Memphis Bracket of TBT Tournament Released
Jun 11, 2019 | Men's Basketball
Bluff City squad the two seed in the Memphis regional
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Basketball Tournament (TBT) – the $2 million summer basketball event broadcast live on ESPN networks - announced the national bracket, including the Memphis regional bracket and schedule, Tuesday.
This is the sixth year for TBT, and the 2019 tournament features more than 60 players with NBA experience, 23 college alumni teams (three in the Memphis regional) and elite players from top leagues around the world. More than 20 Division I college players who finished their eligibility in 2019 will also compete in this year's tournament.
Team Bluff City is coached by former Tiger Will Coleman. The already-announced members of Team Bluff City are Earl Barron, Coleman, Chris Crawford, Jeremy Hunt, Dominique Johnson, Shawn Taggart, Tayloe Taylor, Adonis Thomas, and Darius Washington.
The first session features top-seeded Gael Force, coached by St. Mary's assistant Dan Shell, facing the Jackson (TN) Underdogs. The 3 p.m. session opens with the Broad Street Brawlers against the Southern Gentlemen.
The second session on Day One (Friday, July 19) will feature Team Arkansas (coached by Bobby Portis) against Louisiana United, a team that took Overseas Elite to the edge last year before falling in the Super 16. The Bluff City team will play in the final game of day one, facing Team Everyday.
TBT is a single-elimination, 5-on-5 tournament with eight regional sites. Each of the regional champions earns a prize equivalent to 25 percent of that region's ticket sales. Each regional champion qualifies for Championship week in Chicago (Aug. 1-6).
The Memphis regional will be played July 19-21 at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse on the University of Memphis main campus. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.GoTigersGoTix.com. All-session tickets are available for $60 for general admission covering all four sessions. Individual session tickets are also available, starting at $20.
Fans who want to follow the Bluff City roster can follow them on social media on Twitter @BluffTBT or on Instagram @TBTBluffCity.
Session One – July 19 – 3 pm
(4) Broad Street Brawlers vs (5) Southern Gentlemen, WatchESPN
(1) Gael Force (St. Mary's) vs (8) Jackson TN, WatchESPN
Session Two – July 19 – 6:40 pm
(3) Team Arkansas vs (6) Louisiana United
(2) Bluff City vs. (7) Team 901
Session Three
Semifinals – 5 pm, WatchESPN
Session Four
Championship – 2 pm, WatchESPN
A full summary of each team from the Memphis regional is below:
Memphis Regional
#1 Seed. Gael Force (St. Mary's alumni): Gael Force made its first foray into TBT last year, and cruised to victory in Spokane as they ran Randy Bennett's offense to perfection. Among others, the team returns 2010 WCC Defensive Player of the Year Omar Samhan, 2011 WCC Player of the Year Mickey McConnell, and 2014 WCC First-Team member Steve Holt, while also adding overseas veteran E.J. Rowland. Coached by former St Mary's assistant Dan Shell, expect Gael Force to run the most efficient, organized offense TBT has to offer this summer.
TBT History:
#2 Seed. Bluff City (Memphis alumni): Bluff City will look to capitalize on its home court advantage as they play host to this year's Memphis regional. The roster is bolstered by multiple players with NBA experience, including 2006 NBA Champion Earl Barron, Adonis Thomas, and Darius Washington Jr. Shawn Taggart, a member of the Tigers 2008 NCAA Tournament Runner-Up Team, gives the team valuable experience.
TBT History:
# 3 Seed. Team Arkansas (Arkansas alumni): Team Arkansas is looking for revenge after an early exit in 2018. Dontell Jefferson and Ronnie Brewer provide the team with NBA experience, while two-time SEC All-Defensive team member Moses Kinglsey, high-flyer Michael Qualls, and sniper Rotnei Clark give the Razorback alums fresh legs. Former Arkansas power forward and current Washington Wizard Bobby Portis will serve as the team's head coach.
TBT History:
#4 Seed. Broad Street Brawlers: The Brawlers have fielded a competitive roster each of the past five summers, but none look as solid as this year's. The team's backcourt includes 2013 Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year and 2014 NBA Draft Pick Semaj Christon (Xavier) as well as former Arizona star Gabe York. Add in guys like Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (Temple), 2018 Patriot League Player of the Year Zach Thomas (Bucknell), and 1,500-point scorer Erick Neal (UT-Arlington), and Broad Street is poised to make a deep TBT run.
