Fort Myers Tip-Off to feature college basketball heavyweights
Michigan State, North Carolina highlight Thanksgiving week tournament at Suncoast Credit Union Arena
Two of the most successful and storied college basketball programs will be in Fort Myers next week for the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida Southwestern State College.
The 17th ranked Michigan State Spartans (5-0) and 18th ranked The University of North Carolina Tar Heels (4-0) will be the top NCAA men’s basketball programs competing in the tournament, which features 16 men’s and women’s Division 1 college basketball programs.
The games begin Monday, Nov. 24 and run through Saturday, Nov. 29.
Michigan State is led by Tom Izzo, one of the greatest head coaches in college basketball history. Izzo took the Spartans to the Elite Eight last March, where they lost to Auburn and finished the season with a 30-7 record. Izzo led Michigan State to the NCAA championship in 2000 over Florida.
Michigan State boasts the nation’s leading ball distributor in Jeremy Fears Jr. The third-year point guard leads the nation in assists per game with more than 10 assists per game while also scoring 10 points per game.
Like many Izzo teams, one of their main strengths is in their rebounding and inside play which is led by senior forward Jaxon Kohler. Junior forward Coen Carr is one of the best leapers in the country and his ability to go above the rim makes the Spartans extremely tough to defense.
Izzo’s teams are renowned for the development they show through the season. The team fans will see now will likely be more refined by the time March Madness rolls around.
North Carolina is led by Caleb Wilson, who is considered to be one of the most talented freshmen in the country. The explosive 6’10 forward is averaging better than 20 points per game and 10 rebounds a game. In the first few games of the season, he has shown quick footwork for a big man, with the ability to post up and drive to the hoop from any setup.
The Tar Heels also have 7-footer Henri Veesaar, an Estonian native who transferred from Arizona in the offseason. They are led in the backcourt by senior Seth Trimble.
North Carolina is coached by former NBA player Hubert Davis, who has been with the team since taking over from Roy Williams in 2021. Davis took UNC to the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year, where they lost to Mississippi.
The games begin Monday in what is billed as the “Who will own the Fort” tournament.
The Palms Division day one play will feature Bucknell versus Bowling Green at noon and then the Virginia Military Institute versus Buffalo at 2:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, the Beach Division games take place with Michigan State taking on East Carolina at 1 p.m. North Carolina takes on St. Bonaventure on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the battle of the unbeatens.
St. Bonaventure (5-0) is led by guards Darryl Simmons II and Cayden Charles, as well as forward Frank Mitchell. Simmons is connecting at a 40% clip from three-point range this season. The Bonnies went 22-12 last year while going 9-9 in the A-10. They have overhauled nearly their entire team since last year, part of a growing trend throughout college basketball
On Wednesday, Virginia Military Institute will face Bowling Green at 11 a.m., to be followed by Bucknell and Buffalo at 1:30 p.m.
On Thursday, the highlight of the tournament will be Michigan State versus North Carolina at 4:30 p.m. That game will be preceded by St. Bonaventure and East Carolina at noon.
As of last Thursday, the game between Michigan State and North Carolina was close to selling out, said Mark Starsiak, of Intersport. Starsiak runs college athletic operations for Intersport, which is the organizer and promoter of the tournament. They run about 70 tournaments around the country.
This is the eighth year the college basketball event has taken place in Fort Myers. Starsiak said tickets are moving quick.
“It’s one of our longest-standing properties and one we are most proud of,” Starsiak said. Starsiak said they have grown the number of teams to 16 this year for Thanksgiving week..
“There is going to be high quality basketball with every game. The Michigan State and North Carolina game on Thanksgiving Day is certainly the pinnacle,” Starsiak said. Starsiak said this will be one of the better college basketball tournaments for the early part of the college basketball season.
For more information on the event and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.fortmyerstipoff.com/2025-event-central/.
Women’s tournament
On the women’s side, while there are no teams from the AP Top 25 playing, two of the top scorers in women’s college basketball will be playing.
Northwestern senior forward Grace Sullivan, currently ranked in the top 15 in the nation in scoring, will try to keep the Wildcats (5-0) undefeated.
Kansas, led by junior guard S’Mya Nichols, will also be making an appearance in Fort Myers. Nichols is in the top 30 in the country in scoring and ranked in the top 25 in assists per game. Nichols excels from beyond the arc, hitting 42% of her three-point shots.
Kansas, Georgia, Butler, Dayton, Northwestern, Missouri, Butler and Abilene Christian will be playing Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29.
For the complete women’s schedule, visit https://www.womensfortmyerstipoff.com/2025-event-schedule/.