Great Alaska Shootout

Great Alaska Shootout
Name	Great Alaska Shootout
Sport	College basketball
Founded	1978
Folded	2017
Venue	Sullivan Arena; Alaska Airlines Center
Location	Anchorage, Alaska
Teams	various

Great Alaska Shootout The Great Alaska Shootout was an annual men's and women's college basketball tournament held in Anchorage, Alaska from 1978 to 2017 that featured NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, and NAIA programs. The tournament attracted programs and figures associated with NCAA Division I men's basketball, Basketball Hall of Fame, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, March Madness and national television partners such as ESPN. Originally organized by the University of Alaska Anchorage and local civic leaders, the event became a signature early-season competition alongside tournaments like the Maui Invitational Tournament and the Preseason NIT.

History

The tournament was founded in 1978 by Bob Raper and Wesley "Wes" Jones with backing from the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, modeled after mainland classics such as the Dick's Sporting Goods Open and the Great Alaska Shootout Invitational predecessors in regional play. Early editions featured programs from the Pacific-10 Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big Eight Conference, Missouri Valley Conference, and West Coast Conference, drawing coaches like John Wooden, Dean Smith, Bob Knight, Jim Boeheim, and Lute Olson to Anchorage. Over decades the tournament navigated shifts in collegiate athletics including NCAA Division I men's basketball realignment, television contract changes with CBS Sports and ESPN, and logistical challenges posed by Alaska's remoteness and the growth of preseason tournaments such as the Battle 4 Atlantis and AdvoCare Invitational. Financial pressures, changing scheduling priorities among programs like Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels, and UCLA Bruins, and declining attendance led to the event's final edition in 2017.

Format and Competition

Traditionally held over Thanksgiving week at venues including the Sullivan Arena and later the Alaska Airlines Center, the Shootout employed eight-team brackets for men and separate women's fields, with consolation rounds similar to the NIT structure and formats used by the Maui Invitational Tournament. Participants ranged from high-major programs in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Southeastern Conference, and Big 12 Conference to mid-majors from the Mid-American Conference, Missouri Valley Conference, and Big Sky Conference. The tournament often provided opportunities for emerging programs like Gonzaga Bulldogs, Boise State Broncos, and Saint Mary's Gaels to face established teams such as Indiana Hoosiers, Kansas Jayhawks, and Kentucky Wildcats early in the season, helping shape AP Poll and Coaches Poll narratives. All-tournament honors mirrored postseason awards like the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player recognition, and the event served as a testing ground for experimental rules and officiating practices under guidance from officials associated with the National Federation of State High School Associations and collegiate officiating mechanics.

Notable Participants and Moments

The Shootout featured legendary players including Larry Bird-era opponents, appearances by future NBA stars such as Karl Malone, Paul Pierce, Damien Lillard, John Stockton and coaches like Rick Pitino, Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, and Tom Izzo. Memorable games included upsets reminiscent of Cinderella runs and dramatic finishes comparable to classic contests in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, producing highlight plays that circulated on SportsCenter and sports magazines like Sports Illustrated. NBA scouts from franchises such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and San Antonio Spurs regularly attended, leading to draft selections and professional careers traced through the NBA draft and franchise histories. Individual performances that echoed records kept by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and historical leaderboards included double-doubles, triple-doubles, and buzzer-beaters that anchored team seasons and coaching legacies.

Venue and Organization

Anchorage venues—initially Sullivan Arena and later the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus—hosted the Shootout with local partners like the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Visit Anchorage, and municipal authorities of the Municipality of Anchorage. Event organization involved athletic directors from participating schools, scheduling coordinators from conferences such as the Pac-12 Conference and Mountain West Conference, and compliance officers ensuring adherence to NCAA regulations. Local sponsors included regional branches of corporations similar to Alaska Airlines, energy companies, and civic institutions; volunteer coordinators worked alongside ticketing partners and security resources from the Anchorage Police Department and venue management teams. The tournament's logistics—travel planning involving airlines, hotel accommodations, and practice scheduling—mirrored operations of major events like the Final Four and other preseason tournaments.

Media Coverage and Broadcasts

Broadcast partners over the years included national and regional networks such as ESPN, CBS Sports Network, and local stations affiliated with ABC, NBC, and FOX Sports Net. Production crews incorporated commentators and analysts who worked on major broadcasts for College GameDay, NBA on ESPN, and tournament coverage used by outlets like The New York Times, Associated Press, and USA Today. Highlight segments from the Shootout aired on programs including SportsCenter and were chronicled in print by publications like Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News, while radio coverage featured networks akin to Westwood One Sports and local affiliates. Changes in media rights, digital streaming trends led by platforms similar to ESPN+ and social media strategies involving Twitter and YouTube affected exposure and sponsorship revenue.

Legacy and Impact

The Shootout's legacy includes its role in popularizing early-season college tournaments, influencing scheduling practices of programs in conferences such as the Big Sky Conference, West Coast Conference, and West Coast Conference member schools, and providing a platform for future NBA talent and coaching milestones. Alumni and participating institutions include a cross-section of college basketball history—programs like UCLA Bruins, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Indiana Hoosiers, Kentucky Wildcats, North Carolina Tar Heels, and Duke Blue Devils—with many coaches and players later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The tournament also left a cultural imprint on Anchorage, Alaska through tourism, local business engagement, and community sports development tied to the University of Alaska Anchorage athletics programs and regional sports initiatives. While the event concluded in 2017, its influence persists in the architecture of early-season competition and institutional memory across collegiate basketball.

Category:College basketball tournaments in the United States Category:Sports in Anchorage, Alaska