By: Meghan Carroll
As summer 2020 approached, Florida TNT was preparing one of TBT’s most stacked rosters ever. When COVID spoiled plans for a full tournament and made it a bubble layout, there were only 24 spots to fill. Unfortunately, that meant Florida TNT would not make the cut, leaving the team heartbroken.
“We were extremely disappointed last year because we had been practicing, we had been preparing and our guys felt like we had a legitimate chance to win it,” said head coach Iren Rainey. “I think this year guys are a little more hungry, I think guys are a little more purposeful and intentional about what we’re trying to get accomplished.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Best Team <a href="https://t.co/EmqQT6yl4v">pic.twitter.com/EmqQT6yl4v</a></p>— FLORIDA TNT / TEAM LOYALTY (@FloridaTnt) <a href="https://twitter.com/FloridaTnt/status/1283077416727072775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>After missing the cut for the TBT 2020 bubble, Florida TNT is coming back this summer with winning on their minds. They ended up losing three players from last year’s roster, but were able to bounce back and retain much of the core. This year they are coming in with powerful players who’ve had NBA stints and won championships in some of Europe’s most competitive leagues.
Filled with talent from Central Florida, this team held on and kept their eyes on coming back for the summer of 2021.
“At that time, everyone that was going to be playing with us was saying that they wanted to come back,” said GM Terry Hughes.
The last time TBT saw Florida TNT, they won a tough first round matchup against the Primetime Players on a Chris Warren tie-game Elam Ending tree. Coming off a clenched win, they lost in the second round to Team Hines, 91-82.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aA8uEs450n0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>This year they have purchased one of TBT’s four buy-in slots and will be playing in Wichita come July. As to why that location was key for Florida TNT, GM Terry Hughes says it means less distractions and nightlife so the team can focus on their goal this year.
“You have all grown young men and even though you want to keep control of where they go and what they do and who they see,” said Hughes, “that’s still a difficult task.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We’re BAAACCKK!!! Time to Grind.<a href="https://twitter.com/thetournament?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thetournament</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MOAM89?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MOAM89</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ODbounce11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ODbounce11</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Cut__Raw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cut__Raw</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TristanUCF1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TristanUCF1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Im_Keithclanton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Im_Keithclanton</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/blakeney96?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@blakeney96</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/iRob_G?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iRob_G</a></p>— FLORIDA TNT / TEAM LOYALTY (@FloridaTnt) <a href="https://twitter.com/FloridaTnt/status/1391006721016049664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>As players start returning from their seasons overseas, Florida TNT is gearing up for a comeback. They want to make sure they stay in constant communication and social media has been a huge help with everyone spread across the world.
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell will be returning to the roster after spending time on the Denver Nuggets and preseason time with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Funniest thing I hear during games. Opponents yelling ‼️STOP THE BALL‼️ when Devaughn Akoon-Purcell <a href="https://twitter.com/dap_44?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dap_44</a> is in transition 🤣🤣<a href="https://twitter.com/FloridaTnt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FloridaTnt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/thetournament?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thetournament</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/zoomthetbt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zoomthetbt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/InsideTbt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@InsideTbt</a> <a href="https://t.co/xbZfwHYJKc">pic.twitter.com/xbZfwHYJKc</a></p>— FLORIDA TNT / TEAM LOYALTY (@FloridaTnt) <a href="https://twitter.com/FloridaTnt/status/1393135398516412417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Houston alum Rob Gray is another returning player who is finishing up his season with AS Monaco, who won the 2020-21 EuroCup. Chris Warren, an Ole Miss product, is also finishing up his season overseas where he is a powerhouse point guard in France. His team, Nanterre 92, won the French Cup and FIBA Europe Cup in 2017. With both Warren and Gray, Florida TNT could have a deadly point guard tandem.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ELAM ENDER. GameWinning Shot. Call it what you want, He called ‼️GAME‼️ <a href="https://twitter.com/iRob_G?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iRob_G</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/thetournament?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thetournament</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/zoomthetbt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zoomthetbt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/InsideTbt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@InsideTbt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FloridaTnt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FloridaTnt</a> <a href="https://t.co/2wjzB0F0Fh">pic.twitter.com/2wjzB0F0Fh</a></p>— FLORIDA TNT / TEAM LOYALTY (@FloridaTnt) <a href="https://twitter.com/FloridaTnt/status/1393670142886830081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Since this team has high-caliber professionals, Hughes said the team dynamic was a big factor in the players they have.
“We wanted to make sure that we had guys that were going to be good character guys, good fit guys, and not more of the ‘me me me’ basketball players,” said Hughes. “We’re trying to develop a ‘we’ concept.”
With TBT 2021 creeping up in the next couple months, Florida TNT has a weight lifted off their shoulders knowing they are in and where they are playing. After what happened last year, they are ready to return to the tournament and show what was missed out on in 2020
“I think guys are a lot more grateful this year because they remember what happened to us last year, so I think everyone is playing for a bigger purpose,” Rainey said.