Charleston to Host 2020 The Basketball Tournament Regional
The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a 64-team, $2 million winner-take-all event televised live on ESPN, today announced plans to bring one of its TBT 2020 regionals to Charleston, WV, this summer.
Members of Best Virginia, the West Virginia University alumni team, will begin their quest for the $2 million purse in the West Virginia Regional at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, July 24-26.
Led by members of the 2010 West Virginia Final Four team, including John Flowers, Kevin Jones and Da’Sean Butler, Best Virginia was one of TBT’s most exciting new alumni teams in 2019. Best Virginia knocked off Seven City Royalty (Old Dominion University alumni) in the first round of the Richmond Regional in front of more than 1,000 West Virginia fans who traveled to see the team play last summer. With the tournament now moving to West Virginia, Flowers, Jones, Butler and Nathan Adrian have all committed to return to play for Best Virginia in 2020. Additional team members will be announced later.
“I’m very excited about TBT coming to West Virginia,” said Flowers. “It’s great for the people of West Virginia and will be a great summer event for the state to watch some great basketball and relive some great memories. The people of the TBT saw how West Virginia came out to support us and that we have the best fanbase.”
Alongside Best Virginia, seven other teams will compete in the West Virginia Regional, with all games being broadcast live on ESPN networks. First-round games at the Coliseum will begin Friday, July 24. The remaining four teams will compete in the Regional Semifinals Saturday, July 25, and the Regional Championship will be played Sunday, July 26.
“TBT was a tremendous opportunity for me to reunite with West Virginia teammates and fans alike,” said Jones. “The fact that we’ll have the opportunity to do that again but this time in West Virginia is going to be surreal. I had so much fun playing in the TBT last year, and I’m looking forward to competing in it again with my brothers. Mountaineer fans make sure you come out and support!”
Former Marshall star Jon Elmore, who played in TBT last year, has also committed to participate in the regional tournament, as well.
“We are super excited to welcome TBT to Charleston,” said Elmore. “This tournament has been a special opportunity to compete with my brother, with my friends, and even play for my father while chasing the TBT cash prize. To me, there is no better tournament in basketball. The world will also get to see how nuts about basketball we are in the Mountain State. We are super excited to play in this great event in our hometown. We will look to become a staple host city of this Tournament.”
The winner of the West Virginia Regional will advance to Championship Week at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, Aug. 6-11.
“As much as TBT is about putting deserving players and coaches on a worldwide stage, it's also about putting rabid fans on stage as well,” TBT founder and CEO, Jon Mugar, said. “I received so many messages last summer expressing shock and excitement over the turnouts in Wichita, Syracuse and Columbus, and we expect the same from all eight regional locations this year. Additionally, based on how Dayton fans showed up last year in Columbus, we think the championship game in Dayton will have an insane atmosphere."
In addition to featuring the highest stakes format in the world, TBT has become known as a trendsetter in basketball circles. Its trademark, post-game bracket celebration has grown into a mainstay in the NCAA Tournament each year, with Jim Nance dubbing it, “the moment you’ve all been waiting for” following Virginia’s victory in 2019. In addition, the NBA is looking at incorporating a high-stakes, midseason money tournament, and multiple leagues across the world are evaluating TBT’s Elam Ending as an alternative way to end basketball games.
TBT’s registration period for teams interested in competing in any of its eight regional locations will run March 15 - June 15. The 64-team field and TBT bracket will be released on June 22. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.thetournament.com.
The Basketball Tournament
Entering its seventh year, The Basketball Tournament has grown from a unique idea among friends to one of the most exciting and engaging events on the summer sports calendar, with national exposure on ESPN, social media buzz and regional championships across the country - culminating in a winner-take-all $2 million game. Every year it attracts some of the best players in the world. For more information, visit www.thetournament.com.
