Ohio State will host games in The Basketball Tournament
![A second-round game between Scarlet & Gray and the Matadors drew a big crowd to Capital University on July 22, 2018. Scarlet & Gray won 82-73. [Adam Cairns]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/2020/02/18/NBUX/ghows-OH-9bf65a49-eeb0-4639-94d0-e092bfcfb9ec-47382271.jpeg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
When the team of Ohio State alumni begins its quest to repeat as The Basketball Tournament champions, it will start on its home campus.
Carmen’s Crew will be one of eight teams that will open TBT on Ohio State’s campus inside the Covelli Center from July 23-26. The team will again be coached by former players Evan Turner and Jared Sullinger.
“There’s no better place to have the tournament,” Turner said in a press release. “I think that it’s going to be so special and fun to play at a place where we all became men. I think our guys are going to show up and show out and make the Buckeye faithful proud. This is definitely something I’m excited for and can’t wait to be part of and I know everybody in the city feels the same way.”
This will be the third straight year that Columbus will be a host city for the event. For the past two seasons, games have been played at Capital University. Last year, that was where the team primarily composed of former Buckeyes started its path to a title.
Should Carmen’s Crew advance out of its region, it would attempt to repeat as champions at the University of Dayton from August 6-11.
A roster will be announced as the event nears, but a press release indicates that both Aaron Craft and Jon Diebler are expected to return to the team. Craft will be enrolling in medical school at Ohio State this fall and told The Dispatch last fall that it will affect his availability for the final rounds of the tournament should he opt to play again.
“Our program prides itself on welcoming back our former players and having Carmen’s Crew back on campus for the Columbus Regional of The Basketball Tournament takes that to a new level,” Ohio State men’s basketball head coach Chris Holtmann said. “Buckeye Nation will once again be able to cheer on legendary Buckeyes in our newest modern facility, the Covelli Center. TBT will be yet another opportunity for Carmen’s Crew to continue its success playing in Columbus in front of our tremendous fans.”
The Basketball Tournament, a 64-team event with a $2 million prize for its winner, was established in 2014. Carmen’s Crew is only the third team to win a title, defeating four-time defending champions Overseas Elite in the title game.
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@AdamJardy