# The Basketball Tournament 2018

The Basketball Tournament 2018 was the fifth edition of The Basketball Tournament, a 5-on-5, single elimination basketball tournament broadcast by the ESPN family of networks. The tournament involved 72 teams; it started on June 29 and continued through August 3, 2018. The winner of the final, Overseas Elite, received a two million dollar prize.

## Format

The tournament started with a field of 72 teams, organized into four regions of 18 teams, all of which were seeded. The 18 teams in each region consisted of: nine teams selected based on fan popularity per the tournament's website, four teams selected via at-large bids, four teams accepted via buy-in of a $5000 fee, and the returning regional winner from the 2017 tournament.
2018 Regional winners :
| Region | Team |
| Northeast | Boeheim's Army |
| Midwest | Scarlet & Gray |
| South | Overseas Elite |
| West | Team Challenge ALS |

### Dunk contest

The Puma Hoops Dunk Contest was held during the Super 16 round, on July 27, with six contestants. There were four celebrity judges: Dominique Wilkins, Terry Rozier, God Shammgod, and Instagram personality @dunk. The contest winner was Marcus Lewis of Illinois BC, with Derek Cooke of Team Fredette as the runner-up; they were awarded prizes of $40,000 and $10,000, respectively.

## Venues

The Basketball Tournament 2018 took place in eight locations. Orange dots mark the locations of the two regional pods, red dots mark regional locations, the blue dot marks the Super 16 and quarterfinal location, and the green dot marks the semifinal and finals location.
* SpokaneMilwaukeeRichmondLos AngelesBrooklynColumbusAtlantaBaltimore

## Alumni Teams

Multiple teams in the tournament were comprised mostly or exclusively of alumni of a particular school. These teams are listed below.
| Region | Seed | Team | School | Origins of name |
| Northeast | 1 | Boeheim's Army | Syracuse Orange | Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim |
| Northeast | 3 | Golden Eagles | Marquette Golden Eagles | |
| Northeast | 5 | Gaelnation | Iona Gaels | |
| Northeast | 6 | Jack Attack | Georgetown Hoyas | Jack the Bulldog |
| Northeast | 7 | Team Arkansas | Arkansas Razorbacks | |
| Northeast | 9 | Saints Alive | Siena Saints | |
| Northeast | 11 | Hall In | Seton Hall Pirates | |
| Northeast | 14 | Johnnies | St. John's Red Storm | Common nickname |
| Midwest | 1 | Scarlet & Gray | Ohio State Buckeyes | Team colors |
| Midwest | 3 | Hilton Magic Legends | Iowa State Cyclones | Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State's home arena |
| Midwest | 5 | Always a Brave | Bradley Braves | |
| Midwest | 7 | Zoo Crew | Pittsburgh Panthers | Pitt's Oakland Zoo student section |
| Midwest | 8 | Bearcat Jam | Cincinnati Bearcats | |
| Midwest | 9 | Matadors | Texas Tech Red Raiders | School teams originally known as Matadors |
| South | 2 | Ram Nation | VCU Rams | |
| South | 3 | Memphis State | Memphis Tigers | Pre-1994 name of the University of Memphis |
| South | 5 | Wake Nation | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | |
| South | 7 | Blue Zoo | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | |
| South | 8 | Monarch Nation | Old Dominion Monarchs | |
| South | 9 | Hilltop Dawgs | UMBC Retrievers | Name derived from location |
| South | 10 | Purple & Black | Kansas State Wildcats | Team colors |
| West | 2 | Team Colorado | Colorado Buffaloes | |
| West | 3 | Gael Force | Saint Mary's Gaels | |
| West | 4 | Sons of Westwood | UCLA Bruins | One of UCLA's fight songs, from the campus location in Westwood |
| West | 5 | Forks Up | Arizona State Sun Devils | Pitchfork in mascot |
| West | 6 | Few Good Men | Gonzaga Bulldogs | Gonzaga head coach Mark Few |
| West | 11 | Team Utah | Utah Utes | |
| West | 14 | Air Force Bomb Squad | Air Force Falcons | |
Additionally, team We Are D3, the 13th seed in the West region, consisted of alumni from NCAA Division III programs.

