ANCHORAGE ? Athletic director Dr. Steve Cobb announced Tuesday that the University of Alaska Anchorage Athletic Department has signed a scheduling agreement with the Western Athletic Conference for the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout.
Under the five-year deal, the WAC will send one men’s team per year to the prestigious college basketball tournament, starting with the 31st annual Shootout in 2008.
“This is a great opportunity for the WAC and its basketball programs,” said WAC commissioner Karl Benson. “This tournament has a national tradition that attracts top-caliber teams that we are excited to be a part of. We also appreciate the national attention that is delivered by the exposure from ESPN.”
“We’re thrilled to join with the WAC to provide exposure for their league, while also ensuring a quality team every year for the Shootout,” Dr. Cobb said. “With the recent explosion in the number of ?exempted’ tournaments, these kinds of scheduling agreements will become much more common.”
The 2008 Shootout will be played Nov. 26-29 at Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena.