Inside The Panthers

Pitt to Host TBT Regional in 2024

The home arena of the Pitt Panthers will host a regional round of The Basketball Tournament.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt to Host TBT Regional in 2024
Pitt to Host TBT Regional in 2024 /
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PITTSBURGH -- Even during the offseason, the home arena of the Pitt Panthers will be filled with college basketball, but the games will be played by stars of the past. 

Pitt announced that, this summer, the Petersen Events Center will host a regional in The Basketball Tournament - a 64-team, $1 mllion, winner-take-all, single-elimination tournament - for the first time. 

"We are excited to host the TBT at the Petersen Events Center this summer," Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke said. "TBT is an outstanding summer event that all basketball fans will enjoy. The competitive environment and quality of competition will be exceptional which will lead to a memorable gameday experience at the Pete."

"TBT has been a great summer basketball event that unites and engages alumni groups and fan bases," Pitt head coach Jeff Capel said. "The Zoo Crew has trained at the Petersen Events Center each of the past two summers in preparation for the TBT and it has been terrific for our program to have them around. We look forward to hosting the Zoo Crew and the other teams at our home venue this summer."

Pittsburgh Regional games will be played at Petersen Events Center from July 19 to 24. Pitt will host Best Virginia and Happy Valley Hoopers - teams comprised of former players from rival West Virginia and Penn State - at the Pittsburgh regional to give the regional some extra flare. Five other teams will join them along with the Zoo Crew. 

Last year's Zoo Crew squad featured a host of Pitt starts from the near and far future. Greg Elliott, Nike Sibande and Nelly Cummings, stars of the 2023 NCAA Tournament team, all joined the roster, although Sibande did not end up playing. Mo Gueye was also listed on the roster but did not end up playing either as he pursued an opportunity with an NBA franchise. 

Stars of the Jamie Dixon era - Gilbert Brown, Gary McGhee, Sam Young, LeVance Fields, Jamel Artis, Ryan Luther and Talib Zanna also played. 

Pitt announced that Jamarius Burton, a 2023 first-team All-ACC selection for the Panthers, and Artis have confirmed he will play for the Zoo Crew this summer. 

The Zoo Crew lost their first round matchup, 86-71 to Herd That in Wheeling, West Virginia, in last year's tournament and will hope to improve on that run this summer.  

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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