## Schedule

Games televised on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU, with game replays available on ESPN3.
| Round | Dates | Region | Location | Comment |
| Play-in | July 13 | West | Los Angeles | Seeds 15–18 |
| Play-in | July 13 | South | Richmond, Virginia | Seeds 15–18 |
| Play-in | July 20 | Northeast | Brooklyn | Seeds 15–18 |
| Play-in | July 20 | Midwest | Columbus, Ohio | Seeds 15–18 |
| Regional | June 29–30 | West | Spokane, Washington | Hoopfest Pod |
| Regional | July 14–15 | West | Los Angeles, California |
| Regional | July 14–15 | South | Richmond, Virginia |
| Regional | June 30–July 1 | Northeast | Milwaukee | Big East Pod |
| Regional | July 21–22 | Northeast | Brooklyn, New York |
| Regional | July 21–22 | Midwest | Columbus, Ohio |
| Super 16 | July 26–28 | | Atlanta |
| Quarterfinals | July 29 | | Atlanta |
| Semifinals | August 2 | | Baltimore |
| Finals | August 3 | | Baltimore |

## Bracket

All times Eastern. Source:

### Northeast Region – Brooklyn, NY

| Play-in A July 20 | Play-in A July 20 | Play-in A July 20 |
| 15 | Talladega Knights | 81 |
| 18 | Queens Struggle | 69 |
| Play-in B July 20 | Play-in B July 20 | Play-in B July 20 |
| 16 | Philadelphia Stars | 68 |
| 17 | South Jamaica Kings | 73 |
| Round 1 July 21 Brooklyn | Round 1 July 21 Brooklyn | Round 1 July 21 Brooklyn | Round 2 July 22 Brooklyn | Round 2 July 22 Brooklyn | Round 2 July 22 Brooklyn | Super 16 July 28 Atlanta | Super 16 July 28 Atlanta | Super 16 July 28 Atlanta | | Quarterfinals July 29 Atlanta | Quarterfinals July 29 Atlanta | Quarterfinals July 29 Atlanta |
| 1 | Boeheim's Army | 90 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | South Jamaica Kings | 72 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | South Jamaica Kings | 72 | 1 | Boeheim's Army | 60 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Team Fancy | 55 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Team Fancy | 85 | 8 | Team Fancy | 55 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Saints Alive | 68 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Saints Alive | 68 | | | | 1 | Boeheim's Army | 73 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Armored Athlete | 69 | | | | |
| 5 | Gaelnation | 100 | | | | | | | 4 | Armored Athlete | 69 | | | | |
| 12 | Sideline Cancer | 88 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Sideline Cancer | 88 | 5 | Gaelnation | 73 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Armored Athlete | 75 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Armored Athlete | 85 | 4 | Armored Athlete | 75 | | | | | | | |
| 13 | DC on Point | 69 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | DC on Point | 69 | | | | | | | | 1 | Boeheim's Army | 86 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Golden Eagles | 90 |
| 6 | Jack Attack | 77 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Golden Eagles | 90 |
| 11 | Hall In | 88 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Hall In | 88 | 11 | Hall In | 76 | | | | | | | |
| Big East Pod – Milwaukee, WI | Big East Pod – Milwaukee, WI | Big East Pod – Milwaukee, WI | 11 | Hall In | 76 | | | | | | | |
| Big East Pod – Milwaukee, WI | Big East Pod – Milwaukee, WI | Big East Pod – Milwaukee, WI | 3 | Golden Eagles | 96 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Golden Eagles | 78 | 3 | Golden Eagles | 96 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Johnnies | 67 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Johnnies | 67 | | | | 3 | Golden Eagles | 73 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 15 | Talladega Knights | 66 | | | | |
| 7 | Team Arkansas | 85 | | | | | | | 15 | Talladega Knights | 66 | | | | |
| 10 | Tim Thomas Playaz | 62 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Tim Thomas Playaz | 62 | 7 | Team Arkansas | 74 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 15 | Talladega Knights | 91 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | HBC Sicklerville | 60 | 15 | Talladega Knights | 91 | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Talladega Knights | 80 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Northeast Regional Final

* ESPN
* July 29, 2018 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Report
#1 Boeheim's Army 86, #3 Golden Eagles 90 :
| Scoring by quarter: 25–19, 12–29, 29–19, 20–23 |||
| Pts: Warrick – 24 Rebs: Triche – 8 Asts: Triche & Devendorf – 5 | Pts: Acker – 22 Rebs: McNeal – 8 Asts: McNeal & Diener – 6 |
* GSU Sports Arena Atlanta, Georgia Referees: Antonio Petty, John Heatly, Byron Evans

