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The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played in the United States. The 2025 tournament is set to begin on May 6, with tickets to all eight regionals going on sale on that date. The tournament features many professional players reunited under a former college or university name. The rules are a modified version of NCAA men's basketball rules, with games played in 9-minute quarters and players fouling out upon their 6th personal foul. TBT has had a number of current and former NBA players participate, and in 2019, the tournament was expected to feature an active female professional for the first time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Tournament | The Basketball Tournament (TBT) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Dates | Began with Selection Sunday on March 16; ended with the Final Four and the national championship game on April 5 and 7 |
| Number of Teams | 64 |
| Format | Single-elimination |
| Prize | $1 million |
| Rules | Modified version of NCAA men's basketball rules |
| Notable Participants | Sean McDermott, Montrezl Harrell, Russ Smith, Conner Frankamp, Rashard Kelly, Elijah Hughes, Hakim Warrick, Jason Williams, Dahntay Jones, Mike Bibby, Royal Ivey, Matt Bonner, Jimmer Fredette, Brian Scalabrine, Nikki Teasley, Greg Oden |
| Hosts | Wichita, Kansas City, Syracuse, Louisville, West Virginia |
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What You'll Learn
Who are the favourites?
Several teams are considered favourites to win the NCAA Tournament, also known as March Madness, a month-long tournament where 68 teams compete for the national championship.
Duke is the nation's top pick to win the 2025 NCAA men's basketball tournament, according to NCAA.com. The Blue Devils are picked to win the national championship in 30.97% of Men's BCG brackets, well ahead of the second-most-favoured team, Florida (17.51%). Duke has won 31 games leading into the NCAA Tournament and 26 of its last 27 games. They have the best player in the sport, freshman Cooper Flagg, who is the favourite to win National Player of the Year and is the frontrunner to be the No. 1 NBA Draft pick. However, Flagg suffered an ankle injury in the ACC Tournament, and it is unknown whether he will recover in time to play. Other key players, such as Maliq Brown, are also dealing with injuries. Despite this, Duke has shown its depth and experience, and has a favourable draw that could take them back to the Final Four.
Florida is another favourite to win the tournament. The Gators have won 12 of their last 13 games, with their last six wins being all Quad 1 games. They have a balanced scoring attack, with six players averaging 8 points per game. They also have the nation's best scoring defence, along with an effective offense.
Auburn is also a favourite, despite losing three of their past four games. They have been college basketball's best team throughout the season and have been consistently successful over the past five seasons.
Other potential favourites include Tennessee, which has one of the best defences in the country, and Texas A&M, which is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country.
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Which players are returning?
For the 2024-25 women's college basketball season, several players are returning to the court, including some of the game's brightest stars. Here are some of the notable returning players:
JuJu Watkins
JuJu Watkins, a freshman at USC, became the leading scorer for the Trojans and took them to their first Elite Eight in three decades. She set an NCAA freshman scoring record with 920 points, including a 51-point performance against Stanford. Watkins is known for her smooth three-level scoring and unmatched versatility.
Paige Bueckers
In her final season, Bueckers aims to lead UConn back to the top.
Hannah Hidalgo
Hidalgo, a freshman at Notre Dame, averaged 23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 4.6 steals. She was named the ACC's Defensive Player and Rookie of the Year, and her dynamic play elevated Notre Dame's backcourt game.
Audi Crooks
Audi Crooks, a freshman at Iowa State, made headlines with her historic 40-point performance against Maryland in the NCAA Tournament. She averaged 19.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, showcasing her dominant presence in the paint.
Saniya Rivers
Saniya Rivers, a junior at NC State, earned First Team All-ACC, All-Defensive Team, and AP All-America Honorable Mention honors. She is known for her two-way play, averaging 12.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Rivers led NC State to a Final Four run, showcasing her defensive prowess with a career-high performance against UConn.
Men's College Basketball Returning Players:
Although I do not have specific information about the 2025-26 men's college basketball season, I can provide some insights into returning players from previous seasons. In the 2023-24 season, several top players were expected to return, including David Connelly. Additionally, in the 2025-26 season, Emanuel Sharp and Joseph Tugler are expected to return to Houston, and Arkansas' Boogie Fland and Adou Thiero are projected to return as well.
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What are the rules?
