TBT reveals 64-team field for $2 million tournament

By Sports Illustrated and Scooby Axson/Sports Illustrated
Published

The Basketball Tournament revealed its 64-team team field on Tuesday, headlined by the NBA's Morris twins and former Ole Miss guard Marshall Henderson.

There are 16 teams in each of the four regions, with the winning team taking home $2 million.

The Northeast Region begins play in Philadelphia on July 8; the South Region starts the same day in Charlotte.

The West Region (Las Vegas) and Midwest Region (Peoria, Ill.) starts play on July 15.

The Super 16 takes place July 20–23 in New York and the championship game is slated for Aug. 3 in Baltimore and will be televised by ESPN.

Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris and Detroit Pistons forward Marcus Morris will coach and general manager the FOE team, which features Maalik Wayns (Villanova), Markus Kennedy (SMU), Klay Thompson's brother, Mychel and Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas). FOE made the Super 16 last season.

One of the more interesting team's is Ole Hotty Toddy, organized by former Ole Miss star Marshall Henderson. Henderson's team is comprised of nine players who played for Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy. 

The tournament also features Team Challenge ALS, which supports the fight against the neurological disease. The team was formed to support the ALS fight of Pete Frates, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2012 and credited as the creator of the Ice Bucket Challenge.

The team is coached Sacramento Kings guard Darren Collison with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and Frates as the team's boosters.

Those teams are looking to dethrone Overseas Elite, who has won the tournament in each of the last two years.

The Elite team has three former St. John's players, and have added with former NBA forward DeJuan Blair to the team this year.

Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum is Overseas Elite's booster.

Other NBA involvement include New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (Midwest Dream Squad) and Zaza Pachulia (Kentucky Kings) serving as team boosters and Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews coaching the Golden Eagles, comprised of Marquette alumni.