Scarlet Sunrise: Carmen's Crew advances to TBT regional final
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Carmen’s Crew advances to TBT regional final
Carmen’s Crew, Ohio State men’s basketball’s unofficial alumni team, advanced to the Round of 16 of The Basketball Tournament (TBT) Friday night with an 82-56 domination of eighth-seeded India Rising.
The disparity in depth was on display, as fourth-seeded Carmen’s Crew outscored India Rising, 42-4, in bench points. A trio of Carmen’s Crew reserves entered double figures. Former Ohio State forward Kyle Young impressed again, recording 10 points and five rebounds. Meanwhile, former Michigan State guard Javon Bess and former Ohio State guard Keyshawn Woods — who also played at Charlotte and Wake Forest earlier in his career — contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Three Carmen’s Crew starters also scored double digits: Former Bowling Green forward Scott Thomas (11 points), former Washington center Malik Dime (11 points) and former Ohio State big man Kaleb Wesson (10 points).
Wesson was the lone Carmen’s Crew player with a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds). He helped his team control the paint, as Carmen’s Crew outscored India Rising, 44-14, inside with nine more second-chance points than India Rising.
The game was tied at 23-23 after one quarter, but Carmen’s Crew — which led by as many as 28 points Friday — pulled away in the second period. Former Northern Kentucky/Arkansas guard Jalen Tate, the brother of one-time Buckeyes standout Jae’Sean Tate, sunk the Elam Ender. It capped a crafty night from Tate, who notably dove into his bag for a steal and transition finish during a 13-0 second-half Carmen’s Crew run.
With the victory, Carmen’s Crew has reached the regional final in Dayton. It kicked off its pursuit of the winner-take-all, $1 million prize with an 80-68 win against Team Overtime. That game wasn’t even as close as the score indicates. After all, Carmen’s Crew entered the fourth quarter with a 19-point lead.
The Wesson brothers piloted the ship in their TBT debut. Kaleb scored 16 points, and Andre wasn’t far behind with 13 points. Notably, Young chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Put simply, the Chris Holtmann era Carmen’s Crew players are making Ohio State proud, and they’ll have another chance to impress Saturday night at 7 p.m. versus Friday Beers.
A trip to TBT quarterfinals is on the line.
BACKGROUND
All TBT games are broadcast on ESPN platforms this year. The 64-squad, single-elimination summer event includes 75 players with NBA experience this time around, not to mention 34 college alumni teams, both TBT records.
Originally known as “Scarlet & Gray,” Carmen’s Crew won TBT and, at the time, the $2 million, winner-take-all prize in 2019. Back then, the team was led by players from the Thad Matta era, including the likes of Aaron Craft, David Lighty and Jon Diebler.
But, after a year off, Carmen’s Crew — coached by former Ohio State star Jared Sullinger — looks different in 2023: The roster features five players from the Chris Holtmann era at Ohio State: Kyle Young, C.J. Jackson, Keyshawn Woods, Andre Wesson and Kaleb Wesson, all of whom played for the Buckeyes at some point between 2017 and 2022.
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Trevor Thompson is part of this year’s team, too. He played at Ohio State in 2016-17, the year before Holtmann’s arrival. William Buford, the tournament’s MVP in 2019 and another fellow Buckeyes alum (2008-12), has returned.
The rest of the roster consists of Javon Bess (Gahanna Lincoln, Michigan State/Saint Louis), Jalen Tate (Pickerington HS Central, Northern Kentucky/Arkansas), Malik Dime (Senegalese center, played for Indian Hills CC/Washington) and Scott Thomas (Buckeye Valley, Bowling Green).
Elite 2026 wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. commits to Ohio State
What a night for Ohio State football.
The Buckeyes received their first commitment in the 2026 recruiting class during SummerFest: Highly-touted wide receiver prospect Chris Henry Jr. — the son of the late Chris Henry — pledged to Ohio State outside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center Friday night.
Henry Jr. doesn’t have a ranking from the four major recruiting services yet, but once the rankings do come out for the 2026 cycle, he should be high up on the board. His commitment continues the freight train that is offensive coordinator Brian Hartline’s wide receiver recruiting momentum.
To learn more about Henry Jr.’s commitment, go here.
RELATED
Ryan Day reflects on first four years as Buckeyes head coach with pivotal season ahead
Ryan Day is entering his fifth full season as the head coach of Ohio State. He had a moment to reflect on his first four years at the helm during Big Ten Media Days this week in Indianapolis.
“Sometimes it seems like a blur,” Day told Lettermen Row. “Other times, it seems like it’s been a long road. … I’ve changed, you know. There’s a lot of stress that comes with this job, as we know. The expectations are very, very high. You have to bring it every game. You aren’t allowed to lose a game. But at the same time, I was telling [my wife] that it’s Year Seven in Columbus. We were looking at some pictures of the kids when they first got here. They were really young. And my youngest, this is all she really remembers, which is great.
“We love it. We do.”
For more on Day’s perspective, go here and watch our full interview with him below:
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Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 35 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 120 days
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