Recent champs Michigan and Florida headline fields in Players Era as its splits into 2 tournaments

TL;DR

The Players Era expands from 18 to 24 teams and splits into two tournaments, featuring recent champions Michigan and Florida. Michigan will compete in the Players Era Sixteen, while Florida is set for the Players Era Eight.

Key points

Players Era expands from 18 to 24 teams
Michigan and Florida headline the tournaments
Michigan won the national title in April
Florida could be the No. 1 team next season
The event has replaced the Maui Invitational

MichiganFloridaAlabamaBaylor

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Players Era will expand from 18 to 24 teams this year and split into two tournaments, with the two most recent national champions headlining a pair of loaded fields. Michigan, which won the national title in April, will be in the Players Era Sixteen on Thanksgiving week in Las Vegas. The Wolverines routed Gonzaga 101-61 to win last year's Players Era title. They are expected to contend again next season for the national championship even with nine newcomers on the roster. Florida, which won the national title a year ago and could be the No. 1 team heading into next season, will be in the Players Era Eight a week earlier. The Gators should have the nation's top frontcourt with the returns of Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon as well as if he opts out of the NBA draft. Florida was not in the Players last year, but opened its season in Las Vegas . The Players Era and ESPN also announced a multiyear agreement for the men's tournaments, though details weren't released. There also was a women's tournament last year, but there has been no announcement regarding another one. In the Players Era Eight, joining Florida will be Auburn, Houston, , Notre Dame, Rutgers, and . Michigan's field in the Players 16 includes , Baylor, Creighton, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas State, , , Miami, , St. John’s, , , Texas Christian and Texas Tech. The Players Era, which will be in its third year, has replaced the Maui Invitational and Battle 4 Atlantis as the premier early season event in college basketball. Tournament co-founder Seth Berger said during last year's event that participating teams receive on average in name, image and likeness money. The Big 12 Conference owns an equity stake. The top eight teams in the standings receive automatic bids into following year’s event, an agreement that goes through 2030. \\_ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up and . AP college basketball: and

Q&A

What teams are participating in the Players Era tournaments?

The Players Era tournaments will feature teams like Michigan, Florida, Alabama, Baylor, and Kansas among others.

How has the Players Era changed for this season?

This season, the Players Era has expanded from 18 to 24 teams and split into two separate tournaments.

What is the significance of the Players Era in college basketball?

The Players Era has become the premier early-season event in college basketball, replacing traditional tournaments like the Maui Invitational.

Recent champs Michigan and Florida headline fields in Players Era as its splits into 2 tournaments

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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