For the fourth year in a row, The Basketball Tournament is vying to occupy the sports void during the slower months of the year. July is the time that The Basketball Tournament, or TBT, takes center stage and brings some familiar names along for the ride. While NBA players currently on rosters are not permitted to partake in the actual event, there are other ways for them to be involved. The stars of today’s NBA participates in TBT as coaches, boosters, and even just fans hitting the stands to support their Alma Maters. But this year, the star power is quite possibly on another level.
The former NBA star power is undeniable in the Super 16. Larry Sanders, Jared Sullinger, Chris Copeland, Tyshawn Taylor, Greg Oden, Eric Maynor, Darius Johnson-Odom, Patrick O’Bryant, Reggie Williams, Jannero Pargo, Jeremy Pargo, DJ Kennedy, Casper Ware, Donte Green, Dwight Buycks and a few others are listed as players on rosters. Jared Sullinger joined team Scarlet & Gray (Ohio State alums) following an injury to Greg Oden.
A number of players have connections to some NBA stars like Errick McCollum, brother of C.J. McCollum, Mychel Thompson, brother of Klay and Romeo Travis, former high school teammate of LeBron James. Plus, Markieff Morris, Wesley Matthews, C.J. McCollum, Shaun Livingston, Darren Collison, Cody Zeller, Steve Novak, Yogi Ferrell and Frank Mason Jr are all involved with TBT either as coaches or boosters.
And of course, international stars and college hoops sensations fill a number of these teams. Guys like Jacob Pullen, John Diebler, CJ Fair, Aaron Craft, Eric Devendorf and Tu Holloway are hitting the hardwood. They even have NBA writer Jordan Schultz hooping for a team at the Super 16 in Brooklyn.
Let’s take a look at every Super 16 matchup including two-time defending champion Overseas Elite going up against the Tampa Bulls and the 2016 TBT championship runner-up Team Colorado going against Armored Athlete. The full 64-team bracket is available here.
The Basketball Tournament 2017: Super 16
Northeast Region
(1) Fcm Untouchable vs (4) Team FOE
(3) Boeheim’s Army vs (7) Team Fancy Ryu
South Region
(1) Overseas Elite vs (5) Tampa Bulls
(2) Ram Nation vs (14) NC Prodigal Sons
West Region
(1) Team Colorado vs (4) Armored Athlete
(2) Few Good Men vs (6) Team Challenge
Midwest Region
(1) Golden Eagles vs (4) Purple and Black
(2) Scarlet & Gray vs (3) Always a Brave
