What to know about the Air Raiders competing in TBT
Marvel couldn't assemble a team this powerful.
The time has finally arrived for 11 former members of the Texas Tech basketball program to return to United Supermarkets Arena. These former Red Raiders are coming together to form the Air Raiders and will play host to the Lubbock Regional of The Basketball Tournament.
Here's everything you need to know about TBT in Lubbock.
When do the Air Raiders play?
The Lubbock Region begins on Wednesday night with the Air Raiders closing out the evening. They'll square off with Purple Hearts at 8 p.m. in the first round.
Three games will be played in the USA prior to the Air Raiders taking the floor. Bleed Green, the North Texas alumni team, will face Rise and Grind at 1 p.m. with HBCUnited vs. In the Lab following at 3 p.m.
In the nightcap, The Enchantment (New Mexico's alumni) will take on the Texas alumni team, Austin's Own, at 6 p.m. The winner of this game will take on the Air Raiders-Purple Hearts winner in the second round.
Wednesday's winners will advance to play Friday night. Should the Air Raiders beat Purple Hearts, they'll play at 8 p.m. Friday.
The championship game is scheduled for noon Sunday. The winner of the Lubbock Regional will head to Louisville July 31 to earn a spot in TBT's final four in Philadelphia early next month.
Who's playing for the Air Raiders?
Multiple generations of Texas Tech basketball will unite for the tournament.
Six members of the Tech's 2019 Final Four team will be part of the team. Three starters from that team — Davide Moretti, Matt Mooney and Tariq Owens — are back and are joined by Kyler Edwards and Parker Hicks. Andrew Sorrells, also a member of the national runner-up team, operates as a general manager for the Air Raiders.
Other Air Raiders players include Davion Warren, Jordan Tolbert, Toddrick Gotcher, Zach Smith and Dejan Kravic and John Roberson.
The team is being coached by other former members of the Tech basketball.
Jason Staudt will serve as the team's head coach and will be assisted by Ronald Ross, Robert Brashear, Gino Saucedo and Ross Rushing. Team administrators include GMs Clark Lammert and Sorrells and content creators Josh Washington, Deandre Thomas, Bjorn Thompson and Jared Boyd.
What are the rules? What's at stake in TBT?
The winning team for the entire tournament is awarded the grand prize of $1 million with each member of the team earning a share. Most of the players for the Air Raiders, for example, are slotted to earn $75,000.
TBT also features a unique conclusion to games known as the Elam Ending.
With the Elam Ending, the game clock is shut off in the fourth quarter and a Target Score is implemented. The team leading after three quarters will have eight points added to their total. The first team to reach that target score is the winner.
For example, if the Air Raiders are leading by a score of 92-87 after three quarters of play, the Target Score will be 100. Whichever team gets to 100 points first wins the game.
The Elam Ending originated in TBT and has since been adopted elsewhere, including the NBA All-Star Game.
Where can I watch TBT?
The entirety of the Lubbock Regional will be streamed on ESPN+. The best way to watch the games, though, is to head to United Supermarkets Arena to see it in action.
Tickets to see the Air Raiders on Wednesday can be purchased at https://thetournament.com/tbt/lubbock-regional-tickets/. Prices start at $30 and guarantees entry into both games of the session.
First-session tickets can be purchased at the same link and start at $10.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: What to know about the Air Raiders competing in TBT
