After a loss to eventual champions Team Heartfire last year, Mass Street TBT retooled, bringing in a roster of Jayhawk legends.
With a mixture of players from last year’s team and fresh new talent, Mass Street TBT looks to make it out of Wichita and go the distance. Led by Thomas Robinson, last year’s star, and Frank Mason III, a former Wooden Player of the Year, this team is loaded with talent and will be a must-watch through the tournament.
Roster:
- Billy Preston (Kansas)
- Dedric Lawson (Kansas)
- Frank Mason III (Kansas)
- Jamari Traylor (Kansas)
- Kevin Young (Loyola Marymount & Kansas)
- Lagerald Vick (Kansas)
- Malik Newman (Kansas)
- Mario Little (Kansas)
- Sam Cunliffe (Kansas)
- Silvio de Sousa (Kansas)
- Thomas Robinson (Kansas)
- Travis Washington (Utah Valley, Coffeyville)
Coaching Staff:
- Sherron Collins (Head Coach)
- Travis Releford (GM)
Team MVP: Frank Mason III
If you’re a college basketball fan, it’s hard not to be a fan of Mason. In his senior season, Mason took home the Wooden Award, averaging 20 PPG and leading Kansas to an Elite 8. He’s still hooping overseas, averaging 15 a game in France. Mason is a leader on the court and knows how to make the most out of his teammate’s abilities.
The Elam Ending should play to his skillset, based on his clutch shotmaking and his confidence. Don’t be surprised if he’s not only the best player on Mass Street TBT, but one of the best players in the whole tournament.
Make-or-Break Player: Thomas Robinson
Thomas Robinson was incredible last year, leading the team in scoring in two of the three games, including a 21 point 15 rebound performance against We are D3 to avoid a first-round upset. If Robinson can perform at this level again, then the sky’s the limit for Mass Street TBT. Robinson has much better pieces around him this year if the roster holds, and having his presence down low will create opportunities for the rest of his team. If he can’t perform at the same level, they have depth, but the ceiling for this team lowers significantly.
Team Outlook
Mass Street TBT will play in the Wichita region, which should give them a significant home court advantage with the commute being driveable for Jayhawk alum. They will face Ram Up in the first round, a team looking for their first-ever TBT win. Things would get interesting in the third round when they would have the opportunity to play either the Aftershocks, the Wichita State alumni team in Wichita, or Purple Reign the Kansas State alumni team.
An interesting addition to the team is Billy Preston, who hasn’t spoken too kindly of the university in the past. He, Dedric Lawson, and Silvio de Sousa have a nice layer of depth at the forward position behind Robinson. Another addition is Malik Newman, who many remember for his tournament run that led the Jayhawks to the final four. The duo of Newman and Lagerald Vick will be deadly from the perimeter.
Kevin Young and Mario Little are the vets of the team, playing previously and being some of the older members, but their TBT experience should help the team right the ship if they fall into a difficult situation. This team should be dangerous, but in a win-or-go-home tournament like the TBT, anything can happen, and that’s what makes this tournament so exciting.