The Basketball Tournament 2021

The Basketball Tournament

2021
Tournament information
Location	Regional sites Wichita, Kansas Charleston, West Virginia Columbus, Ohio Peoria, Illinois Championship site Dayton, Ohio
Dates	July 16–August 3, 2021
Tournament format(s)	Single elimination
Participants	64 teams
Purse	Championship: US$1,000,000 winner-take-all
Final positions
Champions	Boeheim's Army
Runner-up	Team 23
Tournament statistics
MVP	Tyrese Rice
Top scorer(s)	Tyrese Rice (86 pts) [1] Marvelle Harris (23.3 ppg) [2] [a]
Games played	63
←  2020 2022  →

The Basketball Tournament 2021 was the eighth edition of The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a 5-on-5, single elimination basketball tournament. The tournament, involving 64 teams, began on July 16 and concluded on August 3 with the championship game in Dayton, Ohio. The format of the tournament returned to that of the 2019 edition—64 teams, each playing in one of four regionals, with the top two teams from each regional progressing to the championship weekend. The tournament was won by Boeheim's Army, who captured the winner-take-all $1 million prize. ^{[3] [4]}

Format

For its 2021 edition, The Basketball Tournament (TBT) returned to a 64-team format, with four regionals of 16 teams each (similar in format to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament), and each regional being held at a single host site. The regional host sites and teams were revealed by TBT organizers on April 14, 2021. ^[5] The tournament prize remained at $1 million. The teams and their regional placements were revealed in a selection special hosted by Seth Greenberg and Chris Vosters that aired on TBT's YouTube channel on June 21, 2021. ^[6]

As with previous years, all tournament games operated with the "Elam Ending", a format of ending the game without use of a game clock. Under the Elam Ending, the clock is turned off at the first dead-ball whistle with under four minutes to play in the game. At that time, a target score, equal to the score of the leading team plus eight, is set, and the first team to reach this target score is declared the winner of the game. ^[7] Thus, all games end on a made basket (field goal or free throw) and there is no overtime.

The first edition of a "33-Point Contest" was held between the two semifinal games—individual players competed to see who could make 11 three-point field goals the fastest. ^[8] The contest, and prize of $33,333.33, was won by Omar Strong of team B1 Ballers. ^[9]

Venues

The Basketball Tournament 2021 featured games in five locations: four regional sites plus one site for the championship weekend (four regional finals, two semifinal contests, and the championship game).

Wichita Charleston Columbus Peoria Dayton
	Wichita	Charleston	Columbus
	Charles Koch Arena	Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center	Covelli Center
	Capacity: 10,506	Capacity: 11,519	Capacity: 3,700
	Peoria	Dayton	Regional sites Championship site
	Peoria Civic Center	University of Dayton Arena
	Capacity: 11,433	Capacity: 13,435

Teams

Key: Alumni team representing a specific college basketball program 

Source: ^[10]

Wichita Regional [11] Seed Team App. (Last) Affiliation Origin of name 1 Eberlein Drive 6th (2020) Team owners' home street 2 AfterShocks 2nd (2019) Wichita State Team nickname "Shockers" 3 Challenge ALS 5th (2020) ALS awareness 4 LA Cheaters 2nd (2019) Drew League 5 Florida TNT 2nd (2019) Former college players from the state of Florida 6 Team Arkansas 3rd (2019) Arkansas 7 Purple & Black 5th (2019) Kansas State Kansas State school colors 8 The Enchantment 1st New Mexico State nickname "Land of Enchantment" 9 Stillwater Stars 2nd (2020) Oklahoma State School location in Stillwater, OK 10 Omaha Blue Crew 1st Creighton School location in Omaha, NE and primary color 11 Fort Worth Funk 1st TCU School location in Fort Worth, TX 12 Kimchi Express 4th (2018) 13 Mental Toughness 1st JCK Foundation Mental health awareness 14 We Are D3 3rd (2019) NCAA Division III 15 Ex-Pats 1st Patriot League Former Patriot League players 16 NG Saints 1st Neumann Goretti HS

