The Drake University men's basketball team is one of eight teams that will compete in the 2021 ESPN Events Invitational Nov. 25, 26 and 28 in Orlando, Fla., event organizers announced Thursday, May 20.
 
The Bulldogs are joined by Alabama, Belmont, Dayton, Iona, Kansas, Miami (Fla.) and North Texas in the field set for the HP Field House at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. All games at the ESPN Events Invitational will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.
 
Drake is one of five teams in the field that earned a spot in the 2021 NCAA Tournament along with Alabama, Iona, Kansas and North Texas. The schedule and bracket will be announced at a later date.  
The Bulldogs are coming off a 26-5 season and earned their first NCAA Tournament berth in 13 years and first-ever at-large selection. The team returns a roster what includes a total of seven All-MVC award winners led by two-time MVC Coach of the Year Darian DeVries, who will be entering his fourth season at the helm of the program. 
 
The event, with a new name this season, is in its 14^th year, and was formerly known as the Orlando Invitational in 2019-20. 
 
Additional information, including travel packages, can be found on the ESPN Events Invitational web site.