TBT releases schedule for 2023 regional at Freedom Hall including Louisville alumni team

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Basketball Tournament is coming to Louisville this summer with notable former college players competing for $1 million.

The Ville, a Louisville alumni team, is one of eight teams in the regional played at Freedom Hall. The regional tournament takes place July 25-29, and the tournament's quarterfinals will be held on July 31.

The Ville is a two-seed in the Louisville regional. The team's roster includes Russ Smith, Peyton Siva, Wayne Blackshear, Chance Behanan, Chinanu Onuaku, Rakeem Buckles, Dillon Avare, Chris Dow, Nick Mayo and Omar Prewitt. The Ville's coaching staff includes Mark Lieberman, Jordan Sucher, Luke Hancock and trainer Ronnie Taylor.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back out there and competing," Siva said.

The Louisville region also includes teams with alumni from Auburn, Florida and Maryland. The top-seed is the Gutter Cat Gang featuring Kyle Hines. Three-seed Eberlein Drive includes former WKU players A.J. Slaughter and Justin Johnson, along with Archie Goodwin, who played at Kentucky.

"It's been a great process getting everybody back and everybody back in basketball shape," Siva said. "It's not just a pick-up game where you get up and down, take a break now. It's actually a full-on game."

Shell Shock, a team made up of Maryland alumni, is the four-seed. It features Melo Trimble and Darryl Morsell. Fifth-seed Gataverse has Florida alumni like Corey Brewer. Jackson TN Underdawgs are the six-seed, while War Ready, a seven-seed, is made up of Auburn alumni. Georgia Kingz is the eight-seed.

The Ville will take on War Ready on July 25 at 7 p.m. If the team advances to the second round, it will play the winner of Shell Shock and Gataverse on July 27 at 8 p.m. The regional championship is July 29 at noon.

Smitgh said practice is been important because professionally a lot of the players haven't been on the court together outside of open gyms.

"We're nine years removed," Smith said. "That's why practice is very important to try and sync again."

Former UofL basketball assistant coach Mark Lieberman is the head coach and said this isn't another pick-up game.

"We're treating this like almost an NCAA Tournament type of venue," Lieberman said.

Freedom Hall will host the Louisville regional winner and Lubbock regional winner on July 31 at 9 p.m. The winner of that game advances to the semifinals in Philadelphia on Aug. 2. The winner-take-all championship game is hosted in Philadelphia on Aug. 3. The winning team will receive $1 million.

Mayor Craig Greenberg believes this team can win the entire tournament and will top the hanging of the championship banner between the columns in front of City Hall.

"I know that will be topped when The Ville brings home the championship in the TBT Tournament coming up here at the end of July," Greenberg said.

Tickets will be available via TicketMaster.

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