The Cougars, a 22-win NIT team last season, will likely be challenged by Vermont, Hofstra, and Kent State in Fort Myers.
To catch up on all of the posts in this series visit the 2016-17 Early Season Events hub.
What Is It?
How Long Has This Event Been Around?
BD Global Sports started the Gulf Coast Showcase as a mid-major-focused event in 2013, so this will be its fourth season. Legacy of Little Guys' Ray Curren, formerly of the Mid-Majority, wrote a piece exploring its origins that I highly recommend.