COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 11, 2019 – The Basketball Tournament (TBT) – the $2 million, summer basketball event broadcast live on ESPN networks – today announced the bracket for this year’s tournament.
Columbus Regional website: https://promotions.thetournament.com/tbt-2019-columbus-regional/
In its sixth year, TBT 2019 will feature more than 60 players with NBA experience, 23 college alumni teams and elite professionals playing in top leagues all over the world. More than 20 Division I college players who finished their eligibility in 2019 will also compete in this year’s tournament.
Carmen’s Crew, an Ohio State alumni team, will serve as the host of one of eight regionals and welcome seven additional teams that will compete for the chance to advance to the championship week in Chicago. The games, which will take place July 19-21, will be played at The Capital Center at Capital University, located at 2390 East Mound St. in Bexley, Ohio.
Top-seeded Carmen’s Crew, formerly known as Scarlet & Gray, returns for its third straight year and second as a host. Run by Ohio State assistant coach Scoonie Penn and Portland Trail Blazers guard Evan Turner, the roster is comprised of familiar faces like defensive juggernaut Aaron Craft, sharpshooter Jon Diebler, David Lighty, and Evan Ravenel. Carmen’s Crew also welcomes newcomers Lenzelle Smith Jr. and EuroLeague’s DeShaun Thomas. -- team website --
Also representing the Big Ten as a No. 2 seed is first-year entrant Kohl Blooded, the University of Wisconsin alumni team. Named after the Kohl Center in which the Badgers play their games, Kohl Blooded’s roster includes 2015 NCAA Tournament runner-up team members Nigel Hayes and Vitto Brown, as well as Jordan Taylor, Ryan Evans, Trevon Hughes, and recent graduate Charles Thomas. The team is managed and coached by former Badgers point guard Kammron Taylor. -- team website –
Another first-year team will also make a splash at the Columbus regional. No. 3 seed Red Scare will represent the University of Dayton as its alumni comprise the roster and the coaching staff. Red Scare features many players from their magical 2013-14 Elite Eight run, such as Devin Oliver, Vee Sanford, Dyshawn Pierre, Kendall Pollard, and Kyle Davis. The team is organized by two former walk-ons Joey Gruden, son of Redskins coach Jay Gruden, and Jeremiah Bonsu. Extra spice is added to the recipe with Dayton hall-of-famer Damon Goodwin, who is currently the head coach at Capital University, serving as the first active NCAA coach to lead a squad. They’ll be sporting a patch on their uniform to honor former teammate Steve McElvene, who passed away in 2016. -- team website --
Other teams competing at the Columbus regional:
No. 4 seed Big X continues the strong representation of the Big Ten at the Columbus regional. Coached by former Ohio State point guard Andrew Dakich and the Miami Heat’s Duncan Robinson, Big X features former Buckeyes CJ Jackson, Keyshawn Woods, and 2018 All-Big 10 second teamer Jae'Sean Tate. Michigan’s Stu Douglass will join the team, as will two-time Ivy League Player of the Year Justin Sears (Yale), who will provide strength in the front court. -- team website --
TBT History:
- 2018 Midwest Regional Second Round (Lost to PrimeTime Players)
The West Virginia Wildcats will carry the five seed in the Columbus regional and are looking to make TBT a family affair. Organized by former Marshall guard Ot Elmore, the team features his brother and NBA prospect Jon Elmore, and will be coached by their dad and former VMI star, Gay Elmore. With their tallest player standing at just 6-feet 8-inches, the Wildcats will feature Marshall’s run-and-gun style.