TBT History:
#5 Seed. Southern Gentlemen: Atlanta Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley purchased the Memphis regional buy-in slot as the grand prize to give to the winners of his annual five-on-five tournament that he holds each summer. Southern Gentlemen defeated multiple teams from the Atlanta area to claim that prize. Their roster includes notable former D-1 players such as Earl Calloway (Indiana), Cam Tatum (Tennessee), Asauhn Tatum (Auburn), and 2014 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Langston Hall (Mercer).
#6 Seed. Louisiana United: Louisiana United came as close as any team ever to beating Overseas Elite last summer, as a controversial foul call sent Jeremy Pargo to the line for the clincher. Set out for revenge this year, Louisiana United has recruited almost an entirely new roster of players that primarily play in France's top league, featuring AJ Pacher (Wright State), Jonathan Fairell (Murray State), and Bernard King (Texas A&M). 2010 Sun Belt Player of the Year Tyren Johnson (Louisiana) and 2011 Southland Player of the Year Patrick Richard (McNeese State) give the team an added punch offensively, as well as some bayou flavor.
TBT History:
#7 Seed. Team 901
#8 Seed. Jackson TN UnderDawgs: When looking at this team's roster, it's no secret as to why they call themselves the "Underdawgs". The tallest player is just 6'6", the backcourt features two guards standing 5'8" or smaller, and three of its players are long haul truck drivers. But this group of Jackson natives brings great chemistry and a David-like mentality to TBT. 2018 SEC First-Team member and Jackson native Jaylen Barford (Arkansas) may give the team just enough star power to make it a formidable threat in Memphis.
TBT History:
This is the sixth year for TBT, and the 2019 tournament features more than 60 players with NBA experience, 23 college alumni teams (three in the Memphis regional) and elite players from top leagues around the world. More than 20 Division I college players who finished their eligibility in 2019 will also compete in this year's tournament.
Team Bluff City is coached by former Tiger Will Coleman. The already-announced members of Team Bluff City are Earl Barron, Coleman, Chris Crawford, Jeremy Hunt, Dominique Johnson, Shawn Taggart, Tayloe Taylor, Adonis Thomas, and Darius Washington.
The first session features top-seeded Gael Force, coached by St. Mary's assistant Dan Shell, facing the Jackson (TN) Underdogs. The 3 p.m. session opens with the Broad Street Brawlers against the Southern Gentlemen.
The second session on Day One (Friday, July 19) will feature Team Arkansas (coached by Bobby Portis) against Louisiana United, a team that took Overseas Elite to the edge last year before falling in the Super 16. The Bluff City team will play in the final game of day one, facing Team Everyday.
TBT is a single-elimination, 5-on-5 tournament with eight regional sites. Each of the regional champions earns a prize equivalent to 25 percent of that region's ticket sales. Each regional champion qualifies for Championship week in Chicago (Aug. 1-6).
The Memphis regional will be played July 19-21 at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse on the University of Memphis main campus. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.GoTigersGoTix.com. All-session tickets are available for $60 for general admission covering all four sessions. Individual session tickets are also available, starting at $20.
Fans who want to follow the Bluff City roster can follow them on social media on Twitter @BluffTBT or on Instagram @TBTBluffCity.
Session One – July 19 – 3 pm
(4) Broad Street Brawlers vs (5) Southern Gentlemen, WatchESPN
(1) Gael Force (St. Mary's) vs (8) Jackson TN, WatchESPN
Session Two – July 19 – 6:40 pm
(3) Team Arkansas vs (6) Louisiana United
(2) Bluff City vs. (7) Team 901
Session Three
Semifinals – 5 pm, WatchESPN
Session Four
Championship – 2 pm, WatchESPN
A full summary of each team from the Memphis regional is below:
Memphis Regional
#1 Seed. Gael Force (St. Mary's alumni): Gael Force made its first foray into TBT last year, and cruised to victory in Spokane as they ran Randy Bennett's offense to perfection. Among others, the team returns 2010 WCC Defensive Player of the Year Omar Samhan, 2011 WCC Player of the Year Mickey McConnell, and 2014 WCC First-Team member Steve Holt, while also adding overseas veteran E.J. Rowland. Coached by former St Mary's assistant Dan Shell, expect Gael Force to run the most efficient, organized offense TBT has to offer this summer.