The rules of a basketball tournament will vary depending on the organiser and the level of competition. However, here are some general rules that are typically followed:
Team Composition
Each team is allowed a maximum of 15 players on their roster, with a minimum of 4 players needed to start a game. Teams are also allowed 3 bench personnel, such as a head coach, assistant coach, and bookkeeper. It is important to ensure that all players are eligible to participate and have valid proof of age and grade, such as a birth certificate or report card. In some cases, players can obtain a National Sports ID to verify their information and speed up the check-in process.
Game Format
The game format can vary depending on the age group and specific tournament rules. For example, in some tournaments, the National High School Federation (NHSF) rules will apply unless otherwise specified. The game format may include the length of each period, the size of the ball used, and any overtime or sudden death rules. Some tournaments may also implement a "running clock" format, where the clock runs continuously except during timeouts.
Pool Play and Seeding
In many tournaments, teams will begin with Pool Play, where they compete against a group of teams to determine their seeding for Bracket Play. Seeding is determined by the head-to-head matchup, point differential, and the number of points allowed. After Pool Play, teams are seeded for Bracket Play, and the tournament progresses to a single-elimination format.
Ineligible Players
It is important to ensure that all players on the roster are eligible to participate. If a team is found to have played with an ineligible player, they may be disqualified from the tournament. Repeated offences from the same organisation may result in suspension from future tournaments. Coaches have the ability to challenge a player's eligibility, but there is a limit to the number of challenges to maintain the integrity of the competition.
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Who are the hosts?
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played in the summer across various regions in the United States. The tournament was founded in 2014 by real estate developer and TV producer Jonathan Mugar, and the stakes are a cash prize for the winning team.
In 2025, TBT will play in eight regions across the country from July 18th to August 3rd. The host sites for the tournament have not yet been announced, but the host teams for each region have been decided.
The host teams for the 2025 tournament include:
- JHX Hoops, a Kansas University alumni team, and Purple Reign, a Kansas State University alumni team, will host the Kansas City Regional.
- Boeheim's Army, the Syracuse University alumni team, will host the Syracuse Regional.
- Sean McDermott will return to Butler's alumni team at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
- Montrezl Harrell will return to Louisville's alumni team.
In previous years, NBA players such as Carmelo Anthony have acted as hosts for the tournament. In 2019, the 64 teams were divided into eight regions, with each regional winner advancing to the championship venue.
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What are the fixtures?
The 2025 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament took place from April 15 to April 18, with the first round of the NBA Playoffs starting on April 19. The tournament features the 7th to 10th seeds from each conference, battling for the 7th and 8th playoff seeds.
The tournament sees the 9th and 10th seeds play a single-elimination game, with the loser being eliminated. The winner of this game then plays the loser of the 7/8 game, with the winner of this game advancing to the playoffs as the 8th seed.
Some of the teams in the tournament include:
- Golden State Warriors
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Atlanta Hawks
- Dallas Mavericks
- Sacramento Kings
- Miami Heat
- Chicago Bulls
- Boston Celtics
- Orlando Magic
- Game 1: Cavaliers 121, Heat 100
- Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers (April 23, 7:30 ET, NBA TV)
- Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat (April 26, 1 ET, TNT)
- Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat (April 28)
- Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers (April 30)
- Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat (May 2)
- Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers (May 4)
- If necessary
- Game 1: Celtics 103, Magic 86
- Game 2: Magic at Celtics (April 23, 7 ET, TNT)
- Game 3: Celtics at Magic (April 25, 7 ET, ESPN)
- Game 4: Celtics at Magic (April 27, 7 ET, TNT)
- Game 5: Magic at Celtics (April 29)
- Game 6: Celtics at Magic (May 1)
- Game 7: Magic at Celtics (May 3)
- If necessary
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Frequently asked questions
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is a single-elimination tournament with a cash prize for the winners. The number of teams has varied since its founding in 2014 but has most recently settled on a 64-team field. Teams are often made up of professional players reunited under a former college or university name.
TBT uses a modified version of NCAA men's basketball rules. Games are played in 9-minute quarters, players foul out on their 6th personal foul, and bonus free-throw rules follow NCAA women's and FIBA rules.
The tournament takes place every summer. The 2025 tournament will begin on May 6, with tickets to all 8 regionals going on sale.
