The Basketball Tournament 2025

The Basketball Tournament
2025
2025 championship game logo
Tournament information
Location
Semifinals sites
Championship site
DatesJuly 18–August 3, 2025
Tournament
format(s)
Single elimination
Participants61 teams
PurseChampionship: US$1,000,000 winner-take-all
Final positions
ChampionsAfterShocks
Runner-upEberlein Drive
Tournament statistics
MVPMarcus Keene
Top scorer(s)Gabe York (114)
Games played60

The Basketball Tournament 2025 was the twelvth edition of The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a 5-on-5, single elimination basketball tournament with a $1 million winner-take-all prize. The tournament, involving 61 teams, began on July 18 and ended on August 3. The tournament format was similar to that of the last edition in 2024 with teams playing in one of eight regionals. Twenty-six games were broadcast live on FOX, FS1, and FS2. Other games were streamed on Youtube.

Format

For its 2025 edition, TBT modified its traditional 64-team format, with first round byes in the seven-team regions. Each regional will be held at a single host site (similar in format to the NCAA Division II men's and women's tournaments). The first region to sell 4000 tickets (Louisville) earned homecourt advantage throughout the tournament, with other regions receiving similar home court advantages for ticket sales.[1]

The teams and the regional placements for all entrants were revealed on June 24, 2025.[2]

As with previous years, all tournament games operate with the "Elam Ending", a format of ending the game without use of a game clock. Under the Elam Ending, the clock is turned off at the first dead-ball whistle with 4 minutes or less to play in the game. At that time, a target score, equal to the score of the leading team (or tied teams) plus eight, is set, and the first team to reach this target score is declared the winner of the game.[3] Thus, all games end on a made basket (field goal or free throw) and there is no overtime.

Venues

The Basketball Tournament 2025 featured games in eight locations. Official regional names, if different from the location names, are indicated in the listings below the location names.

Regional sites
Regional and quarterfinal sites
 Indianapolis James Madison
(Harrisonburg, VA) 		Kansas City
Hinkle Fieldhouse Atlantic Union Bank Center Municipal Arena
Capacity: 12,012 Capacity: 8,500 Capacity: 7,300
Lexington Louisville Wichita
Memorial Coliseum Freedom Hall Charles Koch Arena
Capacity: 6,250 Capacity: 18,865 Capacity: 10,506
Syracuse West Virginia
(Charleston, WV)
SRC Arena Charleston Coliseum
Capacity: 6,500 Capacity: 11,519

Teams

Source:[4]

TBT has a history of teams rostered primarily with alumni from specific NCAA Division I college basketball programs; 23 such teams entered the 2025 tournament. One is drawn from NCAA Division III alumni.

