Upcoming Match-ups
Tmrw
19
Apr
7:00 PM
CHI
MIA
+1.5
-1.5
205
9:30 PM
SAC
NO
-1.5
+1.5
211.5
Saturday
20
Apr
1:00 PM
ORL
CLE
+4.5
-4.5
207.5
3:30 PM
PHO
MIN
+1.5
-1.5
214
6:00 PM
PHI
NY
+3
-3
208.5
8:30 PM
LAL
DEN
+7
-7
224
Sunday
21
Apr
3:30 PM
DAL
LAC
-1
+1
223.5
7:00 PM
IND
MIL
-1
+1
233
Tuesday
23
Apr
8:30 PM
IND
MIL
+3
-3
239.5
10:00 PM
DAL
LAC
+2
-2
227.5

The Basketball Tournament 2019 Odds & Preview

Eric Rosales

by Eric Rosales in News

Updated Aug 6, 2020 · 10:21 AM PDT

DJ Kennedy
DJ Kennedy and Overseas Elite are looking for their fifth straight TBT Championship. Photo from @Josh_brown31 (Twitter).
  • TBT Championship Week kicks off Aug 1 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago 
  • The winning team will win a cool $2 million
  • Who is the best bet of the Final 8 teams?

From 64, they’re down to eight and on to Chicago, for a chance at a cool $2 million in the sixth season of what’s simply known as The Basketball Tournament.

This has been a run dominated by one team: Overseas Elite, seeking a fifth consecutive championship.

But books are sensing a possible shift, dropping the four-time defending champs further down the board.

The Basketball Tournament 2019 Championship Odds

Team Odds
Golden Eagles Alumni +333
Carmen’s Crew +350
Overseas Elite +400
Team Hines +400
Brotherly Love +700

*Odds taken 31/07/19

Not very many teams can overcome not having a two-time MVP in their lineup, as Overseas Elite has had to do without Kyle Fogg. Fortunately, the still have another player with the same credentials –  so are DJ Kennedy and the crew being overlooked?

Soar with the Eagles Alumni?

One of the neat elements of this tournament is how many college players team up and continue to play ball, post NCAA. Such is the deal with the current favorites, as nine of the Golden Eagles’ 15 players once suited up for Marquette.

A notable name from the roster is point guard Travis Diener – but he hasn’t even been activated for the tournament thus far. Instead, the team is being paced by another guy you may have heard of: Dwight Buycks, who had a cup of coffee with the Lakers. In TBT? The dude has been filling it up.

His best performance thus far was last game, a 34-point, 5-rebound 3-assist gem to help the Golden Eagles defeat Sideline Cancer. He’s averaging 29 points a contest overall. Perhaps the other reason books have identified Marquette as the favorite is the fact they have, in theory, the easiest game to open in Chicago, taking on major upset squad Jackson TN, a lowly 8-seed in their region.

Keep Your Eyes on the Crew

The Ohio State alumni team features memorable names like Aaron Craft (the team captain), guard Scoonie Penn and wing David Lighty, but the true force is guard William Buford.

Earning his post-Buckeye hoops cred in the D League and overseas, he’s averaging 21 points a game in TBT, including 23 in the Super 16 over Red Scare, following up his 24 from the previous round against BIG X. Lighty has been aiding in the effort with 16 points and five assists a contest.

But they’ll be in tough to start in Chicago, facing off against fellow top seed Eberlein Drive, last year’s runner-up to OE. That squad is led by Jerome Randle, a 2018 All-TBT member that’s kept it moving in 2019, pouring in 21 a game while adding a pair of game-winners in Rounds 1 and 2 for extra effect. He’s helped by Donald Sloan, who’s scoring 16 points a game in the tourney.

Don’t Forget About DJ

The defending champions feature the most decorated star of the tournament, as no one has put together a better run of dominance than DJ Kennedy. Once a Cleveland Cavalier for a stint in the 2011-2012 seasons, the ex-Red Storm alum is leading the defending champions, averaging 18 points, 10.5 rebounds and four assists per game.

The two-time MVP may not have Fogg, but he does have some help with Jeremy Pargo.

With NBA stops in Memphis, Cleveland and Philly, he’s probably best known for his career at Gonzaga, and being the younger bro of Jannero. At TBT, he’s averaging 16.5 points, 6.5 assists and five rebounds a contest.

Who Else to Look Out For

If you’re seeking upsets, then meet Jackson TN Underdawgs stud Jaylen Barford. The Arkansas alum is averaging 25.7 points a contest, trailing only Buycks in scoring of the players still standing. His last two games included a 29-point outburst to oust Louisiana United – which followed a 35-point outbreak in the second round over Southern Gentlemen.

Team Hines has their own star in Mike James, who had a couple of mini-stints with Phoenix and New Orleans in the 2017-18 NBA season. The Lamar product is filling it up to the tune of 21.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

My betting advice? Until someone slays the dragon, it’s the team with the unquestioned star and the title-winning pedigree.

The Pick: Overseas Elite (+400)

Author Image