Carmen’s Crew has what it takes to win The Basketball Tournament this summer

In order to be a successful basketball team at any level in this day and age, you must score, defend and have size and versatility on both ends of the floor. The more you have of that combination, the better off you are. For Carmen’s Crew, in this summer’s The Basketball Tournament, Ohio State’s alumni team has all four of those, and that’s the main reason the No. 1 seed in the Columbus Regional has dominated their first two games of TBT and is just four wins away from the $1 million winner-take-all, 64-team single-elimination tournament.

After winning it all in 2019, Carmen’s Crew was shockingly upset as a No. 1 seed in their first game of last summer’s tournament. But this summer, they have already proven that they have what it takes to win it all. And when it comes to being a good coach, Jared Sullinger has maximized each individual player’s potential and uses them in a way that will make both the player and the team successful. Let’s take a look at what each player brings to this summer’s team:

• Shannon Scott: The first-year starting point guard, Scott isn’t a dominant scorer, but he contributes in all areas of the game, including being a pass-first PG, one that can get plenty of rebounds, and a guy that will lock down the opposing point guard.
• William Buford: The team’s go-to scorer that can beat you off the dribble and score at the rim or knock down a three-pointer when the team needs him to.
• David Lighty: When it comes to do-it-all players on both ends of the floor, Lighty is just that. Need a basket? Lighty will get it for you. Need someone to lock down an opposing guard (or even forward)? Lighty will do that for you. As the team’s leader, he lets his play on the court do the talking, just like he always has.
• Jeff Gibbs: The legend of Jeff Gibbs is truly incredible. In a tournament full of plenty of youngsters and big guys in the post, the soon-to-be 41-year-old that stands at 6-foot-2 has made it look easy at times in the post, even against opposing seven-footers. Whether it’s his age or his height as a ‘big man’, Gibbs is a crucial part to Carmen’s Crew’s success. A former Division III All-American at Otterbein, it’s incredible that Gibbs is still competing (and sometimes dominating) this many years later.
• Kosta Koufos: He wasn’t even supposed to be on the team this summer but after Kaleb Wesson backed out due to NBA Summer League obligations just a week or two before TBT was set to begin, Koufos has stepped in and been the team’s starting center, one that has shown that he can compete with the best of the best in the paint in this tournament. Whether’s it’s posting up or running to the rim offensively or being a rim protector on the defensive side of the floor, Koufos is fitting in just in time, especially given the late notice.
• Aaron Craft: He isn’t the team’s starting point guard anymore, but the rosy-cheeked assassin has proven time and time again that he can dominate defensively and give the opponent’s point guard nightmares. Now in medical school, this could be Craft’s last time participating in TBT, but even with a much smaller role, he has made the most of his opportunity.
• Jon Diebler: Need a three-pointer? Diebler will knock one down for you. There’s a reason his nickname is Threebler. He might not be in the starting lineup this summer, but Diebler’s ability to get hot offensively is a game-changer.
• Julian Mavunga: The first-year big man from Miami (Ohio), Mavunga has proven to be a big-time part of Carmen Crew’s frontcourt already. While he can have success in the post-up game, Mavunga’s biggest strength seems to be finding the mismatch on the outside and beating the opposing big man off the dribble.
• Evan Ravenel: Another big man that can play on the outside as well as in the post? Yes, please. Whether it’s knocking down a three-pointer or going up against the opponent’s biggest guy, Ravenel has been a key role player off the bench.
• Lenzelle Smith Jr.: The lefty uses his size to lock up guys defensively. He’s not the best shooter but can get to the rim and/or find the open teammate as well.
• Keyshawn Woods: The youngest guy on the team, Wood can knock down a three when it’s needed and contributes in all areas of the box score.

Not only does each player bring plenty to the table individually, but their chemistry as a team can’t (and hasn’t) gone unnoticed. They just play so well together on both ends of the floor.

Carmen’s Crew will face tougher competition as the tournament goes on, but through two games, they have already proven to be one of the top teams in this summer’s TBT. They have all the tools to have success, now they just need to make sure they continue to play to their full potential, both offensively and defensively.

They will look to continue their winning ways Tuesday night when Carmen’s Crew will take on The Money Team – whose GM is boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. – in a third-round matchup for a chance to advance to Dayton for potentially their final three games. The game is set to tip-off at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday night at the Covelli Center on the campus of Ohio State.