Remains to be seen whether Rick Pitino will be elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame this year.

But his University of Louisville basketball team will be among eight teams participating in the pre-season Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at Uncasville, Conn. next season.

Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino

The field will also include North Carolina, Richmond, Fairfield, Belmont, Hofstra, Holy Cross and Hartford.

Louisville will face Hofstra on Nov. 12 and Hartford on Nov. 19 in the first two rounds, with both games in the KFC Yum! Center. The Cardinals will play Fairfield at Uncasville on Nov. 23, and either Richmond or North Carolina in the consolation or championship round on Nov. 24.

Pitino is among 12 finalists for the Naismith Hall of Fame. He is the only coach to lead three schools to the NCAA Final Four, including the Cardinals in 2005 and 2012. He is 651-239 in 28 seasons. He also guided Kentucky to three Final Four appearances from 1989-97, winning the championship in 1996. He led Providence to the 1987 Final Four.

Louisville has reached 20 wins for the 11th straight year under Pitino, whose 21 20-win seasons are sixth among active coaches.

The 2013 class will be announced April 8.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

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