TBT Top 25, #2 (05/26/21)

As we addressed in Season 2, Episode 02, the “Transfer Portal”, we are going to periodically release a top 25 poll as voted on by our panel. This vote was released on May 26th and a lot has happened since then, but as a snap shot in time, we are showing our work as the math professors always dictated.

Our panel:

Chris Vosters (CV: B1G Network, FS1 and Stadium)
Tim Scarborough (TS: Stadium TV, Fox Sports Regionals and ESPN)
Matt Martucci (MM: St. Joe’s, Stadium TV, ESPN)
Vince “Charge” Cino (VC: ZoomTheTBT, thematchupzone.com)
Andrew Haner (AH: ZoomTheTBT, thematchupzone.com)

We will be adding to this panel as the TBT season continues. With that…

The Basketball Tournament Top 25 via ZoomTheTBT’s Media Panel

1.

Golden Eagles (125pts): The defending champs had a minor branding error, but that was the first mistake this veteran squad has made on or off the court in over a year. Strong contenders to repeat.

(Last Poll: 1)

2.

Sideline Cancer (115pts): Last year’s TBT finalist has added depth to an already strong roster and is primed to rampage through the West Virginia regional to get to Dayton.

(Last Poll: 2 tie)

3.

Overseas Elite (113pts): The 4 time champs will always have a strong roster, but was last year’s early exit a sign of holes in the armor?

(Last Poll: 2 tie, -1)

4.

Carmen’s Crew (108pts): The former champs had concerns with a strong, but older roster, but the additions of younger blood, many from Big X, this concern seems to be fading.

(Last Poll: 5, +1)

5.

Red Scare (95pts): The Dayton Alums have their usual strong roster with veteran leadership, and with them not having to leave the state of Ohio, it would be extremely foolish to bet against them.

(Last Poll: 4, -1)

6.

Team Challenge ALS (89 pts): With a host of strong additions, including the transfer of Jerome Randle from Eberlein Drive, this team is one of our biggest risers in the poll. Sean Marshall’s transition from the court to the front office is going smoothly so far…

(Last Poll: 16, +10)

7.

House of Paign (82 pts): Another team trending up as their roster fills out. With some impact additions to last year’s surprising quarterfinal run, the Illinois hosts have put people on notice.

(Last Poll: 12 tie, +5)

8.

Team Hines (81 pts): Promising the usual mix of european league mainstays, this poll ranking is subject to drastic change, up or down, once the roster is announced.

(Last Poll: 6, -2)

9.

LA Cheaters (79 pts): Our poll’s biggest riser, as they only appeared on one ballot on the first run. With their strong roster moves, the Drew League mainstays are poised to go deep in Wichita.

(Last Poll: 20, +11)

10.

Team Arkansas (62 pts): Few teams have added as much to their roster as the Hogs’ alumni squad, so much so that there is a legitimate concern if one ball will be enough. If they are all moving in the same direction, a favorite to get out of Wichita.

(Last Poll: 9, -1)

11.

Florida TNT (59 pts): Tied with the Cheaters for the biggest riser, Terry Hughes’ squad has had a flurry of announcements in the past month, promising a roster of tough shotmakers ready to show people why they might have been the biggest snub in 2020’s COVID shortened TBT.

(Last Poll: 22 tie, +11)

12.

Best Virginia (58 pts): Co-hosts in Charleston, the Mountaineer alumni have a deep squad more than capable of getting out of their regional to put last year’s COVID bounce out of mind.

(Last Poll: 12 tie)

13.

Boeheim’s Army (56 pts): There may be no team among the legitimate contender class with more questions than the Army. Leaning heavily on Eric Devendorf, one of TBT’s finest and oldest stars, might at this point be a race against father time. Some younger blood and secondary shot creation needs to supplement this proud and dangerous outfit.

(Last Poll: 14, +1)

14.

Team Brotherly Love (55 pts): They will use this ranking as fuel to work harder. They will battle, shove, and bang until your squad has lost the will to live. Philly personified, they will bow gracefully to no team. You may beat them, but by God, they won’t beat themselves.

(Last Poll: 15, +1)

15.

Herd That (51 pts): Co-hosts in Charleston and the master trolls of social media, Ot and his merry band of troublemakers are holding together their roster through the dog days of June and look to prove their surprising quarterfinals run in 2020 is no fluke.

(Last Poll: 8, -7)

16.

Armored Athlete (51 pts): The always proud AA squad has to release more of their roster with only three players on their team page right now. Still, they are guaranteed to bring a strong team to TBT. They always do, after all, it’s a lifestyle…

(Last Poll: 7, -9)

17.

Eberlein Drive (47 pts): The Drive have had nothing but bad luck for the past year. 2020 ended due to COVID and they have lost both Jerome Randle (ALS) and J. P. Macura (Zip ‘Em Up) for 2021. For a lesser squad, this would be a reason to close shop, but a leadership team of Matt Mitchell, Jake Hirschmann, and Memphis’ Cody Toppert means they will be reloading and not rebuilding.

(Last Poll: 10 tie, -7)

18.

Ballinteers (45 pts): The Volunteer alumni have a deep and loaded roster fully capable of making the national semi-finals, something Tennessee has never done at the collegiate level. Filled with fast and dangerous shot makers, this squad is a dark horse to win the bag.

(Last Poll: N/A, NEW)

19.

The Money Team (34 pts): All we know is that Mayweather better beat Logan Paul or the bad vibes may kill his TBT team.

(Last Poll: 10 tie, -9)

20.

Zip ‘Em Up (34 pts): The Xavier alumni team may be the most exciting new squad. With a strong backcourt already signed and an engaged fanbase, can the lads from Cincinnati break the iron grip that Carmen’s / Scare have on the state of Ohio?

(Last Poll: N/A, NEW)

21.

War Ready (28 pts): Last Year’s Zip ‘Em Up, the alumni team that was fresh and exciting, and got their asses handed to them by 23 in the first round. Failure is a great teacher and the Auburn alum bring back a very strong roster still angry about their abbreviated debut. Fully expect a much stronger and fierce showing in 2021.

(Last Poll: 18, -3)

22.

Aftershocks (27 pts): The host that everyone is taking lightly and it’s hard to see why. A solid squad that will have a passionate fanbase at their back, they are doing something a host usually can’t do. Sneaking up on people.

(Last Poll: 19, -3)

23.

Men of Mackey (19 pts): A team that is looking at a decent seed and capable of sneaking up on people. Losing Dentmon to the Misfits / Team Washington hurts their scoring, but second year teams that add strong size usually over achieve in their sophomore effort. Don’t take them lightly.

(Last Poll: 22 tie, -1)

25.

Team Washington / The Misfits (13 pts): So this is the question. They have commitments from Nate Robinson, Big Baby Davis, Tony Wroten, Justin Dentmon, and more. So, they should be a top 10 seed, correct? Maybe. Can they all make their commitments to TBT and that half court league match up? Will the allure of playing in a retirement league crash out a TBT contender? This team is either getting a top 4 seed or isn’t getting a bid at all.

(Last Poll: N/A, NEW)

24.

Ram Nation (17 pts): We have a strong idea that the VCU alums aren’t coming back this year, but forgot to get that information to one of our voters who gave them the high seed they would deserve if they did indeed enter. We are hearing that the leadership of the Ram Nation has something else cooking though…

(Last Poll: N/A, NEW)

Out: