Men’s basketball: Hall of Fame Classic championship matchups set

Center Thomas Welsh’s is  UCLA’s only returning starter from last year’s team that made it to the Sweet 16. (Harry How/Getty Images)

UCLA finalized its 2017-18 nonconference schedule Tuesday as the Hall of Fame Classic filled out its championship round pairings. The Bruins will face Creighton in the opening game of the championship round on Nov. 20 in Kansas City, Mo., at 6:30 p.m. PT, then face either Baylor or Wisconsin on Nov. 21.

UCLA, Creighton, Baylor and Wisconsin are the host participants for the Hall of Fame Classic and will each play two games at home before advancing to the championship round in Kansas City.

Creighton (25-10 last year) shared an NCAA Regional host with UCLA, but lost to 11th-seeded Rhode Island in the first round of the tournament in Sacramento. Baylor (27-8) and Wisconsin (29-9) both lost in the Sweet 16.

With the selection committee placing greater emphasis on road wins this year, the Hall of Fame Classic’s potential matchups guarantees UCLA a valuable neutral game against an opponent that finished last year in the top 16. Wisconsin was ranked 16th in the final AP Poll while Baylor was No. 12. A neutral game against a top-50 team is included in the most valuable games for a team during selection time, according to the committee’s revised criteria. Other games in that top category include home games against top-30 teams and road games against teams in the top 75.