STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — By necessity, the College of Staten Island\u2019s Tournament of Heroes has a slightly different format this season.<\/p>\n
One thing that\u2019s never different is the importance CSI men\u2019s basketball head coach T.J. Tibbs places on the event, which more than once he has referred to as \u201cthe most important two days of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event began in December of 2002 as a tribute to three former CSI players who perished in the terrorist attacks of 9\/11\/2001 \u2013 Tom Hannafin, Curtis Aiken and Scott Davidson. Former CSI coach Tony Petosa, who played with or coached all three heroes, pushed to get the tourney rolling. Tibbs, who has played in it and coached in it, picked up the ball when he became head coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the 23rd one,\u201d Tibbs reminded. \u201cWe missed the COVID year. And we\u2019ll go on as long as this basketball program has a program. for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tourney is a Friday all day and Saturday afternoon event this year, with the CSI women holding their Conference Challenge Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
The twist on the men\u2019s side this year, Tibbs explained, is six teams are involved. Two tournaments, including CSI, were short a team apiece. So the six teams will match up as follows. On Friday at CSI, it\u2019s a triple-header. The matchups are: Chestnut Hill vs. Assumption (3 p.m.); St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Georgian Court at 5:15 p.m.; and CSI vs. St. Michael\u2019s of Vermont at 7:30<\/p>\n
On Saturday, St. Mike\u2019s will play at Georgian Court in Lakewood, New Jersey. Meantime at CSI, STAC will face Assumption at noon in a rematch of last year\u2019s NCAA regional final. CSI will oppose Chestnut Hill at 2.<\/p>\n
The Women\u2019s Conference Challenge, sponsored by Jimmy Max restaurant of Westerleigh, takes over Saturday evening with CSI facing Franklin Pierce at 5 and Holy Family meeting St. Michael\u2019s at 7.<\/p>\n
Sunday\u2019s women\u2019s twinbill has Holy Family vs. Franklin Pierce at 1 and CSI wrapping things up at 3 against St. Michael\u2019s at 3.<\/p>\n
As usual, both men\u2019s and women\u2019s tourneys have some strong entrants. Holy Family\u2019s women were a NCAA Sweet 16 team last year. STAC\u2019s men are perennial contenders in CSI\u2019s league, the ECC. Assumption defeated STAC to make the Division II Elite Eight. St. Mike\u2019s lost in the Elite Eight in 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow that we\u2019ve been Division II (for awhile), it\u2019s been \u2026 one of the best opening tournaments,\u201d Tibbs said. \u201cWe take a lot of pride in that. We\u2019ve only won one game since we\u2019ve been Division II in the tournament. So high level of basketball here. That\u2019s the best thing. I mean, outside of hosting and everything, being a fan of the basketball is great.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
NOTES: Tickets are now required for CSI events at the Sports and Recreation Center in Willowbrook. The site for purchasing is hometownticketing.com. Once there, search for College of Staten Island.<\/p>\n
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