When will Xavier-based Zip 'Em Up, UC-based Nasty Nati play? TBT reveals 2024 brackets
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is entering its 11th season and the brackets for this summer's 64-team, $1 million winner-take-all event were released on Wednesday morning.
Cintas Center will not be hosting regional TBT contests. Instead, Fifth Third Arena is one of the new regional sites and will include the Xavier-based alumni team Zip 'Em Up and the UC-based Nasty Nati from July 19-23.
Zip 'Em Up is the No. 2 seed in the Cincinnati Region and is coached by former Xavier guard Dee Davis. Nasty Nati is the No. 1 seed.
Zip 'Em Up will play No. 7 seed Takeover BC on Friday, July 19 at 6 p.m. The top-seeded Nasty Nati will play No. 8 seed AboutBillions.
Matchup official. pic.twitter.com/DYR2gLlZtO
— Zip ‘Em Up TBT (@ZipEmUpTBT) June 26, 2024
If Zip 'Em Up wins, they would advance to the second round against the winner of No. 3 Team Gibson-No. 6 Dream 34 on Sunday, July 21 at 2 p.m.
Last season, Zip 'Em Up and Nasty Nati met in the second round of the regional at Cintas Center, with the former Bearcats notching an exciting 77-73 victory via the Elam Ending on Jacob Evans' game-winning 3-pointer from the wing.
The two alumni squads would need to advance to the Cincinnati Regional Championship game on Tuesday, July 23 (7 p.m.) for a TBT Crosstown Shootout rematch.
The winner of the Cincinnati Regional will play the winner of the Dayton Regional in the quarterfinals, either in Dayton or Cincinnati.
Zip 'Em Up's roster includes former Musketeers in Adam Kunkel, Ben Stanley, Nate Johnson, Paul Scruggs, Trevon Bluiett, Remy Abell and James Farr. The roster is rounded out by non-Xavier alums Shannon Bogues, Jaylen Butz, Jacob Polakovich, Justin Roberts and J.D. Weatherspoon.
Nasty Nati's roster is headlined by the return of Wilmington product and 2019 AAC Player of the Year Jarron Cumberland along with forward Octavius Ellis. Nasty Nati reached the quarterfinals in Dayton last season. Nasty Nati's roster also includes former Bearcats Mamoudou Diarra, Keith Williams, Tre Scott, Evans, Troy Caupain Jr., Deshaun Morman and Coreontae DeBerry.
Nasty Nati is coached by former UC standout Cashmere Wright.
How to watch Zip 'Em Up and Nasty Nati in TBT
TBT has partnered with FOX Sports. The Tournament announced Wednesday that 16 games will be broadcast on FS1, 8 on FS2, 3 on FOX and 2 on Big Ten Network.
There will be 34 games broadcast for free on the TBT website, including Zip 'Em Up's first-round matchup against Takeover BC.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: When will Zip 'Em Up, Nasty Nati play? Brackets revealed for 2024 TBT