Eight teams with March pedigrees and aspirations can kickstart their 2022-23 seasons in Estero, Florida, at the Men's Gulf Coast Showcase. 

The 2022 edition of the holiday-season tournament includes Toledo and Northern Kentucky teams projected to vie for their respective conference championships this season. But the other six teams are not to be overlooked. 

It's a group that includes Indiana State, a dark-horse contender in the always-tough Missouri Valley; Drexel, an NCAA Tournament team in the 2020-21 season; Florida Gulf Coast, always a threat to make noise on the national scene; and more. 

Check out the complete bracket here, and learn more about the eight squads jockeying to make a splash before Thanksgiving. 

DREXEL 

2021-22 Record: 15-14 

Consistently one of the most physical and defensively stingy teams in the Colonial Athletic Association, Drexel should again reflect the hard-nosed mindset typical of Zach Spiker-coached teams. 

The Dragons banged their way into a 2021 NCAA Tournament appearance, and look to return to March Madness in 2023 with a mix of quality veterans and intriguing newcomers. Big man Amari Williams is a potential breakout star in the coming season, while fifth-year senior guard Coletrane Washington figures to fill the scoring void left in the perimeter with Camren Wynter's graduation. 

EAST CAROLINA 

2021-22 Record: 15-15 

First-year Pirates head coach Michael Schwartz arrives ashore in Greenville having been a top assistant of Rick Barnes at Tennessee. Schwartz's defensive pedigree should be a boost to East Carolina as it looks to make headway in a tough American Athletic Conference. 

East Carolina's roster is among the nation's youngest, losing three players who scored in double-figures per game a season ago and its top six scorers overall. RJ Felton showed a high ceiling in his freshman campaign, however, and JUCO transfer big man Ludgy Debaut should make strides with more minutes in 2022-23. 

FGCU 

2021-22 Record: 22-12

This season marks the 10-year anniversary since FGCU made history with its Sweet 16 run. The first-ever 15-seed to advance to the NCAA Tournament's second weekend earned the moniker Dunk City for its high-flying brand of basketball. Since then-coach Andy Enfield left for USC, the Eagles' style has been constantly evolving; a season ago, FGCU employed an approach reminiscent of Dunk City with a torrid 77.7-point per game pace. 

Pat Chambers' arrival promises more changes to FGCU's style, but the Eagles should remain factors in the ASUN race. The former Penn State head coach inherits a roster losing one of the nation's top scorers a season ago, Tavian Dunn-Martin, but senior guard Cyrus Largie seems primed to pick up the slack after a near-52-percent shooting campaign last year. Fellow backcourt veterans Caleb Catto and Austin Richie can shoot the 3-pointer, giving this FGCU a likely identity built more around the perimeter than at the rim like the Dunk City era. 

INDIANA STATE 

2021-22 Record: 11-20 

Wildly successful Div. II coach Josh Schertz endured some hard knocks in his first season at the Div. I level, going 11-20 his debut campaign at Indiana State. The difficulties of a season ago set the foundation for a potential breakout 2022-23 out of the Sycamores in Year 2, however, as ISU returns an experienced lineup capable of implementing Schertz's high-tempo offense. 

Sometimes you catch great moments at scrimmages. I loved these shots. @CooperNeese makes a halfcourt three much to the joy of Cam Henry. Later Jayson Kent drilled a deep three of his own and made sure Kaliex Stephens enjoyed it as well @IndStBasketball pic.twitter.com/vcAWYesmil

— Marty Ledbetter (@MartySports10) October 28, 2022

Last season's leading scorers — Cooper Neese and Cameron Henry — return after posting almost 30 combined points per game. Xavier Bledson and Kailex Stephens both posted just shy of 10 points per game, as well. Though the Sycamores were picked seventh in the preseason MVC poll, this is a team with the makeup of a dark-horse contender. A strong showing at the Gulf Coast Showcase could be just the ingredient to send Indiana State on its way to a breakout season in one of the country's premier leagues. 

KANSAS CITY 

2021-22 Record: 19-12 

The Roos made considerable strides as Summit League members a season ago, posting one of the best overall marks in program history. Kansas City aims to build off last season's success behind a new coaching staff and some fresh faces in the lineup. 

First-year coach Marvin Menzies flourished at New Mexico State with five NCAA Tournament appearances in six years. He arrives at Kansas City with a number of intriguing transfers en tow, including Babacar Diallo; a JUCO product who spent the 2020-21 season at last year's Cinderella star Saint Peter's. The Roos also welcome 6-foot-9 Jeff Ngandu, a former commit to Seton Hall. 

Coupled with returning wing Anderson Kopp, Kansas City isn't a complete unknown in Menzies' first year. 

NORTHERN KENTUCKY 

2021-22 Record: 20-12 

Northern Kentucky's immediate acclimation to Div. I competition has been among the more fascinating developments in recent years. The Norse came one point away from returning to the Big Dance in 2022, losing the Horizon League Championship to Wright State, 72-71. With the backcourt tandem of Trevon Faulkner and Marques Warrick, the Norse boast a dynamic scoring punch capable of getting NKU into the Dance this season. 

Year 3️⃣ for No. 3️⃣ @marques_warrick

Marques’ Sophomore Season Stats:

1️⃣7️⃣.3️⃣ Points
2️⃣0️⃣ Games with Multiple made 3’s
1️⃣3️⃣ Games with 20+ points
2️⃣nd Team All-Horizon League
2️⃣x Horizon League Player of the Week#NorseUp pic.twitter.com/wTbJ4NTATv

— NKU Men's Basketball 🏀 (@NKUNorseMBB) July 13, 2022

And, indeed, Northern Kentucky is projected as the Horizon's co-favorite in the preseason poll, sharing the top spot with Purdue Fort Wayne. Warrick is a preseason 1st Team All-Horizon honoree, while both Faulkner and Sam Vinson earned 2nd Team recognition. All told, the Norse may be the team to beat in their portion of the Gulf Coast Showcase bracket. 

TOLEDO 

2021-22 Record: 26-8 

Last season was a resounding success for Toledo, which posted one of the best records in the nation at 26-8. However, it's impossible to think the Rockets won't come into 2022-23 with a sizable chip on their shoulders. A Mid-American Conference Tournament upset loss to Akron denied Toledo a bid to the Big Dance, but Toledo is built to run it up this year. 

JT Shumate and Setric Millner Jr. both scored 15 points per game a season ago and are All-MAC performers. They are the cornerstones along with RayJ Dennis, a versatile playmaker and outstanding ball-distributor. 

Setric Millner pic.twitter.com/eLcHMbwwMs

— Viral Hoops (@ViralHoops12) February 20, 2021

Toledo boasts the best preseason KenPom national ranking of the Gulf Coast Showcase field, checking in at No. 86. 

UT ARLINGTON

2021-22 Record: 11-18 

A change in conferences might be what UT-Arlington needs to reboot after a trying 2021-22 campaign. The Mavericks finished in the bottom-half of the Sun Belt Conference a season ago, and now move over to a top-heavy yet wide open WAC. 

Before embarking on WAC competition, UTA will be tested under second-year coach Greg Young with its trip to the Gulf Coast Showcase. The Mavericks feature a largely new-look roster in Young's second season, but that also extends to who should be the leader of the squad, Pedro Castro. Castro missed the majority of last season after sustained a back injury in December.