-- team website --
TBT History:
- 2018 Midwest Regional First Round (Lost to Ohio State Alumni)
Named after the area outside Chicago called “Region 1,” The Region is looking to put Northwest Indiana on the map this summer. Their roster is comprised of players mostly from the same area in Indiana, most notably former Michigan State and Los Angeles Clippers forward Branden Dawson. Akil Mitchell (Virginia), Jerry Smith (Louisville), and Isaiah Swann (Florida State) provide the team with extra firepower. The Wildcats will serve as the six seed and look for its first tournament win in its fourth appearance. -- team website --
TBT History:
- 2016 Midwest Regional First Round (lost to Kansas State Alumni)
- 2017 Midwest Regional First Round (lost to Ohio State Alumni)
- 2018 Midwest Regional First Round (lost to Fort Wayne Champs)
TBT is not just for the big dogs. Looking to represent the MAC, Mid-American Unity fields a roster comprised entirely by some of the best talent the Mid-American Conference has to offer. Their team will be led by University of Akron graduates Dru Joyce and Romeo Travis, both of whom played with LeBron James at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. Mid-American Unity returns to TBT after a one-year hiatus. -- team website --
TBT History:
- 2017 Midwest Regional First Round (lost to Bradley Alumni)
As a lowly 14-seed in 2018, Illinois BC dominated Royce White’s Iowa State alumni team by 29 points in round one. They return in 2019 with most of the core from last year’s team, including leading scorers Jordan Price (La Salle) and Brent Arrington (Morehead State), and add 6-foot 10-inch center Michael Finke (Grand Canyon), a 2019 First Team All-WAC pick, to the fold. Illinois BC rounds out the Columbus field as the eighth seed in the region. -- team website --
TBT History:
- 2018 Midwest Regional Second Round (lost to Fort Wayne Champs).
The schedule for the Columbus regional is as follows.
Friday, July 19
Game 1 1pm EDT (2) Kohl Blooded vs. (7) Mid-American Unity
Game 2 3pm EDT (3) Red Scare vs. (6) The Region
Game 3 5pm EDT (4) Big X vs. (5) West Virginia Wildcats
Game 4 7pm EDT (1) Carmen’s Crew vs. (8) Illinois BC
Saturday, July 20
Game 5 12pm EDT Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 6 2pm EDT Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
Sunday, July 21
Regional Championship 12pm EDT Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
Game times are subject to change. All games will be played at The Capital Center at Capital University in Bexley, Ohio. All games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.
Columbus Regional website: https://promotions.thetournament.com/tbt-2019-columbus-regional/
The full TBT 2019 schedule is as follows:
- Columbus, hosted by Carmen’s Crew (Ohio State Alumni) – July 19-21
- Greensboro, hosted by Team CP3 (Chris Paul’s team) – July 19-21
- Lexington, hosted by Bluegrass Boys (Kentucky Alumni) – July 19-21
- Memphis, hosted by Memphis State (Memphis Alumni) – July 19-21
- Salt Lake City, hosted by Team Fredette (Jimmer Fredette’s team) – July 25-27
- Wichita, hosted by AfterShocks (Wichita State Alumni) – July 25-28
- Richmond, hosted by Ram Nation (VCU Alumni) – July 26-28
- Syracuse, hosted by Boeheim’s Army (Syracuse Alumni) – July 26-28
Championship Week in Chicago at Wintrust Arena:
- Quarterfinals Day 1 – Thursday, Aug. 1, 7p EDT & 9p EDT
- Quarterfinals Day 2 – Friday, Aug. 2, 7p EDT & 9p EDT
- Semifinals – Sunday, Aug. 4, 12p EDT & 2p EDT
- $2 Million, Winner-Take-All Championship – Tuesday, Aug. 6, 9p EDT
TBT is a single-elimination, 5-on-5 tournament, with a winner-take-all prize of $2 million. New this year, each of the eight regional champions will earn a prize equal to 25 percent of that region’s ticket sales. Fans also are rewarded, as the top 1,000 fans of the winning team share $200,000.
TBT 2019 will feature 64 players competing that hold NBA experience, 23 NCAA Division I recent graduates, 21 first-year teams (two in Columbus), and 23 alumni teams (three in Columbus).
Tickets for all TBT game days and events are on sale now at www.thetournament.com. For more information, please contact info@thetournament.com.