West Virginia Regional [12] Seed Team App. (Last) Affiliation Origin of name 1 Sideline Cancer 8th (2020) Cancer awareness 2 Best Virginia 2nd (2019) West Virginia 3 Herd That 2nd (2020) Marshall Team nickname "Thundering Herd" 4 Armored Athlete 7th (2020) 5 War Ready 2nd (2020) Auburn School battle cry "War Eagle" 6 Team 23 6th (2019) Uniform number worn by Michael Jordan 7 D2 3rd (2020) NCAA Division II 8 PrimeTime Players 7th (2020) 9 Fort Wayne Champs 6th (2019) Players with connections to Fort Wayne, IN 10 Bleed Virginia 1st Former mid-major players from Virginia 11 Georgia Kingz 1st Former college players from Georgia 12 Bucketneers 1st East Tennessee State Team nickname "Buccaneers" 13 HBCUnited 1st HBCUs 14 Team DRC 3rd (2019) Team sponsor Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie 15 WoCo Showtime 7th (2019) Wofford Abbreviation of Wofford College 16 Founding Fathers 1st James Madison School namesake and founding father James Madison

Illinois Regional [13] Seed Team App. (Last) Affiliation Origin of name 1 Golden Eagles 6th (2020) Marquette Team nickname "Golden Eagles" 2 House of 'Paign 2nd (2020) Illinois School location in Champaign, IL 3 Boeheim's Army 7th (2020) Syracuse Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim 4 Always Us 1st Oregon Phrase used by Dana Altman 5 Autism Army 1st Autism awareness 6 The OverLooked 1st Murray State 7 Always a Brave 4th (2018) Bradley Team nickname "Braves" 8 Brotherly Love 3rd (2020) Nickname for Philadelphia 9 Playing for Jimmy V 2nd (2019) V Foundation Nickname of Jim Valvano 10 Tubby Time 1st Players coached in college by Tubby Smith 11 Heartfire 2nd (2020) 12 SCD Hoops 1st Sickle cell disease awareness 13 Peoria All-Stars 5th (2020) Players with connections to Peoria, IL 14 Forces of Seoul 1st Players with pro experience in South Korea 15 Jackson TN Underdawgs 5th (2019) Players with connections to Jackson, TN 16 B1 Ballers 1st

Columbus Regional [14] Seed Team App. (Last) Affiliation Origin of name 1 Carmen's Crew 5th (2020) Ohio State School song "Carmen Ohio" 2 Red Scare 3rd (2020) Dayton Name given to student section 3 Zip 'Em Up 1st Xavier Former Xavier team motto 4 Team Hines 3rd (2020) Team player Kyle Hines 5 The Money Team 2nd (2020) Team sponsor Floyd "Money" Mayweather 6 Blue Collar U 1st Buffalo Buffalo team color, plus city's blue-collar image 7 Wolf Blood 1st NC State Team nickname "Wolfpack" 8 Men of Mackey 2nd (2020) Purdue Purdue home court Mackey Arena 9 Ballinteers 1st Tennessee Team nickname "Volunteers" 10 Category 5 1st Miami (FL) Team name "Hurricanes" and Saffir–Simpson scale 11 The Nerd Team 1st Players from "more prestigious" universities 12 The Region 5th (2019) Players from Northwest Indiana, locally called "The Region" 13 Brown & White 1st St. Bonaventure St. Bonaventure team colors 14 Ohio 1804 1st Ohio Year of Ohio University founding 15 BC Vahakni City 1st BC Vahakni City VBET A-League team of the same name 16 Mid-American Unity 3rd (2019) MAC

Tournament bracket

Source: ^{[15] [16]}

Wichita Regional

	First round July 16–17					Second Round July 18					Regional semifinals July 20					Regional final July 31 (Dayton) 12:00 p.m. / ESPN
	1	Eberlein Drive	86
	16	NG Saints	68
						1	Eberlein Drive	119
						9	Stillwater Stars	67
	8	The Enchantment	83
	9	Stillwater Stars	84
											1	Eberlein Drive	67
											5	Florida TNT	74
	5	Florida TNT	83
	12	Kimchi Express	59
						5	Florida TNT	92
						4	LA Cheaters	85
	4	LA Cheaters	76
	13	Mental Toughness	73
																5	Florida TNT	92
																2	AfterShocks	63
	6	Team Arkansas	74
	11	Fort Worth Funk	70
						6	Team Arkansas	63
						3	Challenge ALS	69
	3	Challenge ALS	67
	14	We Are D3	60
											3	Challenge ALS	65
											2	AfterShocks	69
	7	Purple & Black	59
	10	Omaha Blue Crew	60
						10	Omaha Blue Crew	73
						2	AfterShocks	76
	2	AfterShocks	60
	15	Ex-Pats	53