### Midwest Regional – Columbus, OH

| Play-in A July 20 | Play-in A July 20 | Play-in A July 20 |
| 15 | Peoria All Stars | 85 |
| 18 | West Coast Ronin | 62 |
| Play-in B July 20 | Play-in B July 20 | Play-in B July 20 |
| 16 | West Virginia Wildcats | 114 |
| 17 | Charlotte Chess Center | 87 |
| Round 1 July 21 Columbus | Round 1 July 21 Columbus | Round 1 July 21 Columbus | Round 2 July 22 Columbus | Round 2 July 22 Columbus | Round 2 July 22 Columbus | Super 16 July 27 Atlanta | Super 16 July 27 Atlanta | Super 16 July 27 Atlanta | | Quarterfinals July 29 Atlanta | Quarterfinals July 29 Atlanta | Quarterfinals July 29 Atlanta |
| 1 | Scarlet & Gray | 99 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | West Virginia Wildcats | 68 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | West Virginia Wildcats | 68 | 1 | Scarlet & Gray | 82 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Matadors | 73 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Bearcat Jam | 63 | 9 | Matadors | 73 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Matadors | 80 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Matadors | 80 | | | | 1 | Scarlet & Gray | 72 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 12 | PrimeTime Players | 60 | | | | |
| 5 | Always a Brave | 64 | | | | | | | 12 | PrimeTime Players | 60 | | | | |
| 12 | PrimeTime Players | 68 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | PrimeTime Players | 68 | 12 | PrimeTime Players | 70 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Big X | 67 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Big X | 81 | 4 | Big X | 67 | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Chattanooga Trenches | 79 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Chattanooga Trenches | 79 | | | | | | | | 1 | Scarlet & Gray | 78 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Team Fredette | 100 |
| 6 | Fort Wayne Champs | 93 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Team Fredette | 100 |
| 11 | The Region | 82 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | The Region | 82 | 6 | Fort Wayne Champs | 84 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 14 | Illinois BC | 66 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Hilton Magic Legends | 63 | 14 | Illinois BC | 66 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Illinois BC | 92 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Illinois BC | 92 | | | | 6 | Fort Wayne Champs | 91 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Team Fredette | 104 | | | | |
| 7 | Zoo Crew | 77 | | | | | | | 2 | Team Fredette | 104 | | | | |
| 10 | Jackson TN Underdawgs | 86 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Jackson TN Underdawgs | 86 | 10 | Jackson TN Underdawgs | 89 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Team Fredette | 99 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Team Fredette | 88 | 2 | Team Fredette | 99 | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Peoria All Stars | 80 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Midwest Regional Final

* ESPN
* July 29, 2018
* Report
#1 Scarlet & Gray 78, #2 Team Fredette 100 :
| Scoring by quarter: 17–21, 23–30, 23–25, 15–24 |||
| Pts: Lighty – 16 Rebs: Sullinger – 8 Asts: Craft & Pigram – 3 | Pts: Fredette – 28 Rebs: Cooley – 7 Asts: Fredette – 7 |
* GSU Sports Arena Atlanta, Georgia Referees: Derick Stafford, Anthony Jordan, Tommie Morrissey

