Zoo Crew was one-and-done in TBT last summer, but the Pitt alumni will be back for revenge in 2024.
The team made up of mostly former Panthers knows that last year’s performance against Herd That wasn’t good enough in the 86-71 loss. With coach-turned-player DeJuan Blair joining the roster, it should help give Zoo Crew a spark.
While last year’s game was in Wheeling, West Virginia, and should have been a home game, Zoo Crew hopes having the games in Pittsburgh will be a helpful advantage.
Roster:
- DeJuan Blair (Pitt)
- Dustin Sleva (Shippensburg)
- Jamel Artis (Pitt)
- Jared Wilson-Frame (Pitt)
- Lamar Patterson (Pitt)
- Mike Young Jr. (Pitt)
- Nelly Cummings (Pitt and Colgate)
- Nike Sibande (Miami (OH) and Pitt)
- Ryan Luther (Pitt and Arizona)
Coaching Staff:
- Gilbert Brown (GM)
- Jermaine Dixon (Assistant Coach)
Region: Pittsburgh
All-Time Record: 0-1
First Matchup: vs Million $ Worth of Game
Team MVP: Jamel Artis
Jamel Artis led the Panthers alumni last year with 21 points against Herd That. He’s no stranger to TBT as he has played in the tournament for a few years, and he finds ways to always score. Zoo Crew is going to need that offensive production this year.
Make-or-Break Player: Nelly Cummings
Panthers fans know how important Nelly Cummings was to the 22-23 Panthers team that almost became a Cinderella story into the Sweet 16. Cummings was one of the main scorers on that team, and he got hot very quickly. While Artis can score, Zoo Crew is going to need plenty of shooters to make a deep run into the tournament.
Team Outlook
On paper, Zoo Crew shouldn’t have any problem getting into the second round of the tournament… but what’s on paper isn’t how it always goes down. There are a lot of players on this roster that are fresh out of school or have recently played professionally overseas.
The former Panthers should set themselves up well for a second-round Backyard Brawl matchup with Best Virginia. Nike Sibande will be familiar with his role of coming off the bench when needed if he doesn’t crack the starting lineup. There’s a lot of potential for Zoo Crew in 2024, but the players have to come together as one and avoid being upset as the hosts.
[…] Pittsburgh. The Battle of Pennsylvania will be fun, but the crowd will definitely be favoring the Zoo Crew. After that, they either play Best Virginia, who always brings a court crowd and energy, or […]