TBT History:
- 2018 Super 16 (lost to Eberlein Drive)
#2 Seed. Bluff City (Memphis alumni): Bluff City will look to capitalize on its home court advantage as they play host to this year's Memphis regional. The roster is bolstered by multiple players with NBA experience, including 2006 NBA Champion Earl Barron, Adonis Thomas, and Darius Washington Jr. Shawn Taggart, a member of the Tigers 2008 NCAA Tournament Runner-Up Team, gives the team valuable experience.
TBT History:
- 2016 South Regional Second Round (lost to Trained To Go)
- 2018 South Regional Second Round (lost to Team DRC)
# 3 Seed. Team Arkansas (Arkansas alumni): Team Arkansas is looking for revenge after an early exit in 2018. Dontell Jefferson and Ronnie Brewer provide the team with NBA experience, while two-time SEC All-Defensive team member Moses Kinglsey, high-flyer Michael Qualls, and sniper Rotnei Clark give the Razorback alums fresh legs. Former Arkansas power forward and current Washington Wizard Bobby Portis will serve as the team's head coach.
TBT History:
- 2018 Northeast Regional Second Round (lost to Talladega Knights)
#4 Seed. Broad Street Brawlers: The Brawlers have fielded a competitive roster each of the past five summers, but none look as solid as this year's. The team's backcourt includes 2013 Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year and 2014 NBA Draft Pick Semaj Christon (Xavier) as well as former Arizona star Gabe York. Add in guys like Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (Temple), 2018 Patriot League Player of the Year Zach Thomas (Bucknell), and 1,500-point scorer Erick Neal (UT-Arlington), and Broad Street is poised to make a deep TBT run.
TBT History:
- 2014 Quarterfinals (lost to Peace Players International)
- 2015 Northeast Round 1 (lost to Sideline Cancer)
- 2016 Northeast Round 2 (lost to Boeheim's Army)
- 2017 West Regional Second Round (Lost to Colorado)
- 2018 West Regional First Round (lost to Eberlein Drive)
#5 Seed. Southern Gentlemen: Atlanta Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley purchased the Memphis regional buy-in slot as the grand prize to give to the winners of his annual five-on-five tournament that he holds each summer. Southern Gentlemen defeated multiple teams from the Atlanta area to claim that prize. Their roster includes notable former D-1 players such as Earl Calloway (Indiana), Cam Tatum (Tennessee), Asauhn Tatum (Auburn), and 2014 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Langston Hall (Mercer).
#6 Seed. Louisiana United: Louisiana United came as close as any team ever to beating Overseas Elite last summer, as a controversial foul call sent Jeremy Pargo to the line for the clincher. Set out for revenge this year, Louisiana United has recruited almost an entirely new roster of players that primarily play in France's top league, featuring AJ Pacher (Wright State), Jonathan Fairell (Murray State), and Bernard King (Texas A&M). 2010 Sun Belt Player of the Year Tyren Johnson (Louisiana) and 2011 Southland Player of the Year Patrick Richard (McNeese State) give the team an added punch offensively, as well as some bayou flavor.
TBT History:
- 2018 Super 16 (lost to Overseas Elite)
#7 Seed. Team 901
#8 Seed. Jackson TN UnderDawgs: When looking at this team's roster, it's no secret as to why they call themselves the "Underdawgs". The tallest player is just 6'6", the backcourt features two guards standing 5'8" or smaller, and three of its players are long haul truck drivers. But this group of Jackson natives brings great chemistry and a David-like mentality to TBT. 2018 SEC First-Team member and Jackson native Jaylen Barford (Arkansas) may give the team just enough star power to make it a formidable threat in Memphis.
TBT History:
- 2016 Midwest Regional Second Round (lost to Bradley Alumni)
- 2017 Midwest Regional First Round (lost to Banner Boys)
- 2018 Midwest Regional Second Round (lost to Team Fredette)