The tournament changed its format to have winners advance rather than facing set opponents, which led to the scheduled game vs. Notre Dame being taken off the schedule and each team's third game determined by results.

A star-studded affair will tip-off tonight when Alabama faces Rutgers in another early college basketball tournament matchup.

The Alabama Crimson Tide and Rutgers Scarlet Knights will compete in the Players Era Tournament's winner's bracket. Each of these teams notched hard-fought wins last night, and my Rutgers vs. Alabama predictions expect a slow start offensively — particularly from the Tide.