West Virginia Regional

	First round July 17–18					Second Round July 19					Regional semifinals July 21					Regional final July 31 (Dayton) 7:00 p.m. / ESPN2
	1	Sideline Cancer	80
	16	Founding Fathers	77
						1	Sideline Cancer	92
						9	Fort Wayne Champs	71
	8	PrimeTime Players	61
	9	Fort Wayne Champs	72
											1	Sideline Cancer	58
											12	Bucketneers	57
	5	War Ready	50
	12	Bucketneers	77
						12	Bucketneers	79
						4	Armored Athlete	60
	4	Armored Athlete	88
	13	HBCUnited	52
																1	Sideline Cancer	71
																6	Team 23	78
	6	Team 23	91
	11	Georgia Kingz	64
						6	Team 23	74
						3	Herd That	71
	3	Herd That	85
	14	Team DRC	76
											6	Team 23	75
											2	Best Virginia	67
	7	D2	68
	10	Bleed Virginia	56
						7	D2	51
						2	Best Virginia	63
	2	Best Virginia	70
	15	WoCo Showtime	67

Columbus Regional

	First round July 23–24					Second Round July 25					Regional semifinals July 27					Regional final July 31 (Dayton) 9:00 p.m. / ESPN2
	1	Carmen's Crew	77
	16	Mid-American Unity	65
						1	Carmen's Crew	80
						8	Men of Mackey	69
	8	Men of Mackey	83
	9	Ballinteers	74
											1	Carmen's Crew	89
											5	The Money Team	91
	5	The Money Team	86
	12	The Region	71
						5	The Money Team	93
						4	Team Hines	76
	4	Team Hines	67
	13	Brown & White	56
																5	The Money Team	81
																6	Blue Collar U	84
	6	Blue Collar U	88
	11	The Nerd Team	82
						6	Blue Collar U	93
						3	Zip 'Em Up	83
	3	Zip 'Em Up	91
	14	Ohio 1804	67
											6	Blue Collar U	78
											10	Category 5	61
	7	Wolf Blood	65
	10	Category 5	74
						10	Category 5	76
						2	Red Scare	69
	2	Red Scare	88
	15	BC Vahakni City	44

Illinois Regional

	First round July 24–25					Second Round July 26					Regional semifinals July 28					Regional final July 31 (Dayton) 2:00 p.m. / ESPN
	1	Golden Eagles	94
	16	B1 Ballers	66
						1	Golden Eagles	71
						9	Playing for Jimmy V	64
	8	Brotherly Love	46
	9	Playing for Jimmy V	78
											1	Golden Eagles	88
											5	Autism Army	75
	5	Autism Army	76
	12	SCD Hoops	48
						5	Autism Army	76
						4	Always Us	71
	4	Always Us	79
	13	Peoria All-Stars	73
																1	Golden Eagles	69
																3	Boeheim's Army	73
	6	The OverLooked	56
	11	Heartfire	67
						11	Heartfire	62
						3	Boeheim's Army	68
	3	Boeheim's Army	65
	14	Forces of Seoul	53
											3	Boeheim's Army	69
											7	Always a Brave	54
	7	Always a Brave	75
	10	Tubby Time	73
						7	Always a Brave	70
						15	Jackson TN Underdawgs	50
	2	House of 'Paign	58
	15	Jackson TN Underdawgs	64

Semifinals and championship

Television coverage via ESPN. ^[17]

	Semifinals August 1 (Dayton) 12:00 p.m. / 2:30 p.m.					Championship August 3 (Dayton) 9:00 p.m.
	KS 5	Florida TNT	64
	IL 3	Boeheim's Army	66
						IL 3	Boeheim's Army	69
						WV 6	Team 23	67
	OH 6	Blue Collar U	62
	WV 6	Team 23	78

