TBT Update: June 14, 2017

Today's update includes information on the TBT Jamboree, as well as a promo code fans may use for discounted TBT tickets and merchandise

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Men's Basketball 6/14/2017 12:22:00 PM

PEORIA, IL - The fourth edition of The Basketball Tournament officially will tip off this weekend as 16 teams participate in the inaugural TBT Jamboree for a shot at the final spot in each of the $2 million tournament's four regions. Among the teams playing in Philadelphia this weekend will be Midwest Region entry Peoria All-Stars.

The Basketball Tournament is an open application, 5-on-5 basketball touranment that will award a winner-take-all, $2 million prize to the champion. Four teams will emerge from the TBT Jamboree to finalize the tournament's 64-team field and region play will take place at four sites July 8-9 (Northeast and South) and July 15-16 (Midwest and West). The defending Midwest Region champion, Bradley University's alumni team, Always A Brave, will headline the 16-team field that will compete July 15-16 at Renaissance Coliseum. Other alumni teams in the Midwest Region include squads from Ohio State (Scarlet & Gray), Iowa State (Hilton Magic Legends), Marquette (Golden Eagles), Kansas State (Purple and Black), Saint Louis (Majerus SLU Crew) and Milwaukee (Banner Boys), as well as a team made up of players from the NBA D-League's Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Fort Wayne Champs).

Every game in the 2017 TBT will be covered by the ESPN family of networks, including ESPN3 coverage of all 12 games from this weekend's TBT Jamboree, which also will test the Elam Ending, and all 48 games during the two regional rounds. The tournament's final 15 games, beginning with the Super 16 July 20-23, will be televised on either ESPN or ESPN2, culminating with the championship game Aug. 3 in Baltimore.

The Midwest Region at Renaissance Coliseum will tip off with eight first-round games Saturday, July 15 involving all 16 teams. The tournament pairings and times will be announced next week with games beginning at 9:00 a.m. and running continuously on 1-hour, 45-minute time blocks throughout the day. The eight winners will play again Sunday, July 16 in four games that will start at 11:00 a.m.

TBT Midwest Region tickets and team merchandise are on sale now online at www.thetournament.com. Bradley fans may use the promo code BRAVEFAN10 to receive a 10 percent discount on both tickets and merchandise purchases. Single-day general admission ticket prices are $20 for adults and $5 for children ages 13 and under, while a group of four may purchase the Family Four Pack for $40. In addition, a Weekend Pass good for all 12 games over the two days of the Midwest Regional is available for $30. The team branded t-shirts are $25.

Always A Brave (Bradley Alumni)
Players: Tony Bennett, David Collins, Will Franklin, Walt Lemon, Sam Maniscalco, Patrick O'Bryant, Jerome Randle (Cal '10), Daniel Ruffin, Matt Salley, Marcellus Sommerville, Andrew Warren, Lawrence Wright
Coaches: A.J. Guyton, Chuck Buescher, Jeremy Crouch, Phillip Gilbert
GM: Bobby Parker

Peoria All-Stars
Players: Lawrence Alexander, Quentin Edwards, Rick Gustafson, Trey Kellum, Breland McKnight, Dylan Sparkman, Darian White, DeAaron Williams, Michael Zasada
GM: Willie Williams

Elam Ending
Devised by Nick Elam, the Elam Ending alters the end of basketball games to eliminate the practice of trailing teams intentionally fouling to stop the clock and force the opponent to shoot free throws. During the TBT Jamboree, the game clock will be shut off at the first dead ball under four minutes remaining in the game, at which time a target score (+7 to the leading team's score) will be determined and the teams will play to that score while no longer worrying about a clock. For example, Team A leads Team B 75-70 when the ball is knocked out of bounds with 3:52 remaining. The target score will become 82 and the first team to reach that score wins.

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