UC Bearcat hoops alumni to give old college try again in The Basketball Tournament

After going one and done in last year's event, alumni from the University of Cincinnati will regroup and participate in The Basketball Tournament again this summer with the goal of taking home $ 1 million.

This is the ninth TBT tournament, which is single-elimination and made up largely of alumni from college teams. Last year's champion was Blue Collar U, made up mostly of former University of Buffalo players.

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Last season, UC was eliminated in one game by a team from Fort Wayne 71-67. The 'Nati was led by former 'Cats Jacob Evans with 20 points. Jarron Cumberland had 13 and Coreontae DeBerry had 10.

Meanwhile, Xavier's team, Zip'Em Up, made the regional final before losing to Florida 76-72. Among those playing for then-GM Dee Davis were J.P. Macura, Trevon Blueitt, Semaj Christon, B.J. Raymond, Kerem Kanter and noted Uber driver Matt Stainbrook.

Xavier's team name comes from the infamous 2011 Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout which featured a brawl and several ejections. Afterward, Xavier's Tu Holloway used the term, "zip'em up" which has stuck.

Who is on the UC Nasty 'Nati team?

According to Twitter, Bearcat alumni participating in 2023 are:

• 6-foot-10 Coreontae DeBerry

• 6-foot-6 Jacob Evans

• 6-foot-5 Keith Williams

• 6-foot-3 Kevin Johnson (general manager/assistant coach)

• 6-foot-10 Octavius Ellis

• 6-foot-7 Shaq Thomas

• 6-foot-8 Tre Scott

• 6-foot-4 Troy Caupain

• 6-foot-5 Jarron Cumberland

• 6-foot-3 Ty Jordan (from Malone University)

Coaching the team will be former Bearcats Cane Broome and Cashmere Wright.

Where can you see a game?

UC's Nasty 'Nati and Xavier's Zip'Em Up squads will both play out of the regional at Xavier's Cintas Center July 21-24. Other teams will also be featured at the University of Dayton Arena July 26-31. Currently, all-session (seven games) tickets are being sold with individual games to be announced later. TBT was televised on ESPN's networks last season.

What is the Elam Ending used in TBT?

The Elam Ending as used by TBT will have the fourth quarter clock shut off after the first dead ball after the 4:00 minute mark. From there, eight points are added to the winning team's tally and that becomes the target score. For example, if the score was 88-80, the target score becomes 96. The first of either team to reach 96 is the winner. The goal is to eliminate excessive fouling and free throw shooting late in a game as teams try to get back in the game. TBT has used the Elam Ending since 2018.

Last time a UC men's basketball team won at Cintas Center?

Dec. 14, 2001. UC was on its way to a 31-win season and defeated the Musketeers 75-55 behind 21 points from Steve Logan. UC beat Xavier 60-45 on Dec. 19, 2012, at then-US Bank Arena (now Heritage Bank Center). Since that victory, they've only downed Xavier twice, both at Fifth Third Arena.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC Bearcat basketball vets return as 'Nasty 'Nati' in TBT this summer