CHARLESTON — While energetic, the crowds inside the Charleston Coliseum have been far from capacity during the first two rounds of The Basketball Tournament (TBT).
Best Virginia’s first two victories came in front of an estimated average crowd of 4,000 per game in an arena that holds 12,000.
Best Virginia will play against sixth-seeded Team 23 at 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Super 16 round. The game will only be streamed online for free on ESPN3.
The winner advances to the final rounds in Dayton, Ohio, which begin July 31.
It’s the first year the state has hosted a regional in TBT. It was scheduled to host in 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
Best Virginia forward and general manager John Flowers raised the question of holding a future TBT regional in Morgantown at the WVU Coliseum.
“Being here in Charleston in front of the West Virginia fans is great,” Flowers said. “We need to get with WVU’s athletic director (Shane Lyons) or whoever we need to talk to to get this thing in Morgantown. We need to play in that place (WVU Coliseum) again. The nostalgia would be great.”
When contacted by The Dominion Post, Lyons said there may be a few obstacles in the Coliseum hosting a regional, including the timing of summer camps held by WVU teams.
During the month of July, many WVU teams conduct youth and recruiting camps, including teams that use the Coliseum such as the men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as the volleyball and gymnastics teams.
Lyons said he would be open to any discussion of the Coliseum hosting a future TBT regional, but, “We would have to see what time frame they are talking,” he said.
Memorable runs
Kevin Jones was 20 years old when he was a part of WVU’s run to the 2010 Final Four.
Now 31, Jones is Best Virginia’s leading scorer (15.5 ppg) through the first two rounds on the WVU alumni team hoping to make another magical run in a tournament that pays out $1 million to its winner.
“Just to get to the finals of this region is a great feeling,” he said. “There’s nothing like a Final Four run. You can’t really compare the two, but it’s been a lot of fun being around my brothers. We’re around each other all the time during the summer. If we can win this money, that’s another great feeling.”
New kid on the block
Jamel Morris was a surprise name added to Best Virginia’s roster, but the former Fairmont State standout has not shocked any of his teammates with his play.
Morris scored 11 points off the bench in Best Virginia’s 63-51 victory Monday night against D2. In the first round, he scored nine points, including two 3-pointers.
He was a later addition to the roster, because former WVU standout Jaysean Paige had to back out due to scheduling conflicts.
“Some of us had already known Jamel just from playing pick-up games during college or maybe playing against him over in Europe,” WVU guard Tarik Phillip said. “When we brought him in, he was great and fit right in. He worked hard and didn’t care if he played 30 minutes or three. He’s very selfless and his personality really fit in with the rest of us.”
Morris played in Germany last season and was back home in Columbus, Ohio for the summer, when he got the call to join Best Virginia.
“There was some dialogue back and forth before it happened,” Best Virginia head coach James Long said. “He was a guy that came highly recommended by everyone on the team. We weren’t going to bring in an outsider that everyone wasn’t comfortable with and you can see how he’s come in and fit in right away.”
Looking ahead
Team 23 will present a variety of challenges for Best Virginia, including the length and versatility of 6-foot-10 forward Raphiael Putney, who is averaging 17 points and six rebounds per game over the first two rounds.
A former UMass standout, Putney was once a member of Overseas Elite, which won four consecutive TBT titles from 2015-18.
The team also features former 6-11 Villanova star Daniel Ochefu, who grabbed eight rebounds in the team’s 74-71 victory against Herd That on Monday.
On the outside, Team 23 has point guard Walt Lemon, who played 11 career games in the NBA, split over two seasons with Chicago and New Orleans.
Lemon is averaging 10 points and seven assists per game over the first two rounds.
“Any team you play this deep into the tournament is going to be good,” Long said. “They’re the type of team that the longer you watch them, the better they look.
“If you’re in the tournament at this particular time, you’ve got great makeup and great chemistry. That’s what Team 23 has. They have a solid group of guys. I’m more concerned about ourselves. If we can be the best versions of ourselves, then I’ll ride with these guys anytime.”
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