Tip-Off Tickets going on sale
Hoops-lovers can secure their tickets for an annual college basketball tournament that calls Fort Myers home starting this Thursday.
Tickets for the 2026 Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off go on sale this Thursday at 11 a.m., and can be secured online.
Organizers state fans can receive exclusive access to a 24-hour presale, taking place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, by registering ahead of the full public sale on Thursday.
The ninth-annual event hits the court of Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College Nov. 23-26.
This year’s Beach Division field will include Purdue, Oklahoma, DePaul and Pitt, while the Palms Division field will feature six teams for the first time, including Charlotte, Davidson, Florida Gulf Coast, Georgia State, Northern Iowa and Tulane.
Tickets for the 2026 Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off go on sale simultaneously.
The fifth-annual event will be held Nov. 27-28 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College. This year’s Island Division field will include LSU, NC State, Kansas State and Villanova, while the Shell Division will include Indiana, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State and TCU.
For tickets and more information, visit fortmyerstipoff.com/tickets, or womensfortmyerstipoff.com/tickets.
Suncoast Credit Union Arena is at 13351 FSW Parkway.
Local team gears up for season, tournament
Participating in the Fort Myers Tip-Off, Florida Gulf Coast’s men’s basketball team took the floor with plenty of excitement for the program’s first official team practice of the season this Monday.
FGCU won its final six home games of last season and advanced to the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) Tournament. Momentum has certainly carried over throughout the offseason and into the new campaign.
“This is the biggest team I’ve ever had, and that’s including my Big 10 teams,” said FGCU head coach Pat Chambers in a statement. “Biggest team I’ve ever had. Really athletic, got great speed. More shooters than I’ve ever had, including my 2020 team at Penn State. More shooters. We’ve got shooting everywhere, which I’m really excited about … I think you’re just going to see some shoot, maybe a little bit like Karl Smesko, maybe shooting Raining 3s like the women’s side.”
The team that calls Alico Arena home brings larger size and an altered style of play that will bring new looks to the Eagles.
“The style of play, it’s somewhat new this year,” explained Chambers. “A little bit more hunting threes, a little bit more back cutting, a little bit more offensive rebounding on the offensive side, defensive side, a little bit more guard your yard, you know, a little bit more one-on-one.
“That’s what the fans can look forward to, and I think they’re really going to like it. And again, we have athleticism. I’m not going to say Dunk City all the way, but close, very close. So, Raining 3s on one side, maybe Dunk City as well. Who knows?”
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com