### South Regional – Richmond, VA

| Play-in A July 13 | Play-in A July 13 | Play-in A July 13 |
| 16 | Rock City Scorchers | 64 |
| 17 | Team ABC2 | 77 |
| Play-in B July 13 | Play-in B July 13 | Play-in B July 13 |
| 15 | Tampa 20/20 | 86 |
| 18 | Cancer +1 | 72 |
| Round 1 July 14 Richmond | Round 1 July 14 Richmond | Round 1 July 14 Richmond | Round 2 July 15 Richmond | Round 2 July 15 Richmond | Round 2 July 15 Richmond | Super 16 July 26 Atlanta | Super 16 July 26 Atlanta | Super 16 July 26 Atlanta | | Quarterfinals July 29 Atlanta | Quarterfinals July 29 Atlanta | Quarterfinals July 29 Atlanta |
| 1 | Overseas Elite | 78 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Team ABC2 | 62 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Team ABC2 | 62 | 1 | Overseas Elite | 71 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Monarch Nation | 61 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Monarch Nation | 72 | 8 | Monarch Nation | 61 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Hilltop Dawgs | 59 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Hilltop Dawgs | 59 | | | | 1 | Overseas Elite | 87 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Louisiana United | 86 | | | | |
| 5 | Wake the Nation | 55 | | | | | | | 4 | Louisiana United | 86 | | | | |
| 12 | Showtime | 68 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Showtime | 68 | 12 | Showtime | 61 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Louisiana United | 88 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Louisiana United | 86 | 4 | Louisiana United | 88 | | | | | | | |
| 13 | ATL All Stars | 69 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | ATL All Stars | 69 | | | | | | | | 1 | Overseas Elite | 72 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Ram Nation | 60 |
| 6 | Team DRC | 84 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Ram Nation | 60 |
| 11 | NC Prodigal Sons | 66 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | NC Prodigal Sons | 66 | 6 | Team DRC | 84 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Memphis State | 80 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Memphis State | 72 | 3 | Memphis State | 80 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Brooklyn Vultures | 63 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Brooklyn Vultures | 63 | | | | 6 | Team DRC | 65 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Ram Nation | 78 | | | | |
| 7 | Atlanta Dirty South | 76 | | | | | | | 2 | Ram Nation | 78 | | | | |
| 10 | Purple & Black | 74 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Purple & Black | 74 | 7 | Atlanta Dirty South | 71 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Ram Nation | 76 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Ram Nation | 86 | 2 | Ram Nation | 76 | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Tampa 20/20 | 72 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### South Regional Final

* ESPN2
* July 29, 2018 11:00 a.m. EDT
* Report
#1 Overseas Elite 72, #2 Ram Nation 60 :
| Scoring by quarter: 18–13, 20–16, 18–22, 16–9 |||
| Pts: Burrell – 15 Rebs: Kennedy & Burrell – 8 Asts: McCollum – 5 | Pts: Williams – 13 Rebs: Burgess & Williams – 5 Asts: Maynor – 5 |
* GSU Sports Arena Atlanta, Georgia Referees: Orlandis Poole, Pat Evans, Archie Whaley

### West Regional – Los Angeles, CA

| Play-in A July 13 | Play-in A July 13 | Play-in A July 13 |
| 15 | Kimchi Express | 104 |
| 18 | Dubois Dream | 96 |
| Play-in B July 13 | Play-in B July 13 | Play-in B July 13 |
| 16 | Utah Valor | 65 |
| 17 | Fort Hood Wounded Warriors | 98 |
| Round 1 July 14 Los Angeles | Round 1 July 14 Los Angeles | Round 1 July 14 Los Angeles | Round 2 July 15 Los Angeles | Round 2 July 15 Los Angeles | Round 2 July 15 Los Angeles | Super 16 July 28 Atlanta | Super 16 July 28 Atlanta | Super 16 July 28 Atlanta | | Quarterfinals July 29 Atlanta | Quarterfinals July 29 Atlanta | Quarterfinals July 29 Atlanta |
| 1 | Team Challenge ALS | 83 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Fort Hood Wounded Warriors | 75 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Fort Hood Wounded Warriors | 75 | 1 | Team Challenge ALS | 72 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | CitiTeam Blazers | 59 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Team 23 | 71 | 9 | CitiTeam Blazers | 59 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | CitiTeam Blazers | 82 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | CitiTeam Blazers | 82 | | | | 1 | Team Challenge ALS | 86 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Sons of Westwood | 80 | | | | |
| 5 | Forks Up | 75 | | | | | | | 4 | Sons of Westwood | 80 | | | | |
| 12 | Albuquerque Hoops | 94 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Albuquerque Hoops | 94 | 12 | Albuquerque Hoops | 62 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Sons of Westwood | 76 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Sons of Westwood | 90 | 4 | Sons of Westwood | 76 | | | | | | | |
| 13 | We Are D3 | 65 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | We Are D3 | 65 | | | | | | | | 1 | Team Challenge ALS | 67 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Eberlein Drive | 78 |
| 6 | Few Good Men | 84 | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Eberlein Drive | 78 |
| 11 | Team Utah | 83 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Team Utah | 83 | 6 | Few Good Men | 48 | | | | | | | |
| Hoopfest Pod – Spokane, WA | Hoopfest Pod – Spokane, WA | Hoopfest Pod – Spokane, WA | 6 | Few Good Men | 48 | | | | | | | |
| Hoopfest Pod – Spokane, WA | Hoopfest Pod – Spokane, WA | Hoopfest Pod – Spokane, WA | 3 | Gael Force | 95 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Gael Force | 82 | 3 | Gael Force | 95 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Air Force Bomb Squad | 54 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Air Force Bomb Squad | 54 | | | | 3 | Gael Force | 59 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 7 | Eberlein Drive | 72 | | | | |
| 7 | Eberlein Drive | 86 | | | | | | | 7 | Eberlein Drive | 72 | | | | |
| 10 | Broad Street Brawlers | 71 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Broad Street Brawlers | 71 | 7 | Eberlein Drive | 83 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Team Colorado | 76 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Team Colorado | 105 | 2 | Team Colorado | 76 | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Kimchi Express | 73 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### West Regional Final