Name College or sponsor affiliation Source of team name Region
AfterShocks Wichita State alumni Wichita State Shockers school nickname Wichita
All Good Dawgs Butler alumni Butler Bulldogs mascot Indianapolis
Assembly Ball Indiana alumni Assembly Hall home arena Indianapolis
Austin's Own Texas alumni School location in Austin Wichita
Best Virginia West Virginia alumni West Virginia
Boeheim's Army Syracuse alumni Former Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim Syracuse
Boston vs Cancer — Louisville
Brown Ballers — Made up of brown athletes Syracuse
Carmen's Crew Ohio State alumni "Carmen Ohio", Ohio State's school song Indianapolis
Challenge ALS Raising awareness for ALS Wichita
Court Street Kings[a] Ohio alumni Court Street runs through the Ohio University campus West Virginia
DaGuys STL — Team YouTube channel, with players mainly from Greater St. Louis Kansas City
Dubois Dream — Based out of Dubois, Pennsylvania West Virginia
Dunkin' Dogs Louisiana Tech alumni Louisiana Tech Bulldogs mascot Lexington
Eberlein Drive — Team owners' home street Lexington
Elite Nation[b] — West Virginia
Fail Harder — Indianapolis
Fire Family Sovereign Bank TBL team Potawatomi Fire Wichita
Florida DRC Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Combined from Florida TNT and Team DRC from previous TBT editions. Louisville
Forever Coogs Houston alumni Houston Cougars mascot Wichita
Fort Wayne Champs — Players with connections to Fort Wayne, Indiana Indianapolis
Founding Fathers James Madison alumni James Madison University named after a Founding Father of the United States James Madison
GoTime Green Machine TBL team Lebanon Leprechauns Indianapolis
Green Mountain Men Vermont alumni Green Mountains run through Vermont Syracuse
Happy Valley Hoopers Penn State alumni Location of the school in Happy Valley James Madison
Heartfire MedImpact Arizona nonprofit HeartFire Missions, a provider of Christian medical mission trips Kansas City
Herd That Marshall alumni Marshall Thundering Herd school nickname West Virginia
Herkimer Originals — ABA team from Herkimer, New York Syracuse
JHX Hoops Kansas alumni Variation of the Kansas Jayhawks mascot name Kansas City
La Familia Kentucky alumni Ode to recently departed coach John Calipari's Italian heritage; also name of a UK basketball NIL collective Lexington
Layne's Hope — A young man with Prader–Willi syndrome Syracuse
Locked In Elite — Indianapolis
Los Angeles Ignite — TBL team from Los Angeles Louisville
Love Virginia — James Madison
Madd Katts — Louisville
Magic Show — James Madison
No Excuses[c] — Wichita
NXT Era Elite[d] — James Madison
OffDaHook — Kansas City
Purple Reign Kansas State alumni Kansas State University school colors Kansas City
Raleigh 919 Legends — Raleigh, North Carolina area code 919 James Madison
Red Rose Thunder — ECBL team from Lancaster, Pennsylvania James Madison
Richards Elite — Ryan Richards Lexington
Rise & Grind — Syracuse
Run DFW — Based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area Wichita
Sheffield Sharks B. Braun Team based in Sheffield, England Kansas City
Shell Shock Maryland alumni Associated with the Maryland Terrapins mascot James Madison
Shield 219[e] Valparaiso alumni Valparaiso, Indiana area code 219 Indianapolis
Sideline Cancer — Pancreatic cancer awareness Louisville
Sikh Warriors Singh Ahluwalia West Virginia
Stars of Storrs UConn alumni Charles and Augustus Storrs, establishers of the Storrs Agricultural School (now the University of Connecticut) Syracuse
Stroh's Squad Bowling Green alumni Stroh Center, Bowling Green home arena Lexington
Tampa Florida Pickup Basketball — Players from the Tampa, Florida area Lexington
Team 901 — Memphis, Tennessee area code 901 Louisville
Team Diesel — Shaquille O’Neal's DJ name Louisville
The Nawf — Team representing Gwinnett County, Georgia also known as "Nawf" Atlanta West Virginia
The Shine — Kansas City
The Ville Louisville alumni City nickname Louisville
War Ready Auburn alumni School battle cry "War Eagle" Lexington
We Are D3 NCAA Division III alumni Syracuse
X-Rayted Primetime Radiology, LLC Lexington

Note: team names are per the TBT bracket; some names have slight variation on TBT website pages.

  1. ^ Known in previous TBT editions as Ohio 1804.
  2. ^ Known in previous TBT editions as Takeover BC.
  3. ^ Known in previous TBT editions as Competitive Choice.
  4. ^ Known in previous TBT editions as Big 5.
  5. ^ Known in previous TBT editions as The Cru.

Tournament bracket

Seven of the eight no. 1 seeds advanced to the second-round, with no. 8 Raleigh 919 Legends upsetting Happy Valley Hoopers in the James Madison Regional.

Five no. 1 seeds advanced in second-round play; the lowest seeds to advance to the third round was no. 7 LA Ignite from the Louisville Regional and Fail Harder from the Indianapolis Regional.

