The 2025 Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational schedule and brackets are now set. This is one of the premier early-season multi-team events. The 2025 Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational, hosted at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Florida, brings us
five days of basketball from November 24-28. This year’s edition features a revamped format with three distinct brackets: Adventure, Imagination, and Magic. Each of them crowns a champ, and it gives 16 teams a chance to shake off the rust while building momentum toward March
How Does the Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational Schedule Work?
For the uninitiated, this isn’t your standard round-robin like you’ll find in other in-season tournaments. The Adventure Bracket is an eight-team format with semifinals, consolations, and placement games, while the Imagination and Magic Brackets are compact four-team showdowns wrapping up the week. Every game streams live on ESPN platforms, ensuring national exposure for breakout performances. With a mix of NCAA Tournament vets, NIT standouts, and under-the-radar contenders, there should be some great games to watch or attend live this week if you are in the area. Tickets are already on sale via Ticketmaster.
2025 Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational Schedule
The 2025 Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational Schedule is really three mini-tournaments all held at the same location. We’ll break down the schedule and brackets for each for you below. The event organizations update the link above for you during the tourney with the latest/ greatest.
The Adventure Bracket Schedule
Kicking things off November 24-26 at State Farm Field House, the Adventure Bracket is the weekend’s marquee draw. This pod includes eight teams with three squads that punched NCAA tickets last spring: Liberty, Princeton, and UC San Diego.
Opening Round Matchups (Monday, Nov. 24)
- 11 a.m. ET: Rhode Island vs. Towson (ESPN2/ESPNU)
- 1:30 p.m. ET: Liberty vs. Vermont (ESPNU)
- 4:30 p.m. ET: Temple vs. UC San Diego (ESPNU)
- 7 p.m. ET: Princeton vs. Bradley (ESPN+)
| Tue, Nov. 25 | Noon | Semifinal #1 | ESPN2 |
| 2:30 p.m. | Consolation #1 | ESPNU | |
| 5 p.m. | Semifinal #2 | ESPN2 | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Consolation #2 | ESPNU | |
| Wed, Nov. 26 | Noon | Championship Game | ESPN2 |
| 2:30 p.m. | Third place game | ESPNU | |
| 5 p.m. | Seventh place game | ESPN+ | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Fifth place game | ESPNU |
Team Spotlights:
- Liberty Flames (2024-25: 23-12, NCAA First Round): Under coach Ritchie McKay, the Flames return a battle-tested core led by sharpshooter Kolby Ross. After a gritty March exit, Liberty eyes a deep run here to reaffirm Big South dominance.
- Princeton Tigers (2024-25: 24-9, NCAA Second Round): Xavian Stapleton and Co. bring Ivy League poise and perimeter punch. The Tigers thrive in structured sets, watch for them to control tempo against Bradley’s chaos.
- UC San Diego Tritons (2024-25: 21-13, NCAA First Round): Big West champs return sharpshooter Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones. The Tritons’ up-tempo style could overwhelm Temple in the opener.
- Bradley Braves (2024-25: 24-11, NIT Second Round): Missouri Valley grit defines this squad, with forward Duke Deen anchoring the paint. They’re the bracket’s sleeper with upset potential.
Bold Prediction: Princeton advances to the final but falls to a surging Liberty in the championship. The Flames claim the Adventure crown, 78-72, signaling a top-25 caliber leap.
Printable Adventure Bracket
Here’s the printable Adventure Bracket for you. You can also save or print it to PDF format.
The Imagination Bracket Schedule
Shifting to Thursday-Friday (Nov. 27-28), the four-team Imagination Bracket schedule is a two game set for each team. Win the first, and make it to the Ship on Friday on ESPN2. Lose, and play for third on ESPN+ stream.
Schedule
- Thursday, Nov. 27
- 11 a.m. ET: Richmond vs. Furman (ESPN2)
- 1:30 p.m. ET: Charlotte vs. Illinois State (ESPN2)
- Friday, Nov. 28
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Third Place Game (ESPN+)
- 3 p.m. ET: Championship Game (ESPN2)
This pod screams mid-major intrigue, pitting Atlantic 10 and Southern Conference foes against Conference USA and Missouri Valley challengers.
Team Spotlights:
- Richmond Spiders (2024-25: 19-14): Aywick Miller’s return gives the Spiders elite guard play. They’re built for this: efficient shooters who punish turnovers.
- Furman Paladins (2024-25: 17-16): JP Pegues transfers in to juice the backcourt. The Paladins’ press could rattle Richmond early.
- Charlotte 49ers (2024-25: 18-15): Under new coach Aaron Fearne, Lu’Ming Burke leads a rebuilt roster.
- Illinois State Redbirds (2024-25: 16-16): MVC toughness shines through with forward Malachi Poindexter. They’re the bracket’s defensive anchor.
Bold Prediction: Furman shocks Richmond in the semis and rides hot shooting to a 71-65 title win over Illinois State. The Paladins emerge as SoCon dark horses.
Printable Imagination Bracket
Here’s the printable Imagination Bracket for you. You can also save or print it to PDF format.
The Magic Bracket Schedule
The Magic Bracket schedule has some of the better-known teams in the ESPN Events International schedule. We get to enjoy BYU, Miami, Georgetown, and Dayton in this one.
Schedule
- Thursday, Nov. 27
- 5 p.m. ET: BYU vs. Miami (ESPN)
- 7:30 p.m. ET: Georgetown vs. Dayton (ESPN2)
- Friday, Nov. 28
- 7 p.m. ET: Championship or Third Place (ESPN/ESPN2)
- 9:30 p.m. ET: Championship or Third Place (ESPN/ESPN2)
Expect national TV buzz, with Big 12, ACC, Big East, and A-10 heavyweights colliding.
Team Spotlights:
- BYU Cougars (2024-25: 22-11, NCAA First Round): Big 12 newcomer Richie Saunders headlines a deep rotation. The Cougs’ size and spacing make them bracket favorites.
- Miami Hurricanes (2024-25: 20-13, NIT Second Round): Wooga Poplar’s departure stings, but Nijel Pack returns to lead a versatile attack. ACC physicality will test BYU.
- Georgetown Hoyas (2024-25: 15-17): Ed Cooley reloads with portal gems like Malik Mack. The Hoyas crave early wins to rebuild buzz.
- Dayton Flyers (2024-25: 22-13, NIT Quarterfinals): A-10 power returns DaRon Holmes II (if healthy) for rim protection. Their motion offense is matchup-proof.
Bold Prediction: Miami upends BYU in a thriller (82-79), then outlasts Dayton 75-70 for the title. The Hurricanes vault into top-25 conversations.
Printable Magic Bracket
Here’s the printable Magic Bracket for you. You can also save or print it to PDF format.
Why This Invitational Matters: Early Buzz, Bracket Busters, and Beyond
Beyond the brackets, this event is a crystal ball for non-con scheduling. Last year’s champ (Texas A&M) parlayed success into an NCAA run. We’re likely to see very similar stores this year. With 16 teams representing nine conferences, we really get a good snapshot of all styles and types of play. Everyone has the same goal, get tuned up for conference runs and earn the best seed possible for the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. You can also checkout other college basketball schedules here for the rest of the regular season. Enjoy.
