Archie Goodwin, Marcus Lee set to participate in The Basketball Tournament
The 10th edition of an annual summer basketball event, The Basketball Tournament, is taking over ESPN next month — and a couple of former Wildcats will be in action.
TBT 2023 is set to begin on July 19 and will run until the beginning of August across the ESPN family of networks. For the third straight season, a total of 64 teams will participate in the single-elimination tournament. Eight different cities have been selected as host sites, with one taking place at Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY from July 25-30. Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH will also host a regional from July 21-24. The semifinals and championship will be held in Philadelphia, PA from August 2-3.
A pair of one-time Kentucky players, Archie Goodwin and Marcus Lee, will suit up for this year’s showing of TBT, which once again features a winner-takes-all grand prize of $1 million. TBT is famous for implementing the Elam Ending, which ensures that all contests end on a game-winning shot.
Goodwin, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard who played one season at UK in 2012-13, is teaming up with TBT regular Eberlein Drive for the second time in three years. This will be Goodwin’s fourth year playing in the TBT. As for Lee, who spent three seasons at Kentucky (2013-16) before transferring to California for his final year of college, the 6-foot-11 center will play for AfterShocks, a Wichita State alumni team. Like Goodwin, Lee has previously played in TBT.
Goodwin and Eberlein Drive will begin their tournament path in the Louisville Regional on July 25 at 9:00 p.m. EST against Jackson TN Underdawgs. Meanwhile, Lee and the AfterShocks kick off their tournament run in the Wichita Regional on July 20 at 9:00 p.m. EST against B1 Ballers.
This year’s field is once again loaded with talent, featuring several former NBA players who made impacts in the league, including the likes of Jamario Moon, Kyle O’Quinn, Chris Copeland, James Ennis, and Trevor Booker. There are also plenty of names that the Big Blue Nation might be familiar with from their college days, including Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger (Carmen’s Crew; coach) and Louisville’s Chris Jones (Jackson TN Underdawgs; player).
Additionally, there will be a handful of former Western Kentucky players participating in TBT, most notably AJ Slaughter (Eberlein Drive teammates with Goodwin), who played at Shelby County High School in Louisville and has made a successful overseas career since going undrafted in 2010. As for the most random participant, former NFL cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who played 11 years in the league, is suiting up for Team DRC.
There will also be a handful of “Alumni Teams” that roster plenty of players Kentucky fans will likely remember. The Ville is loaded with former Louisville Cardinals, including Chane Behanan, Peyton Siva, Russ Smith, and Wayne Blackshear. Former Eastern Kentucky star Nick Mayo is also playing for The Ville. This team of former Cards might actually be one of the most-talented rosters in the entire bracket.
Kansas’ Alumni team (Mass Street) will trot out the likes of Wayne Selden Jr., Tyshawn Taylor, Thomas Robinson, Devon Dotson, Dedric Lawson, and Marcus Garrett. The Morris twins, Marcus and Markieff, who both currently play in the NBA, will serve as coaches. Florida’s Alumni team (Gataverse) features the likes of Corey Brewer, Lee Humphrey, Phlandrous Fleming Jr., and Kevaughn Allen.
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