By: Josh Goldfine
Saturday, July 24
3 Boeheim’s Army vs. 14 Forces of Seoul, 12p EDT / 11a CDT, ESPN
Boeheim’s Army added former TBT champions D.J. Kennedy and DeAndre Kane to what was already a loaded roster, and the mostly Syracuse alumni squad may be the favorite in the Illinois Region. Kennedy can score from anywhere, and Kane is among the most tenacious defenders in TBT history. Chris McCullough, Tyler Lydon and TBT veteran Eric Devendorf make this team one of the toughest in the entire field. Vernon Macklin and the versatile Kevin Galloway give Forces of Seoul a chance to pull off the upset in the team’s TBT debut.
2 House of ‘Paign vs. 15 Jackson TN Underdawgs, 2p EDT / 1p CDT, ESPN
House of ‘Paign burst onto the scene last summer in the Illinois alumni team’s TBT debut. Andres Feliz is as tenacious a guard as TBT has ever seen, and Mike Daum was among TBT’s most dominant players last summer, finishing sixth in scoring and fifth in rebounds. The Jackson TN Underdawgs have been a TBT mainstay over the past few summers. Anthony Sampson, Antwan Long, Jewuan Long and Tarius Johnson form a solid core that could pull off another upset.
6 The Overlooked vs. 11 Team Heartfire, 5p EDT / 3p CDT, ESPN3
Team Heartfire is back after an early exit last summer. Core Jefferson and King McLure headline the roster. The Overlooked, a Murray State alumni squad, makes its TBT debut. Isaiah Canaan, Shaq Buchanan and Ivan Aska all had great success while in college and will need to replicate that level of play to advance.
7 Always A Brave vs. 10 Chicago Hoopville Warriors, 7p EDT / 6p CDT, ESPN3
Two veteran midwestern TBT squads will battle it out in this one. Always A Brave returns after a two-year hiatus from TBT. Marcellus Sommerville and Patrick O’Bryant are a strong veteran presence, while Darrell Brown and Nate Kennell represent Bradley’s younger core. The Hoopville Warriors are a TBT mainstay who always bring great energy and a team-first mentality.
Sunday, July 25
5 Autism Army vs. 12 SCD Hoops, 1p EDT / 12p CDT, ESPN3
Two teams playing for causes important to them will make their TBT debuts. Autism Army will be competing on behalf of the Life’s WORC organization, which provides care and support for those with developmental disabilities. Delroy James and D’Angelo Harrison headline the roster. SCD Hoops is playing to raise awareness for sickle cell disease. Former DePaul star Billy Garrett, the only known player with sickle cell disease to play in the NBA, will be counted on to provide the scoring load.
4 Always Us vs. 13 Peoria All-Stars, 3p EDT / 2p CDT, ESPN3
Always Us, an Oregon alumni squad, makes its TBT debut. Tajuan Porter, Jonathan Lloyd and MiKyle McIntosh headline the roster. The Peoria All-Stars know how to play in TBT, appearing in the tournament for the fifth straight summer. Zach Andrews is a top talent and will be supplemented by former Division III standouts Montel James and Nick Richards.
1 Golden Eagles vs. 16 B1 Ballers, 6p EDT / 5p CDT, ESPN3
The Golden Eagles finally collected TBT’s prize after several years of knocking on the door.The Marquette alumni squad, which is 19-4 all-time in TBT, comes with another loaded roster. Scorers Dwight Buycks and Jamil Wilson will once again be supplemented by the versatile Elgin Cook. Sharp-shooting Travis Diener, who has made a habit of hitting Elam Enders during his TBT career, may once again be available as the tournament continues. Former New Mexico standout Corey Manigault headlines the roster for the B1 Ballers, who are making their TBT debut.
8 Team Brotherly Love vs. 9 Playing for Jimmy V, 8p EDT / 7p CDT, ESPN3
Team Brotherly Love returns for its third summer in TBT. This gritty group of Philadelphia-area natives is always a tough out. Frantz Massenat and Novar Gadson have carried the load in past years and will be counted on once again. Playing for Jimmy V is back in the TBT field after missing last year’s tournament. Planning to donate a portion of its winnings to the V Foundation for cancer research, the squad will count on Corey Sanders and Josh Perkins.
