By: TBT Staff
Pitt alumni team Zoo Crew to host as TBT brings regional to the Petersen Events Center for first time
Best Virginia (West Virginia alumni) and Happy Valley Hoopers (Penn State alumni) to compete in Pittsburgh Regional
PITTSBURGH, February 19, 2024 – The Basketball Tournament (TBT), the 64-team, $1 million winner-take-all event, announced today that the University of Pittsburgh and Petersen Events Center will host a TBT regional for the first time in 2024. The regional will be headlined by Pitt alumni team Zoo Crew, whose roster will feature former Panthers stars Jamel Artis and Jamarius Burton.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/Pitt_MBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pitt_MBB</a> fans, we’ve got some BIG news… <br><br>TBT IS COMING TO PITTSBURGH THIS SUMMER (JULY 19-24)‼️<a href="https://twitter.com/ZooCrewTBT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZooCrewTBT</a> will play in front of their home fans at the Petersen Events Center!<br><br>Join TBT’s Ticket Waitlist: <a href="https://t.co/qFJbGhryeF">https://t.co/qFJbGhryeF</a> <a href="https://t.co/DZtSwNw1Q4">pic.twitter.com/DZtSwNw1Q4</a></p>— TBT (@thetournament) <a href="https://twitter.com/thetournament/status/1759593515263181239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Pittsburgh Regional games will be played at Petersen Events Center from July 19-24.
“We are excited to host the TBT at the Petersen Events Center this summer,” said Pitt Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. “TBT is an outstanding summer event that all basketball fans will enjoy. The competitive environment and quality of competition will be exceptional which will lead to a memorable gameday experience at the Pete.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/thetournament?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thetournament</a> coming to the PEC. <a href="https://twitter.com/ZooCrewTBT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZooCrewTBT</a> roster commits 🔜<br><br>🔗 <a href="https://t.co/zeC4jBPDed">https://t.co/zeC4jBPDed</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/H2P?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#H2P</a></p>— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pitt_MBB/status/1759606875031535848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>“TBT has been a great summer basketball event that unites and engages alumni groups and fan bases,” said head coach Jeff Capel. “The Zoo Crew has trained at the Petersen Events Center each of the past two summers in preparation for the TBT and it has been terrific for our program to have them around. We look forward to hosting the Zoo Crew and the other teams at our home venue this summer.”
“We are excited to partner with the University of Pittsburgh to bring a TBT regional to the Peterson Events Center,” said TBT founder and CEO Jon Mugar.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FIRST TWO PLAYER COMMITMENTS FOR <a href="https://twitter.com/ZooCrewTBT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZOOCREWTBT</a>: <br><br>🐆 Jamarius Burton<br>🐆 Jamel Artis<a href="https://twitter.com/Pitt_MBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pitt_MBB</a> alumni back in front of their home fans this July: <a href="https://t.co/qFJbGhryeF">https://t.co/qFJbGhryeF</a> <a href="https://t.co/l8nrOT7tuo">pic.twitter.com/l8nrOT7tuo</a></p>— TBT (@thetournament) <a href="https://twitter.com/thetournament/status/1759604544827265373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>After a several year hiatus, Zoo Crew returned to TBT last year to compete in the West Virginia Regional.
The team will be joined in the regional by seven other teams hoping to emerge one step closer to TBT’s $1M grand prize. The Pittsburgh Regional is set to include Best Virginia, the West Virginia alumni team, as well as Happy Valley Hoopers, the Penn State alumni team.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The regional moves out of West Virginia, but our guys have experience selling out Pittsburgh venues 😉<br><br>Hear more about this year's team from GM <a href="https://twitter.com/ChaseHarler4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChaseHarler4</a> and returning <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachJamesLong?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachJamesLong</a> about the team, style of play, and more, soon. <a href="https://t.co/TCwIGYLa5l">https://t.co/TCwIGYLa5l</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z3fbRQn0MK">pic.twitter.com/Z3fbRQn0MK</a></p>— Final Fourcast Podcast + Best Virginia™️ (@finalfourcast) <a href="https://twitter.com/finalfourcast/status/1759596994899705988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Artis, a member of two NCAA Tournament teams during his time at Pitt from 2013-17, spent one season with the Orlando Magic before embarking on a seven-year career in the G League and overseas. Artis currently plays in Lebanon.
Burton, who played at Pitt from 2021-23, started 58 of 64 career games for the Panthers. As a graduate student, Burton led the Panthers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in seven seasons. He currently plays in Belgium.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are Back🔵⚪️<br>We will be playing @ Pitt this summer for TBT 2024. <br>Stay Tuned for Player announcements coming soon‼️ <a href="https://t.co/5g0QHME8ZE">https://t.co/5g0QHME8ZE</a> <a href="https://t.co/JbNuU05Bnk">pic.twitter.com/JbNuU05Bnk</a></p>— Happy Valley Hoopers (@HappyValley_TBT) <a href="https://twitter.com/HappyValley_TBT/status/1759595574238871747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Pitt basketball’s director of player and alumni development Gilbert Brown will serve as the team’s general manager. Additional roster and staff announcements will be made over the coming months via Zoo Crew’s social media pages, @ZooCrewTBT.
Since TBT began in 2014, it has awarded more than $13M in prize money, and has been viewed in more than 180 countries around the world. Alumni teams have won TBT’s championship in four of the past five summers, with teams representing Ohio State, Marquette, Syracuse, and the University of Buffalo taking home the $1M prize between 2019-2022. TBT is also the home of the Elam Ending, the alternate ending to games where teams play to a target score. The Elam Ending was adopted and featured by the NBA for its All-Star Games from 2020-23, and is now being used in G League games as part of their overtime format.
Tickets for the 2024 Pittsburgh Regional will go on sale at a later date. To be the first to secure tickets for the event, fans can sign up for TBT’s waitlist at thetournament.com/tbt/tickets/.
For more information on this year’s TBT or Zoo Crew, visit TheTournament.com.