By: Josh Goldfine
Sunday, August 1st
Illinois vs. Wichita
3 Boeheim’s Army vs. 5 Florida TNT, 12p EDT, ESPN
The winner of this matchup will make its first appearance in the TBT championship game.
Boeheim’s Army is coming off a thrilling comeback win over the defending champion Golden Eagles in the Round of 8. The Syracuse University alumni squad, playing in its seventh TBT, went outside the Orange family this summer by bringing in players with both experience (Tyrese Rice) and championships (D.J. Kennedy and DeAndre Kane) in this tournament.
Rice’s running layup was the Elam Ender in the quarterfinal win over the Golden Eagles, and both Kennedy and Kane have played the trademark stingy defense that helped to propel Overseas Elite to four straight TBT titles. Rice and Chris McCullough lead the team in scoring at 13.5 points per game. Kennedy, while not taking on as much of the scoring load as he did during his Overseas Elite championship days, is pulling down a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game. Boeheim’s Army cleans up on the offensive boards, averaging 13 offensive rebounds per game, best among remaining teams.
Florida TNT wasn’t a trendy pick to win the Wichita Regional, but that didn’t stop this gritty group from the Sunshine State from running all over the AfterShocks in the Round of 8.
This is as physical, tough and balanced a team as any in the field, and they made it show against the Wichita State alumni squad, jumping out to a 13-2 start and coasting to a 29-point rout. Kenny Boynton leads the way at 17.3 points per game, while TBT scoring machine Chris Warren (16.0 ppg) and former NBA champion Dominique Jones (15.5 ppg) are also averaging in double figures.
West Virginia vs. Columbus
6 Team 23 vs. 6 Blue Collar U, 2:30p EDT, ESPN
This is a matchup of a veteran squad against an alumni team looking to advance to the title game in its first year in the tournament.
Team 23 brings one of the deepest rosters in the field. Coming off upset wins over both Herd That and Best Virginia in front of their respective home fans in Charleston, WV and an upset of top-seeded Sideline Cancer in the Round of 8, Team 23 now sets its sights on its first title game since 2015.
Three different players have led Team 23 in scoring this summer, and this is a squad that can beat its opponents in many different ways. Raphiael Putney leads the way in scoring (12.8 ppg) and (rebounding 5.5 rpg). Marcus Hall, who took Team Colorado to the 2016 title game and torched Best Virginia in the Round of 16, put home the Elam Ender in the Round of 8 and can score in bunches. Walt Lemon, Jr. can push the pace, leads the team in assists and is a scoring threat as well.
Despite being a first-time TBT participant, Blue Collar U has proven that it knows how to play in this format. In the Round of 8, the University of Buffalo alumni squad survived an Elam Ending onslaught from the Money Team to advance, even without Wes Clark, who already has a pair of Elam Enders.
Nick Perkins’ tip-in downed The Money Team, and the 6-foot-8 post presence has done it all this summer. Perkins is averaging 13.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. C.J. Massinburg is averaging 12.5 points per game.