Interim Chancellor Samuel Gingerich announced on Aug. 24 that the annual GCI Great Alaska Shootout will take place for the last time in 2017, due to a limited state and University budget. The financial circumstances the University is enduring, as well as the tournament’s loss of $477,000 during the 2016 campaign, required the cancellation of the tournament. During its 40 years, the GCI Great Alaska Shootout drew national attention to the state of Alaska, receiving coverage from ESPN between 1985-2008. The University of Alaska-Anchorage announced Thursday that this year’s Great Alaska Shootout, the 40th edition of the granddaddy of all early season tournaments, will be the last one. The men's tournament begins Nov. 22 with Cal Poly, Central Michigan, College of Charleston, CSU Bakersfield, Idaho, Sam Houston State, Santa Clara and host Alaska-Anchorage.
The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) announces that the 2017 Great Alaska Shootout, a national college basketball tournament, will be the final competition of the 40-year-old series. UAA blames economic conditions for the termination of the long running, national competition.