One no. 1 seed advanced in third-round play: Heartfire from the Kanasas City Regional; the lowest seed to advance to the quarterfinals was again Fail Harder.

The lowest seed to advance to the semifinals was no 4. We Are D3 from the Syracuse Regional.

In the first semifinal game, Best Virginia were eliminated by Eberlein Drive, the no. 2 seed from the Lexington Regional.

In the second semifinal game, We Are D3 were eliminated by AfterShocks, the no. 2 seed from the Wichita Regional.

AfterShocks then defeated Eberlein Drive in the championship game.

Source:[4][5]

Louisville Regional – Freedom Hall

First Round
July 19 		Second Round
July 20 		Third Round
July 23
         
1 The Ville 91
8 Boston vs Cancer 71
1 The Ville 63
4 Sideline Cancer 73
4 Sideline Cancer 84
5 Madd Katts 82
4 Sideline Cancer 74
7 LA Ignite 71
6 Team 901 89
3 Florida DRC 83
6 Team 901 79
7 LA Ignite 83
2 Team Diesel 82
7 LA Ignite 93

Lexington Regional – Memorial Coliseum

First Round
July 18 		Second Round
July 20 		Third Round
July 22
         
1 La Familia 105
8 Stroh's Squad 52
1 La Familia 80
4 War Ready 76
4 War Ready 61
5 X-Rayted 55
1 La Familia 70
2 Eberlein Drive 71
3 Dunkin' Dogs 69
6 Tampa Florida Pickup Basketball 70
6 Tampa Florida Pickup Basketball 68
2 Eberlein Drive 86
2 Eberlein Drive 81
7 Richards Elite 63

James Madison Regional – Atlantic Union Bank Center

First Round
July 18 		Second Round
July 20 		Third Round
July 22
         
1 Happy Valley Hoopers 75
8 Raleigh 919 Legends 79
8 Raleigh 919 Legends 44
5 NXT Era Elite 70
4 Founding Fathers 64
5 NXT Era Elite 82
5 NXT Era Elite 62
2 Shell Shock 68
3 Red Rose Thunder 70
6 Magic Show 59
3 Red Rose Thunder 78
2 Shell Shock 81
2 Shell Shock 75
7 Love Virginia 74

West Virginia Regional – Charleston Coliseum

First Round
July 18 		Second Round
July 20 		Third Round
July 22
         
1 Elite Nation 88
4 Court Street Kings 85
4 Court Street Kings 74
5 The Nawf 62
1 Elite Nation 68
3 Best Virginia 79
3 Best Virginia 72
6 Dubois Dream 69
3 Best Virginia 82
2 Herd That 75
2 Herd That 84
7 Sikh Warriors 71

Wichita Regional – Charles Koch Arena

First Round
July 18 		Second Round
July 20 		Third Round
July 22
         
1 Forever Coogs 82
4 Fire Family 69
4 Fire Family 85
5 Run DFW 65
1 Forever Coogs 63
2 AfterShocks 66
3 Challenge ALS 75
6 Austin's Own 73
3 Challenge ALS 68
2 AfterShocks 85
2 AfterShocks 74
7 No Excuses 51

Kansas City Regional – Municipal Arena

First Round
July 19 		Second Round
July 21 		Third Round
July 23
         
1 Heartfire 89
4 Sheffield Sharks 70
4 Sheffield Sharks 70
5 DaGuys STL 64
1 Heartfire 71
2 JHX Hoops 68
3 Purple Reign 85
6 The Shine 84
3 Purple Reign 77
2 JHX Hoops 79
2 JHX Hoops 91
7 OffDaHook 78

Syracuse Regional – SRC Arena

First Round
July 19 		Second Round
July 21 		Third Round
July 23
         
1 Boeheim's Army 97
8 Herkimer Originals 71
1 Boeheim's Army 78
4 We Are D3 81
4 We Are D3 75
5 Layne's Hope 71
4 We Are D3 76
2 Stars of Storrs 68
3 Green Mountain Men 66
6 Rise and Grind 64
3 Green Mountain Men 76
2 Stars of Storrs 78
2 Stars of Storrs 90
7 Brown Ballers 78