Semifinals

ESPN

August 1, 2021 12:00 p.m. EDT

Stats

IL 3Boeheim's Army66, KS 5 Florida TNT 64
Scoring by quarter: 13–19, 20–15, 9–13, 24–17
Pts: T. Rice 24 Rebs: C. McCullough 7 Asts: T. Rice 7		Pts: K. Clanton 18 Rebs: K. Clanton 16 Asts: D. Jones 5

UD Arena Dayton, Ohio Referees: K. Kimble, R. Natili, T. Morrissey

ESPN

August 1, 2021 2:30 p.m. EDT

Stats

WV 6Team 2378, OH 6 Blue Collar U 62
Scoring by quarter:19–17, 15–14, 17–17, 27–14
Pts: W. Lemon & E. Griffin 15 Rebs: R. Putney 9 Asts: W. Lemon 4		Pts: L. Bearden 22 Rebs: C. Massinburg 8 Asts: L. Bearden 3

UD Arena Dayton, Ohio Referees: J. Anderson, E. Walton, B. O'Connell

Championship

ESPN

August 3, 2021 9:00 p.m. EDT

Stats, ESPN, SI

IL 3Boeheim's Army69, WV 6 Team 23 67
Scoring by quarter:18–17, 15–15, 17–22, 19–13
Pts: K. Sykes 21 Rebs: C. McCullough 9 Asts: T. Rice/D. Kennedy/K. Sykes 2		Pts: E. Griffin 16 Rebs: E. Griffin 7 Asts: E. Washington 4

UD Arena Dayton, Ohio Referees: J. Anderson, K. Kimble, E. Walton

Awards

All Tournament Team

Pos	Player	Team
PG	Tyrese Rice (MVP)	Boeheim's Army
PG	Marcus Keene	Sideline Cancer
PF	Raphiael Putney	Team 23
SG	Dominique Jones	Florida TNT
C	Nick Perkins	Blue Collar U
GM	Kevin Belbey	Boeheim's Army
Coach	Marc Hughes	Team 23

Source: ^{[18] [19]}

Notes

1. Minimum three games played

References

1. "Stats: Leaders". thetournament.com. 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
2. @thetournament (August 9, 2021). "Your final TBT 2021 scoring leaders" (Tweet). Retrieved August 9, 2021– via Twitter.
3. McAllister, Mike (August 3, 2021). "Boeheim's Army Wins The Basketball Tournament". All Syracuse FN. Retrieved August 3, 2021– via MSN.com.
4. Vasudevan, Anish (24 July 2021). "4th-quarter push catapults Boeheim's Army to victory over Forces of Seoul, 65-53". The Daily Orange . Retrieved 6 August 2021.
5. "The Basketball Tournament announces format, locations for 2021". The Basketball Tournament. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
6. "TBT 2021 Bracket Reveal Show". The Basketball Tournament. June 21, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021– via YouTube.
7. Selig, David (23 July 2018). "What is the Elam Ending?". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
8. Ufnowski, Amy (July 2021). "ESPN Announces Schedule and Commentators for TBT 2021, Tipping Off Friday". espnpressroom.com (Press release). Retrieved August 1, 2021.
9. Burtnett, Peter (August 1, 2021). "Sibert falls just short of 33-point contest final, TBT Championship Game set". flyernews.com. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
10. Carcieri, Carmine (June 21, 2021). "TBT 2021: What to know about every team in the 64-team bracket". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
11. "Wichita Region 2021". The Basketball Tournament (TBT).
12. "West Virginia Regional 2021". The Basketball Tournament (TBT).
13. "Illinois Regional 2021". The Basketball Tournament (TBT).
14. "Columbus Region 2021". The Basketball Tournament (TBT).
15. "Bracket". thetournament.com. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
16. "Scores". thetournament.com. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
17. "Schedule". thetournament.com. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
18. @thetournament (August 3, 2021). "These guys were amazing all summer Introducing your TBT 2021 All-Tournament Team!" (Tweet). Retrieved August 3, 2021– via Twitter.
19. @thetournament (August 3, 2021). "Forever a Syracuse legend Tyrese Rice is your TBT 2021 MVP!!!!!" (Tweet). Retrieved August 3, 2021– via Twitter.

External links

• Official website
• Boeheims Army vs. Team 23 - Game Highlights via YouTube