Men of Mackey had an early exit in 2023, but the Purdue alumni team wants to go much further with a talented roster in 2024.
When you look at this Men of Mackey roster, the first thing that jumps out is the shooting ability. Eric Hunter, Bobby Planutis, Max Landis, and Sasha Stefanovic all had at least one college season with a 3P% over 40%. There will be no shortage of points to come from behind the arc.
It’s also a Men of Mackey team out for revenge. In 2023, they fell to Friday Beers in the second round. It was a much closer loss than the year before, but in four years of competing in TBT, Men of Mackey has failed to win at least two games. They’re hoping to change that this summer.
Roster:
- Bobby Planutis (Mount St. Mary’s, St. Bonaventure, & Purdue Fort Wayne)
- David Jenkins (South Dakota State, UNLV, Utah, & Purdue)
- Eric Hunter (Purdue & Butler)
- Ian Miller (Florida State)
- Jonathan Ocetus (Colorado State & Purdue)
- Kelsey Barlow (UIC & Purdue)
- Malik Osborne (Florida State)
- Max Landis (Gardner-Webb & Purdue Fort Wayne)
- Sasha Stefanovic (Purdue)
- Tahjai Teague (Ball State)
Coaching Staff:
- Bailey Good (Assistant Coach)
- Rapheal Davis (Assistant Coach)
- Ryan Kay (GM)
Region: Butler
All-time Record: 4-4
First Matchup: vs. Fort Wayne Champs (July 19 at 3 p.m. on TBT Live)
Team MVP: Kelsey Barlow
Barlow was last year’s star for Men of Mackey, averaging 12.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 2.5 APG. He and Nojel Eastern were crucial in the scoring department, but with no Eastern on this summer’s roster, Men of Mackey will have to rely on Barlow even more.
It’s been over a decade since Barlow played for the Boilermakers, so current Purdue fans may not know much about his game. The 6-5 guard brings size and physicality and will look to drive to the bucket. However, he can also hit from deep when needed and looks to playmaker. Men of Mackey will need a bit of everything from the 33-year-old.
Make-or-break Player: Sasha Stefanovic
It’s Stefanovic’s TBT debut and I’m sure he will be a critical player from day one. He’s a recent Purdue grad (2022) and one of the most consistent Boilermakers in recent memory. While Stefanovic never became the star of the team, his three-point outbursts could be key in TBT. Men of Mackey needs another star to help take them to the next level, and Stefanovic has the offensive capabilities to catch fire and be that guy.
Team Outlook
I have concerns about this team’s size, with Osborne and Teague as the only two big men, and each of them at just 6-foot-9. That means Planutis, who is a forward, will have to rebound the basketball and step up out of his comfort zone a bit. He’s more than capable, but it will be critical.
It’ll also be interesting to see how this roster shakes out with so many point guards. Sacrifices will need to be made in order for Men of Mackey to gel, but there’s a great chance they end the drought and finally advance further in The Basketball Tournament.