Indianapolis Regional – Hinkle Fieldhouse

First Round
July 19 		Second Round
July 21 		Third Round
July 22
         
1 Carmen's Crew 78
8 Gotime Green Machine 67
1 Carmen's Crew 73
5 Fort Wayne Champs 69
4 Locked In Elite 56
5 Fort Wayne Champs 103
1 Carmen's Crew 62
7 Fail Harder 68
3 All Good Dawgs 77
6 Shield 219 69
3 All Good Dawgs 77
7 Fail Harder 80
2 Assembly Ball 76
7 Fail Harder 89

Championship Week

All quarterfinal, semifinal and championship games will be played at the venue with the highest ticket sales.[1]

Quarterfinals
July 27–28 		Semifinals
July 31 		Championship
August 3
         
LV 4 Sideline Cancer 75
LX 2 Eberlein Drive 88
LX 2 Eberlein Drive 85
West Virginia
WV 3 Best Virginia 77
JM 2 Shell Shock 61
WV 3 Best Virginia 74
LX 2 Eberlein Drive 67
WT 2 AfterShocks 82
WT 2 AfterShocks 74
KC 1 Heartfire 68
WT 2 AfterShocks 66
Wichita
SC 4 We Are D3 54
SC 4 We Are D3 95
IN 7 Fail Harder 93

Semifinals

July 31, 2025
6:00 p.m. EDT
LX 2 Eberlein Drive 85, WV 3 Best Virginia 77
Scoring by quarter: 21–18, 16–22, 27–21, 13–14
Pts: G. York 25
Rebs: T. Taylor, J. Watson 7
Asts: A. Clemmons 8		 Pts: J. Reese V 15
Rebs: J. Weatherspoon, J. West 4
Asts: J. West 8
Charleston Coliseum
Charleston, West Virginia
Attendance: 3,451
Referees: Clarence Armstrong, Bill Covington, Earl Walton
FS1
July 31, 2025
8:00 p.m. EDT
SC 4 We Are D3 54, WT 2 AfterShocks 66
Scoring by quarter: 12–14, 5–21, 21–12, 11–11
Pts: T. Nichols 14
Rebs: D. Underwood 8
Asts: T. Nichols 7		 Pts: J. Woodard 12
Rebs: M. Santos-Silva 6
Asts: C. Frankamp, J. Woodard 3

Championship

August 3, 2025
4:00 p.m. EDT
LX 2 Eberlein Drive 67, WT 2 AfterShocks 82
Scoring by quarter: 20–21, 17–25, 21–21, 6–7
Pts: J. Watson 14
Rebs: T. Taylor 7
Asts: A. Clemmons 2		 Pts: M. Keene 22
Rebs: N. Sibande 6
Asts: M. Santos-Silva, C. Frankamp 4
Charles Koch Arena
Wichita, Kansas
Attendance: 9,029
Referees: Clarence Armstrong, Earl Walton, Wes Moore

Awards

All Tournament Team
Pos Player Team
PG Nike Sibande AfterShocks
PG Darius Adams Fail Harder
SG James Reese V Best Virginia
SG Gabe York Eberlein Drive
PG Marcus Keene AfterShocks
Coach Michael Rejniak We Are D3
GM Matt Mitchell / Jacob Hirschman Eberlein Drive

Source:[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Home Court Advantage - The Basketball Tournament". Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  2. ^ "The Basketball Tournament (TBT) Releases 2025 Bracket". The Basketball Tournament. June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  3. ^ Selig, David. "What is the Elam Ending?". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "TBT 2025 Bracket". thetournament.com. 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  5. ^ "TBT 2025 Schedule". thetournament.com. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  6. ^ "Your TBT 2025 All-Tournament Team". X. August 3, 2025. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
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