FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jake Pavorsky
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The Basketball Tournament (TBT) Releases Bracket for $1 Million, Winner-Take-All Event
Eight Teams Will Advance to Championship Week in Dayton July 31-August 3
Aaron Craft, Robbie Hummel Highlight Field of 64 Competing for $1M Prize on ESPN
BOSTON, June 21, 2021 – The Basketball Tournament (TBT) – the $1 million, summer basketball event broadcast live on ESPN networks – today announced the bracket for this year’s tournament.
In its eighth year, TBT 2021 will feature 69 players with NBA experience, 28 college alumni teams and international professionals playing in top leagues across the world.
Sixty-four teams will be split into four Regionals to be played over two weekends in July. Two teams from each Regional will advance to Championship Week in Dayton, July 31 – Aug. 3, where the event will culminate with a winner-take-all game for $1 million.
“With over 110 teams applying this year, we’re grateful to be returning to a 64-team tournament,” said TBT founder and CEO Jon Mugar. “This year’s field is as diverse as ever, featuring everything from 28 alumni teams, to a team representing the Armenian A-League champions, to several charity-driven entrants. And the stakes will be as high as ever, as every team thinks it will be the one to walk away with a million dollars.”
The full TBT 2021 schedule includes:
Regional Host Cities
- Wichita, Kan. – headlined by AfterShocks (Wichita State) – July 16-20
- Charleston, W.Va. – headlined by Best Virginia (West Virginia) and Herd That (Marshall) – July 17-21
- Columbus, Ohio – headlined by Carmen’s Crew (Ohio State) and Red Scare (Dayton) – July 23-27
- Peoria, Ill. – headlined by House of ‘Paign (Illinois) and Always a Brave (Bradley) – July 24-28
Championship Weekend in Dayton
- Quarterfinals – Saturday, July 31
- Semifinals – Sunday, Aug. 1
- $1 Million, Winner-Take-All Championship – Tuesday, Aug. 3
Highlights of this year’s tournament include:
- Golden Eagles Return – Golden Eagles (Marquette alumni), the 2020 TBT defending champions, return this summer to defend their crown. Former Lakers guard Vander Blue joins a well-established core of former Marquette players that includes Jamil Wilson, Dwight Buycks, and 39-year-old Travis Diener.
- Aaron Craft’s Final TBT – After retiring from professional basketball in 2020 to begin medical school, Aaron Craft returns to Carmen’s Crew (Ohio State alumni) looking to win one more TBT title before finally hanging up his sneakers. Craft will be joined by Jon Diebler, David Lighty, 2019 TBT MVP William Buford, as well big man Kaleb Wesson, who will be making his TBT with Carmen’s Crew this year.
- Boeheim’s Army Reloads – Boeheim’s Army added three former first-round picks to this year’s roster. Syracuse alums Malachi Richardson, Tyler Lydon, and Chris McCullough will all join forces together for the first time this summer alongside Eric Devendorf and others. Former Boston College guard Tyrese Rice and two-time Horizon League Player of the Year Keifer Sykes join Boeheim’s Army as grad transfers.
- Best Virginia & Herd That Battle in WV – After missing last year’s TBT due to COVID, Best Virginia (West Virginia alumni) is back with a vengeance as they play host to this year’s West Virginia regional. Their roster includes John Flowers and Kevin Jones from West Virginia’s 2008 Final Four team, as well as elite shot-blocking big man Sagaba Konate. Looking to stop them in their tracks is in-state rival Herd That (Marshall alumni), starring Jon Elmore and JaCorey Williams, who helped lead the team to TBT’s quarterfinals last summer.
- Which Teams Will Survive Columbus? – This year’s Columbus Regional may be one of the toughest in TBT history. Featuring 10 college alumni teams, Carmen’s Crew and Red Scare (Dayton alumni) aren’t the only teams with serious talent. Zip ‘Em Up, a Xavier alumni team, features former NBA players J.P. Macura, Trevon Bluiett, and Semaj Christon. Men of Mackey (Purdue alumni) is a fever dream for Purdue fans, as legendary Boilermaker and former NBA player Robbie Hummel joins a roster featuring A.J. Hammons and Isaac Haas. Ballinteers, a Tennessee alumni team, reunites former teammates Chris Lofton, Wayne Chism, and Tyler Smith. Other notable teams include Wolf Blood, an NC State alumni team, and Blue Collar U, a Buffalo alumni team composed of the core pieces of the 2018 NCAA tournament team that upset Arizona.
