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The Basketball Tournament 2023: Eberlein Drive Team Profile

Bythatffnerd

Jul 25, 2023
Archie Goodwin, Kentucky basketball, Eberlein Drive TBTGAINESVILLE, FL - FEBRUARY 12: Guard Archie Goodwin #10 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates after a first half basket against the Florida Gators February 12, 2013 at Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Eberlein Drive, one of the remaining teams from TBT’s first tournament returns to try and capture that elusive title of TBT champion.

This year’s Eberlein Drive team has partnered with Kentuck Basketball Commission. To showcase some of the top basketball talents from the Kentucky area and show the kids that basketball can be a tool to build a better life. This team is playing in Louisville and, over time, has a record of 11-8.

For more TBT team profiles, click here.

Current Roster:

  • A.J. Slaughter (Western Kentucky)
  • Archie Goodwin (Kentucky)
  • DJ Cooper (Ohio University)
  • Emmitt Williams (LSU)
  • Jayce Johnson (Utah & Marquette)
  • Johnny O’Bryant (LSU)
  • Justin Johnson (Western Kentucky)
  • Kevin Bridgewaters (UT Chattanooga)
  • Matt Mobley (St. Bonaventure)
  • Max Heidegger (UCSB)
  • Tyler Larson (South Dakota)

Coaching Staff:

  • Cody Toppert (Head Coach)
  • Jacob Hirschmann (GM)
  • Matt Mitchell (GM)
  • Justin Wetzel (Asst. Coach)
  • Matt Brase (Asst. Coach)
  • Thomas Hankins (Asst. Coach)
  • Zachary Hopp (Asst. Coach)

Region:

  • Louisville, Kentucky

Team MVP: Archie Goodwin

Archie Goodwin and Emmitt Williams are set up as a one-two punch for Eberlein Drive. These large guards have a massive boost in TBT, as most guards are not as large. The impressive part of their play is the ability to score in many ways. Playing in Puerto Rico this year, he put up some solid statistics. Goodwin averaged 19.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 steals a game. He shot a solid 32.3% from 3-point range.

While he is a scoring threat, Goodwin has a team around him that can shoot. If he is driving, the opponents better be covering other players, and not all are crashing down on him to prevent his scoring. He creates shots for himself and others. Having this skillset, Goodwin should be able to not only be a focus but also a matchup issue for teams.

Make-or-break Player: A.J. Slaughter

A name familiar to TBT and Eberlein Drive, A.J. Slaughter has played on several teams in The Basketball Tournament. He knows how to play and show out in front of TBT crowds. Being a part of KBC in 2019, Slaughter showed up in a big way, and his experience is a true asset to his team. He can do so much for his team and fits into various roles. Slaughter is playing in his third year for Eberlein Drive as the lone returner for this team.

Slaughter can score, but he also is a defensive boost. He has a solid court vision and will jump passing lanes or pick offensive players’ pockets. This last year, he played in Venezuela, averaging 16.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.6 steals a game. On his way to this stat line, he shot 34.9% from 3-point range. He will be required to fit a variety of roles for Eberlein Drive.

Team Outlook

Eberlein Drive is a cornerstone for The Basketball Tournament. This team continues to tweak and figure out what will get them into the championship round. This year, Eberlein Drive brought in shooters with only two players, not averaging over 30% from 3-point range. Archie Goodwin is familiar to Eberlein Drive as he returns from the 2021 roster. The positive note for Eberlein Drive is that getting to the Louisville championship is very doable.

With Goodwin and Emmitt Williams being similar styles of players, it adds some solid depth at 2-4. Adding Matt Mobley into that same mold, he is a scorer, especially if the team needs to hit a 3-pointer. Shooting 41.5% from 3-point range in France, Mobley can score in multiple ways. Eberlein Drive has no shortage of guards, with the true point guard likely falling to D.J. Cooper. While playing in Israel, he averaged 10.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 13.5 assists, and 2.5 steals a game. He can be the pivot point that can indeed lead this team. The other two guards are likely seeing limited minutes in Max Heidegger and Tyler Larson.

The big men for Eberlein Drive are very different players. The one expected to make the start is Johnny O’Bryant standing at 6-foot-10 and can shoot from anywhere. O’Bryant played in China and averaged 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. He shot 40.3% from 3-point range. The ability to spread defenses and knock down 3-pointers will make him stand out in TBT. Justin Johnson is a similar player but struggles more from beyond the arc and is slightly smaller at 6-foot-7. Finally, Jayce Johnson is the big guy, having played in the NBA Summer League this year. He does not have a 3-pointer, shot two in 43 games in the G League, which is probably why he is going overlooked. Johnson is a 7-footer, and Dyson is near the hoop, gathering 11.9 rebounds a game.

The first-round matchup is known as the David of the TBT. Last year, Jackson, TN Underdwags beat House of ‘Paign in 2021. The record for this team is not excellent sitting at 500 win percentage. This team will need to show up. The level of difficulty cannot be overlooked in TBT play. The second a team underestimates another, a big hole opens up, requiring a severe fight to get out of it.

By thatffnerd

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