TBT Announces Bracket For Xavier Regional In July

CINCINNATI - The Basketball Tournament (TBT) – the $1 million, winner-take-all summer basketball event broadcast live on ESPN networks – today announced the bracket for this year's tournament.

Zip 'Em Up, the Xavier alumni team and a second-year TBT participant, will serve as the featured team for one of eight regionals, and welcome seven teams that will compete for the chance to advance. The games, which will take place July 18-21, will be played at SRC Arena.

The third-seeded Zip 'Em Up are once again organized by former Xavier point guard Dee Davis, former Xavier assistant coach Rick Carter, and Jason Meyer. Rick Carter will also serve as the team's head coach for the second straight summer, and his staff includes C.J. Anderson, Jeff Robinson, B.J. Raymond (who will also play), Chris Pickens, and Luke Scheffers. Zip 'Em Up's current roster includes:

B.J. Raymond (2005-09)
Mark Lyons (2009-2013)
Justin Martin (2010-14)
Dee Davis (2011-15)
Semaj Christon (2012-14)
Matt Stainbrook (2013-15)
JP Macura (2014-18)
Trevon Bluiett (2014-18)
Kaiser Gates (2015-18)
Kerem Kanter (2017-18)
Devin Davis (Indiana/Houston)
Riley LaChance (Vanderbilt)

Nasty Nati, a first-year alumni team representing bitter crosstown rival University of Cincinnati, will also be competing in the Xavier Regional. The team is organized by former Cincinnati guards Kevin Johnson and Cane Broome. Former Cincinnati forward and 11-year NBA veteran Corie Blount will serve as the team's head coach, and Broome will be the team's assistant. Nasty Nati's current roster includes:

Shaq Thomas (2012-16)
Troy Caupain (2013-17)
Octavius Ellis (2014-16)
Coreontae DeBerry (2014-16)
Jacob Evans (2015-18)
Jarron Cumberland (2016-20)
Trevon Scott (2016-20)
Isaiah Miller (UNC-Greensboro)
Marquez Letcher-Ellis (Rice)
Ty Jordan (Malone University)

The rest of the region includes:

#1 seed Florida TNT: A TBT 2021 semifinalist, Florida TNT includes former NBA players Dominique Jones (USF), Antonio Blakeney (LSU), as well as former college stars Rob Gray (Houston) and Chris Warren (Ole Miss)
#2 seed Sideline Cancer: TBT's 2020 runner-up and a quarterfinalist in 2021, Sideline Cancer features Marcus Keene (Central Michigan), the NCAA's leading scorer in 2017, Mike Daum (South Dakota State), who ranks seventh on the NCAA's all-time scoring list, and 15-year NBA veteran C.J. Miles.
#5 seed Fort Wayne Champs: One of TBT's oldest franchises, Fort Wayne Champs roster features Ohio native Demajeo Wiggins (Bowling Green).
#6 seed Sweet Home Alabama : A first-year TBT participant whose roster primarily includes players who either hail from the state of Alabama, or played collegiately at the University of Alabama.
#7 seed Defeat Diabetes: A first-year TBT participant made up of overseas professionals looking to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
#8 seed AboutBillions: Named after Cincinnati-based boxer Adrien Broner, the AboutBillions roster includes former Cincinnati guard Justin Jenifer, and will be coached by Steve Logan.

Zip 'Em Up will take on Sweet Home Alabama in the team's first-round game on Monday, July 18 at 8 pm ET. If Zip 'Em Up advances to the second round, they will face the winner of Sideline Cancer and Defeat Diabetes on Wednesday, July 20 at 8 pm ET.

Nasty Nati will play the Fort Wayne Champs Monday, July 18, at 6 pm ET. If Nasty Nati advances to the second round, they will face the winner of Florida TNT and AboutBillions on Wednesday, July 20 at 6 pm ET.
The Xavier Regional championship game is Thursday, July 21 at 7 pm ET.

The winner of the Xavier Regional will head to UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio for Championship Week. Quarterfinals games are July 28-29, and the semifinals and $1 million winner-take-all championship game will be July 30 and Aug. 2 at UD.

Game information for the Xavier Regional:

First Round
G1 – Monday, July 18 – 1 pm ET – (1) Florida TNT vs. (8) AboutBillions
G2 – Monday, July 18 – 3 pm ET – (2) Sideline Cancer vs. (7) Defeat Diabetes
G3 – Monday, July 18 – 6 pm ET – (4) Nasty Nati vs. (5) Fort Wayne Champs
G4 – Monday, July 18 – 8 pm ET – (3) Zip 'Em Up vs. (6) Sweet Home Alabama

Second Round
G5 – Wednesday, July 20 – 6 pm ET – Florida TNT/AboutBillions vs. Nasty Nati/Fort Wayne Champs
G6 – Wednesday, July 20 – 8 pm ET – Zip 'Em Up/Sweet Home Alabama vs. Sideline Cancer/Defeat Diabetes

Xavier Regional Championship
G7 - Thursday, July 21 - 7 pm ET - Winner of Game 5 vs. Game 6

Tickets for all TBT game days and events are on sale now at www.thetournament.com. For more information, please contact info@thetournament.com.

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