Xavier University's Cintas Center will be a first-time host site in 2022 for The Basketball Tournament (TBT), the tournament announced Wednesday in a press release.
Xavier was picked as one of eight regional sites for TBT, a 64-team, $1 million winner-take-all event that's televised live on the ESPN networks.
Xavier's alumni team, Zip 'Em Up, which made its TBT debut last summer, will be the featured team and former stars Trevon Bluiett, J.P. Macura and Mark Lyons have already committed to return to the team in 2022, TBT announced.
Zip 'Em Up, organized by former Xavier point guard Dee Davis and coached by former Xavier assistant Rick Carter, made it to the second round of the Columbus regional in 2021.
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"Playing in TBT and representing Xavier University was such an incredible experience for us last year, and to now be able to do it at home is going to make it all the more special,” Zip ‘Em Up guard J.P. Macura said in the press release. “It’s a testament to our fans, coach Steele, and the Xavier athletic department, whose support have made this all possible. We have big plans for 2022, and we know that the Musketeers fan base will be there for us every step of the way, including packing the Cintas Center for all of our games. We can’t wait to see everyone in July."
First-round games at the Cintas Center will begin on July 18. The remaining four teams will compete in the regional semifinals on July 19, and the regional championship will be played on July 21.
“I am always excited when I see our basketball alums back at Cintas Center,” said Xavier men’s basketball head coach Travis Steele. "The chance to bring them back and bring a big basketball event here during the summer makes it even better. I know our fans will be excited to cheer for a lot of their favorites on the court where they created a lot of winning memories.”
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Brian Hicks, Xavier's associate athletic director for external relations, said, “We are always looking for ways to engage our fans during the summer months leading up to a new season. Bringing the excitement of the popular TBT to Cintas Center is a great way to stay connected to our fans and introduce our beautiful venue to all basketball fans. When TBT organizers sought us out as a host site, I knew it would be a great fit. Our fans embraced the alumni team last summer and I know they will be excited to see some of our Musketeer legends competing here on campus.”
Tickets are on sale now at TheTournament.com/tickets and GoXavier.com/TBT. All-session passes begin at $100 and includes entry for all seven games during the Xavier regional.
The TBT quarterfinal sites are Wichita, Kansas, and Dayton, Ohio. The TBT championship will be held in Dayton.
Further Zip 'Em Up roster announcements will come at a later date.
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