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The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played in the United States, with the winning team taking home a cash prize. The tournament was founded in 2014 by real estate developer and TV producer Jonathan Mugar, and the championship prize money has varied over the years, reaching $2 million from 2016 through 2019. The 2016 tournament saw Overseas Elite defeat Team Colorado, 77-72, to claim the $2 million prize, with Arizona alumnus Kyle Fogg named MVP.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2016 |
| Tournament Name | The Basketball Tournament (TBT) |
| Winner | Overseas Elite |
| MVP | Arizona alumnus Kyle Fogg |
| Prize Money | $2 million |
| Runner-up | Team Colorado |
| Final Score | 77-72 |
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What You'll Learn
The Basketball Tournament (TBT)
The Basketball Tournament, or TBT, is an annual open-invitation, single-elimination basketball tournament played each summer in the United States. The tournament was founded in 2014 by real estate developer and TV producer Jonathan Mugar, and it airs on Fox and its sister network Fox Sports 1 (FS1). The number of teams participating in the tournament has varied, ranging from 24 teams in 2020 to a high of 97 teams in 2015. In recent years, the tournament has typically featured a 64-team field.
The tournament features a mix of current and former NBA and WNBA players, as well as alumni teams from various colleges and universities. Notable NBA players who have participated include Kyle Lowry, Obi Toppin, John Wall, Kristaps Porzingis, Rudy Gay, Shaun Livingston, and Jason Williams. The tournament has also seen the involvement of active NBA coaches and boosters, such as Damian Lillard and Wes Matthews.
The championship prize money has evolved over the years, starting at $500,000 in 2014 and increasing to $1 million in 2015. From 2016 through 2019, the prize money was $2 million, and since 2020, it has been $1 million. The prize money is awarded to the winning team's personnel, and there are also prizes for fans who submit the top-scoring bracket entries.
One of the notable aspects of TBT is the celebration ritual after each game. A portable bracket is brought into the winning team's locker room, and the team advances their placard to the next round. This ritual has gained popularity and has even been adopted by the NCAA for March Madness.
TBT has seen several teams emerge as champions over the years. The inaugural championship in 2014 was won by Notre Dame Fighting Alumni, who defeated Team Barstool 72-68. Overseas Elite then claimed the title in both 2015 and 2016, defeating Team 23 and Team Colorado, respectively. The $2 million prize in 2016 made Overseas Elite the first team to win this amount in the tournament's history.
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$2 million prize
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played each summer in the United States. The tournament was founded in 2014 by real estate developer and TV producer Jonathan Mugar, and the championship prize money has varied over the years.
In its inaugural year, the tournament offered a $500,000 prize, which was won by the Notre Dame Fighting Alumni team. The following year, in 2015, the prize money was doubled to $1 million, and the Overseas Elite team took home the winnings.
In 2016, the tournament doubled its prize money once again to $2 million. The Overseas Elite team claimed the top prize for the second consecutive year, becoming the first team to win the $2 million prize. The team's core included Errick McCollum, the older brother of Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum, former St. John's standouts Paris Horne and D.J. Kennedy, DeAndre Kane, Kyle Fogg, Todd O'Brien, and Johndre Jefferson. Arizona alumnus Kyle Fogg was named the MVP of the tournament.
The $2 million prize money continued through 2019, with the top prize returning to $1 million in 2020. The tournament has attracted players with varying financial motivations, from those seeking a shot at the NBA to those looking to support their families or donate to charitable causes.
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64 teams
The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, also known as March Madness or The Big Dance, is a single-elimination tournament played in the United States to determine the men's college basketball national champion. The tournament first took place in 1939 and has since been held annually, except in 2020 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of teams participating in the tournament has varied over the years. Between 1939 and 1950, the tournament consisted of eight teams, with each selected from a geographical district. In 1985, the tournament expanded to 64 teams, eliminating all byes and play-ins. This expansion increased media coverage and popularity for the tournament in American culture.
The 64-team format remained in place until 2011 when the tournament expanded to include 68 teams. This larger format introduced more play-in games and diluted the competition, making it less likely for lower-ranked teams to pull off upsets in the early rounds.
Despite the expansion, only three times in the 39-year history of the 64-plus-team NCAA tournament has a seed lower than the fourth seed won the tournament: 2014 UConn (7th seed), 1988 Kansas (6th seed), and 1985 Villanova (8th seed). UConn has an impressive record, having won all six of their championship game appearances.
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Overseas Elite
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, open-invitation, single-elimination tournament played each summer in the United States. The tournament was founded in 2014 by real estate developer and TV producer Jonathan Mugar, and the championship prize money has varied over the years, reaching $2 million from 2016 through 2019.
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Notre Dame Fighting Alumni
The Notre Dame Fighting Alumni is the basketball team of the University of Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish, as they are also known, have a rich basketball history, with 36 or 37 appearances in the NCAA tournament, including a record-holding 30 or more appearances without a championship win. They also hold two retroactively awarded national championships from the Helms Foundation for the 1927 and 1936 seasons.
In 2014, the Fighting Alumni team participated in the inaugural The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a single-elimination tournament with a $500,000 winner-take-all prize. The Fighting Alumni emerged victorious, defeating Team Barstool by a score of 72-68. The team was led by Tyrone Nash, who played for Notre Dame from 2007 to 2011 and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Other key contributors in the final game included Ryan Ayers and Rob Kurz, who both finished with double-digit points.
Following their success in the 2014 TBT, the Notre Dame Fighting Alumni returned in 2015 to defend their title. The tournament expanded that year, with 96 or 97 teams vying for a million-dollar prize. The Fighting Alumni embodied the university's commitment to service, donating a portion of their previous year's winnings to Coaches vs. Cancer.
The Fighting Alumni's performance in The Basketball Tournament showcases the talent and dedication of the University of Notre Dame's basketball program, both past and present. Their achievements have brought recognition and pride to the university, solidifying their place in its athletic history.
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Frequently asked questions
Overseas Elite won the $2 million prize in 2016.
The team members were Errick McCollum, Paris Horne, D.J. Kennedy, DeAndre Kane, Kyle Fogg, Todd O'Brien, and Johndre Jefferson.
Arizona alumnus Kyle Fogg was named MVP.
The tournament began in 2014 with a prize of $500,000.
