Did anyone else know that OHIO's first four games are part of a strange tournament called the Global Sports Invitaional. I can't find much about this event other then scores from 09 (OHIO was apart of it that year also) and 10. In this five team tournament OHIO appears too be the two seed behind Louisville. Louisville host every game they play while OHIO host three and Tennessee Martin, Lamar and Arkansas State all host one. OHIO is the only team not to play a game outside of the tournament during it. Can OHIO please find a better basketball tournament to play in!! 

It is just an excuse to play several games and have it count as two to the NCAA, as many of these early season "tournaments" are. Last time, we played Marshall at a neutral site in Charleston as part of it, and I believe Lamar and Louisville were a part of it that year, too.

THat is exactly true norris. I would not call it an excuse. Under the NCAA auspices these tourneys of which Maui and ALaska used to be the only ones are now somewhat ubiquitous and come in many forms. Essentially you play the tourney and get 3,4 5 or so games while only having the tourney count as 2 against your regualr season total. Nice part it is early season. Usually you get comp against some lo majors and one major marquee that you may not have had access to otherwise due to the big 6 conferences not wanting to play down.

IT gets us an extra revenue producing home game or 2 a year, a shot at a Big 6 conference school with a bit of TV exposure and some much needed pre conference experience. WOuld need an excuse NOT to jump at it.

Middle Tennessee State and North Carolina A&T were the other two teams besides Marshall and Lamar that year.  We played in Louisville's tournament the year before in Freedom Hall with Lamar and Indiana State.

Got it, thanks for clearing up the fog.

Borna, you're absolutely correct, we would be silly not to take advantage of the NCAA rules. The excuse comment was more a comment on the "tournaments" that have sprung up since they started letting everyone compete in one that aren't tournaments at all.

Not a bad deal for Ohio which historically doesn't peak until February.  Playing first three at home gives Groce time to get the team up to the level where we need to be to win on the road. Tonite we needed overtime to beat Lamar after a sloppy finish vs Tn-Martin. Arkansas State is next up before we play two tough road games at Louisville and at Marshall. Hope team is improved at that point where we can play well in those games. These tournaments get Ohio more homes games to include for the season ticket holders.  Its also games at home before winter break so we  can take advantage of the students for a couple of games than usual in the non-conference part of the schedule.