. 30-Dec. 2. FAU and Liberty will kick things off on Nov. 30, Charleston and Liberty will play on Dec. 1 and FAU will face Charleston on Dec. 2. The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman and Rob Dauster will be on-site at FAU for the entire event, hosting pre-game shows and the network’s popular After Dark show following the games.

“This is something we felt as though we needed because of how difficult it is for all of us to schedule quality opponents. It gives two of us a neutral site and a road opportunity against high-quality Quad 1 or Quad 2 opponents,” College of Charleston athletic director Matt Roberts said. “I’m really hoping this spurs others to follow and join us in the future.”

“We are honored to be involved in this event, which has three of the elite mid-major programs in the country,” Field of 68 founder Rob Dauster said. “This is a great opportunity for us to be able to provide more coverage for these teams that frankly don’t get enough. What we do at the Field of 68 is try and give teams at all levels the coverage they deserve.”

FAU coach Dusty May led the program to a historic 35-win season which culminated with a Final Four berth. The Owls will return the majority of the team from a year ago and are ranked No. 5 in Stadium's Preseason Top 25.

“We’re all trying to build an at-large resume,” May said. “We’ve got two great programs coming to our gym. We all know how difficult it is to get non-conference home and neutral-site games and this gives all of us an opportunity over the next three years to build something in the non-conference.”

In just his second season at the helm, Pat Kelsey led the College of Charleston to a 31-4 campaign and a No. 12 seed in the NCAA tournament.

“This is an opportunity for three up-and-coming programs to come together in a creative way that will be a part of the college basketball conversation moving forward,” Kelsey said.

Liberty’s Ritchie McKay has led the Flames to seven consecutive 20-win seasons and the program has won at least a share of the ASUN regular-season title all five years since moving into the league.

“To have a chance to play quality games like this isn’t common for mid-major programs that hit a certain point,” McKay said. “Once you win at a certain level, the return calls from power five teams can sometimes become fewer and fewer.”