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The Veterans Classic back for a 7th time

Capital - 11/3/2020

It turns out there will be a 2020 Veterans Classic after all.

Navy men's basketball announced Wednesday it will host George Washington in what is being billed as the seventh annual Veterans Classic. CBS Sports Network will televise the contest, which will tip off at noon on Nov. 25, the first official play date for the 2020-21 college season.

Navy previously announced the 2020 Veterans Classic, as originally constituted, would be canceled because the NCAA pushed the season start date back two weeks. Veterans Day is Nov. 11.

Navy was scheduled to play George Washington in the nightcap of the Veterans Classic, a doubleheader that would have mostly featured local schools. Towson and St. Joseph's had committed to meet in the opener.

"We wanted to keep the name going and CBS thought that was a good idea to call it the 'Veterans Classic' in order to have some presence," Navy coach Ed DeChellis said in a telephone interview Wednesday night. "I think the exciting thing is this will be first college basketball game of the season and CBS is going to promote it as such. This will provide both programs with tremendous national exposure."

Navy's opener will be the day before Thanksgiving, which is why CBS Sports Network was comfortable with a noon tipoff. Most people take off that day and that increases the chance of decent viewership.

DeChellis said it was too early to know whether any fans will be allowed, either civilian or midshipmen.

"It would be great if we could get some mids into Alumni Hall to create some atmosphere," he said.

Navy and George Washington will be meeting for the first time in a decade. The Midshipmen will be hosting the Colonials in Annapolis for the first time since the 1981-82 season.

GW holds a narrow 21-20 advantage in a series that began in 1908.

George Washington compiled a 12-20 record last season, its first under coach Jamion Christian. The Colonials are expected to be vastly improved thanks to the development of some talented youngsters and the addition of several transfers.

Jameer Nelson Jr., whose father and namesake played 14 seasons in the NBA, is coming off a promising freshman campaign in which he led the team in steals (55), ranked second in assists (68) and was fourth in scoring (10.4 points per game).

The Colonials have added three transfers from Power Five conferences, including former Maryland forward Ricky Lindo Jr. Christian, who was previously coach at Mount St. Mary's, also brought in former Mount Saint Joseph High guard James Bishop (LSU) and forward Matt Moyer (Vanderbilt).

"George Washington is a talented Atlantic-10 team that will be a challenging opening opponent," DeChellis said. "GW will have good length, good speed and good athletes. They'll probably press and force us to handle the ball. I think our players will rise to the occasion."

Navy returns its team almost entirely intact, as starting center Evan Wieck was the lone member of the rotation to graduate. Second team All-Patriot League combination guard Cam Davis heads a list of four returning starters that also includes swingman John Carter Jr., wing guard Greg Summers and forward Luke Loehr.

Sophomore power forward Daniel Deaver, who started three games a year ago, is the early favorite to replace Wieck in the starting lineup. Point guard Sean Yoder, power forward Richard Njoku, swingman Tyler Nelson and forward Alec Loehr are among the top reserves returning.

Navy and George Washington engaged in a preseason scrimmage last year, and that is when DeChellis and Christian first discussed the idea of starting a series. That came to fruition when DeChellis realized he would need to recruit local programs to create a doubleheader lineup for the Veterans Classic.

While this nonconference matchup is being called the Veterans Classic, it will not include most of the traditional elements of the event. Highlights for the three visiting teams has always been a tour of the Naval Academy to climb aboard a Yard Patrol training vessel, closely inspect military Humvees and helicopters, and watch the Brigade of Midshipmen perform noon meal formation.

DeChellis is in the process of scheduling at least five other nonconference contests and expects Navy to announce those soon once contracts are signed.

"We're just trying to solidify the opponents and the dates," he said.

The Patriot League has yet to make any announcements regarding men's and women's basketball. Army and Navy would be granted an exception in order to meet the physical component of the service academy mission.