Grand Rapids, Mich. -- The 2024 Great Lakes Invitational will head to Grand Rapids, MI to take place at Calvin University's Van Noord Arena. The tournament will take place November 22-23, 2024.
The Great Lakes Invitational is the creation of Ryan Whitnable, host of This Week in Great Lakes Basketball Podcast. The two-day event features eight nationally-prominent programs from the Great Lakes region as well as Division III teams from around the country. Calvin University, Emory University, Hope College, John Carroll University, Johns Hopkins University, Marietta College, St. John's University and the University of Wisconsin La Crosse are scheduled to compete at the 2024 Invitational.
"The 7th Great Lakes Invitational continues the tradition of bringing together Division III's best programs to arguably the level's best venue," said Whitnable who also directs the tournament. "Hosting this event at the home of one of Division III's most successful programs is perfectly fitting of this crown jewel event of the Division III basketball calendar."
The Great Lakes Invitational will be one of a growing list of high-level competitions to be held inside 4,800-seat Van Noord Arena that opened in January of 2009. Van Noord Arena has also hosted the NCAA III Women's Basketball Final Four in 2015 and 2017, the NCAA III Women's Volleyball Finals in 2015 and 2017 and the Michigan High School Athletic Association Girls Basketball State Finals in 2018 and 2019.
It will mark the first major collegiate men's basketball tournament on the Calvin campus since the 1980's, however, when Calvin hosted the NCAA III Men's Basketball Finals from 1982-1988 at the old Calvin Fieldhouse. Calvin Fieldhouse was renovated during the construction of Van Noord Arena and is now called Hoogenboom Gymnasium. Hoogenboom Gymnasium remains a valuable student recreation facility as well as an intercollegiate practice and occasionally intercollegiate competition facility.
""We are extremely pleased to host the 2024 Great Lakes Invitational," said Calvin Director of Athletics Dr. Jim Timmer. "There is a huge appetite for small college basketball in West Michigan and it will be a great treat for our local fans to see some of the top teams from the Great Lakes Region. It brings back memories for me growing up when we (Calvin) hosted the NCAA Division III Final Four (1982-1988) and fans came out in high numbers which I anticipate happening again next November. We are looking forward to presenting great hospitality to all visitors with a warm welcome to the Calvin campus."
Calvin head men's basketball coach Bill Sall is also looking forward to hosting the event. ""We are thrilled to host the 2024 Great Lakes Invitational at Calvin University," said Sall. "We feel that it is one of the finest small college basketball tournaments in the country and to have a chance to host is a great honor. We feel that we have one of the premier small college basketball venues in the country which should make for a perfect set-up for players, coaches and fans. We are grateful to be a part of this wonderful event and also to the behind-the-scenes work put together by Ryan Whitnable in putting this annual showcase together."
The first four games are scheduled to take place on Friday, November 22 with four games set for Saturday, November 23. A complete schedule along with ticket and broadcast information will be released this coming spring.
What participating coaches say about the Great Lakes Invitational:
JT Gritzmacher, UW-La Crosse Head Men's Basketball Coach
"Our program at UW-La Crosse is extremely excited and honored to be invited to take place in the 2024 Great Lakes Invitational! To be the program we want to be, we need to compete with the best teams in the country and that's what this tournament brings us! We are thankful for this opportunity and truly looking forward to it!"
Jason Zimmerman – Emory University Head Men's Basketball Coach
"We are looking forward to participating in the 2024 Great Lakes Invitational. Over the last many years, the GLI has become a great atmosphere to challenge your team. It looks like 2024 will be no different. We are honored to be able to be involved and look forward to the competition."
JON VANDERWAL – MARIETTA COLLEGE HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
"We are extremely excited to participate in the Great Lakes Invitational next year at Calvin. Calvin has historically been one of the premier programs in the country and has one of the nation's best arenas. As a Michigan native and a former player in the MIAA, it will be extra special for me to visit Grand Rapids where I have lots of family and friends. I played in a lot of big games at Calvin and I'm excited to give my players the same opportunity. Calvin University and the GLI are the perfect combo to showcase top level D3 basketball."
RYAN CAIN – JOHNS HOPKINS HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in the Great Lakes Invitational in 2024. The GLI is the premier event in Division 3 basketball and offers the opportunity to compete against NCAA tournament level competition at an amazing venue and showcases our program and players with terrific coverage. "
GREG MITCHELL – HOPE COLLEGE HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
"This has become such a prestigious event in DIII basketball allowing the participants to compete against and witness some of the nation's best players and coaches. Other than competing in the national tournament, there is no better event to be a part of and everyone at Hope is grateful for the opportunity." - Greg Mitchell, Hope
PAT MCKENZIE – ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
"We're really looking forward to the opportunity to test ourselves against some of the best teams in the country. The GLI has become one of, if not the, premier events in D3 Basketball. This is sure to be a terrific test for us on the floor and an equally terrific experience for us off of it."
PETE MORAN, JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
"We are excited to participate in the 2024 Great Lakes Invitational and compete against some of the best teams in D3."