* ESPN2
* July 29, 2018 7:00 p.m. EDT
* Report
#1 Team Challenge ALS 67, #7 Eberlein Drive 78 :
| Scoring by quarter: 12–17, 15–23, 23–24, 17–14 |||
| Pts: Ware – 22 Rebs: Hamilton – 7 Asts: Hamilton & Rowland – 2 | Pts: Randle – 29 Rebs: Braun & Evans – 7 Asts: 3 players – 3 |
* GSU Sports Arena Atlanta, Georgia Referees: Tony Greene, Chuck Jones, Sean Goode

### Semifinals – Baltimore, MD

| Semifinals August 2 Baltimore | Semifinals August 2 Baltimore | Semifinals August 2 Baltimore | Final August 3 Baltimore | Final August 3 Baltimore | Final August 3 Baltimore |
| NE3 | Golden Eagles | 60 | | | |
| S1 | Overseas Elite | 85 | | | |
| S1 | Overseas Elite | 85 | S1 | Overseas Elite | 70 |
| | | | W7 | Eberlein Drive | 58 |
| MW2 | Team Fredette | 76 | W7 | Eberlein Drive | 58 |
| W7 | Eberlein Drive | 80 | | | |

#### Semifinals

* ESPN
* August 2, 2018 7:00 p.m. EDT
* Report
NE #3 Golden Eagles 60, S #1 Overseas Elite 85 :
| Scoring by quarter: 13–28, 21–15, 22–21, 4–21 |||
| Pts: Cook – 19 Rebs: Wilson & Blackledge – 4 Asts: Acker – 4 | Pts: Fogg – 38 Rebs: Kennedy – 12 Asts: Kennedy – 5 |
* Talmadge L. Hill Field House Baltimore, Maryland Referees: Brian O'Connell, Jeff Clark, Jamie Luckie
* ESPN
* August 2, 2018 9:00 p.m. EDT
* Report
MW #2 Team Fredette 76, W #7 Eberlein Drive 80 :
| Scoring by quarter: 19–20, 13–21, 22–24, 22–15 |||
| Pts: Fredette – 24 Rebs: Davies – 10 Asts: Fredette – 5 | Pts: Sloan – 20 Rebs: Evans – 7 Asts: Randle – 5 |
* Talmadge L. Hill Field House Baltimore, Maryland

#### Championship

* ESPN
* August 3, 2018 9:00 p.m. EDT
* Report
S #1 Overseas Elite 70, W #7 Eberlein Drive 58 :
| Scoring by quarter: 17–12, 18–21, 17–17, 18–8 |||
| Pts: Burrell – 15 Rebs: Kennedy – 9 Asts: Kennedy – 4 | Pts: Randle & Sloan – 14 Rebs: Evans – 12 Asts: Sloan – 5 |
* Talmadge L. Hill Field House Baltimore, Maryland Referees: Clarence Armstrong, Mike Eades, Jeff Anderson

## Awards

All Tournament Team :
| Pos | Player | Team | PPG |
| F | D. J. Kennedy (MVP) | Overseas Elite | 14.3 |
| G | Errick McCollum | Overseas Elite | 12.8 |
| G | Jerome Randle | Eberlein Drive | 21.7 |
| G | Jimmer Fredette | Team Fredette | 31.0 |
| F | Jamil Wilson | Golden Eagles | 18.0 |
| GM | Matt Mitchell & Jacob Hirschmann | Eberlein Drive | — |
Source: