All Good Dawgs makes their debut in The Basketball Tournament and looks to channel their inner Bulldogs and pull off a miracle run.
It just seems right that we have a Butler alumni team in The Basketball Tournament. All Good Dawgs is certainly a throwback Bulldogs team and between Shelvin Mack and Bo Hodges they have a great blend of one veteran Butler star and one more recent Butler point guard.
They went in the “transfer portal” for some non-Butler players to try and add size and make for better depth. Overall, there are some names that Butler and Big East fans will remember, and there’s enough talent for the 7-seed to pull off an upset or two.
Roster:
- Bo Hodges (ETSU & Butler)
- Charles Davis (Alabama)
- Chrishawn Hopkins (Butler & Wright State)
- Jerome Tillman (Ohio)
- Osayi Osifo (Eastern Florida State, Florida, & Jacksonville)
- Paul Jorgensen (George Washington & Butler)
- Rotnei Clarke (Arkansas & Butler)
- Sean McDermott (Butler)
- Shelvin Mack (Butler)
- Steven Davis-Smith (Wright State)
- Ty Groce (Butler)
Coaching Staff:
- Emerson Kampen (Head Coach)
- Roosevelt Jones (Assistant Coach)
Region: Butler
All-time Record: 0-0
First Matchup: vs. Fail Harder (July 19 at 6 p.m. on FS2)
Team MVP: Jerome Tillman
I could be way off with this prediction, because All Good Dawgs are making their TBT debut, so my entire basis is on these players’ pro careers. Tillman is 37 years old, which means he’s one of the more experienced players in this tournament, and was still listed on a pro roster in the 2023-24 season. From 2013-2018, he was a double-double machine overseas. Sure, it’s been about half a decade since that stretch, but he’s a massive body and more often than not, that proves to be crucial in this tournament. If All Good Dawgs decides to force it inside, Tillman should get a lot of touches and opportunities to add some more double-doubles.
Make-or-break Player: Shelvin Mack
Mack enjoyed a lengthy NBA career followed by a few years spent playing overseas. However, he hasn’t played professionally since 2021 and has since turned to the broadcasting booth. At age 34, Mack’s age is far from a concern, but whether or not he’s in basketball shape is the bigger question. Everyone knows that his talent at Butler spoke for itself and it remained that way for years after. But will it show this summer in The Basketball Tournament? That’s the biggest question for one of Butler’s biggest all-time stars.
Team Outlook
It’s a very old team, which could bode well if the team chemistry clicks. However, don’t expect this team to run – or at least beat other teams in transition. They’ll have to rely on their halfcourt offense and three-point shooting, which will likely come from Mack, McDermott, and Jorgensen.