Free Throws…
- TBT will continue to use the Elam Ending. First implemented during TBT’s play-in round in 2017, the Elam Ending has spread to the NBA, who has utilized its format for the NBA All-Star Game for the past two years. Superstars like Chris Paul, LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have all praised the use of the Elam Ending for its ability to intensify the end of games. In the Elam Ending, a Target Score is set by adding eight points (8) to the leading team’s score. The first team to reach the Target Score wins.
- Former Wichita State star and one time New York Knicks guard Ron Baker will serve as the general manager for the AfterShocks (Wichita State alumni) in their second TBT appearance.
- Undefeated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather has re-entered The Money Team in this year’s TBT after a first-round exit last summer. Their roster is headlined by former San Antonio Spurs forward Jonathon Simmons.
- College basketball Hall of Fame coach Homer Drew will once again serve as the general manager for Team HEARTFIRE, which includes several former Baylor players.
- TBT will continue to monitor all participants for COVID-19 this summer, including testing protocols and mask wearing for non-vaccinated personnel.
Tickets for all TBT game days and events are on sale now at www.thetournament.com. For more information, please contact info@thetournament.com.
About The Basketball Tournament
The original home of the Elam Ending, The Basketball Tournament has grown from a unique idea among friends to one of the most exciting and engaging events on the summer sports calendar, with national exposure on ESPN, social media buzz and regional championships across the country – culminating in a winner-take-all $1 million game. Every year it attracts some of the best players in the world. In 2020, TBT was the first indoor sports event to return to action during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on TBT’s eighth season, visit www.thetournament.com
Red Scare’s Seeding And First Round Game in TBT Revealed
Red Scare to Face BC Vahakni City in Columbus on July 24
DAYTON – The Basketball Tournament (TBT) – the $1 million, winner-take-all summer basketball event broadcast live on ESPN networks – today revealed Red Scare’s seed and first-round matchup for TBT 2021. The Dayton alumni team received the second seed in the Columbus Regional, which will be held from July 23-27 at the Covelli Center on the campus of Ohio State University. Their first round matchup will be against #15 seed BC Vahakni City, champions of the Armenian professional basketball league who secured their spot in Columbus via buy-in, on Saturday, July 24 at 3 pm ET. If Red Scare advances past BC Vahakni City, they’ll face the winner of #7 seed Wolf Blood (NC State alumni) and #10 seed Category 5 (Miami alumni) on Sunday, July 25, at 2 pm ET. The winner of that game will play their third and final game of the Columbus Regional Tuesday, July 27, at 7 pm ET. Eight quarterfinalists across TBT’s four regionals will advance to Championship Weekend at University of Dayton Arena beginning on July 31, culminating with a million-dollar, winner-take-all championship game August 3. Click here for ticket information. In addition, the UD bookstore will be selling TBT Red Scare team merchandise. Pre-orders will be taken starting today and continuing leading up to the TBT. Orders will be shipped (or available for pick up the week of July 19th before the Red Scare competes in the Columbus regional. To place and order, click here. TBT 2021 will be Red Scare’s third year competing in the event. Red Scare is coming off their furthest run ever, advancing all the way to TBT’s semifinals in 2020 before losing to eventual champion Golden Eagles. The team is organized by former walk-ons Joey Gruden and Jeremiah Bonsu. Red Scare’s current roster includes:
● Brandon Spearman (2010-11) ● Devin Oliver (2010-14) ● Devon Scott (2012-15) ● Jordan Sibert (2013-15) ● Kyle Davis (2013-17) ● Kendall Pollard (2013-17) ● Darrell Davis (2014-18) ● Ryan Mikesell (2015-20) ● Trey Landers (2016-20) ● Trevor Thompsonn (Ohio State)
Tickets for all four TBT’s regionals, as well as Championship Weekend at UD Arena, are currently on sale at TheTournament.com
