After a year of Sabbatical, Sweet Home Alabama returns looking for its first win.
A little refresher: Sweet Home Alabama is a team of players from the state of Alabama. In their lone game in 2022, this team faced off against Zip ‘Em Up and struggled offensively in the 94-61 loss. This year, Sweet Home Alabama finds themselves with the 5 seed and will face off against one of the more favorable matchups in Dayton. The team matches up with We Are D3 who is also seeking their first win in TBT.
Four players return from 2022 with a year of rest: CJ Carter, David Godbold, Justin Tubbs, and Walter Sharpe III. This team does have two other former TBT players, Kevin Samuel and Kyle Riddley. Samuel played for the Shell Shock team, and Riddley played for Georgia Kingz. Hopefully, with the combination of old and new faces, they can come out on top.
For more TBT team profiles, click here.
Current Roster:
- Cameron Copeland (Austin Peay State)
- CJ Carter (Mississippi State)
- David Godbold (Oklahoma)
- Dibaji Walker (UMass Amherst)
- Justin Tubbs (Alabama/East Tennessee State)
- Kevin Samuel (TCU/FGCU/South Alabama)
- Kyle Riddley (Pfeiffer University)
- Manny Suarez (Fordham/Adelphi/Creighton)
- Quinterious Croft (University of Wisconsin Parkside)
- Roquez Johnson (Mississippi State)
- Tavis Smith (Belmont Abbey College)
- Walter Sharpe III (Mississippi State/UAB)
Coaching Staff:
- Brandon Wood (General Manager)
- Eugene Graham (Head Coach)
- Robert Allen (Assistant Coach)
Region: Dayton
All-time Record: 0-1
First Matchup: vs. We Are D3 (July 20 at 12 p.m. on TBT Live)
Team MVP: Tavis Smith
Tavis Smith is set to be the sharpshooter for this team. While others can shoot from 3-point range, Smith can catch fire from deep like no one else on Sweet Home Alabama. With Smith being one of the younger players, he has something to prove and show what he can do. While an intense shooter, he can also see the floor and his teammates.
Smith played for BC GAU in the Georgia League. He averaged 15.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. The thing that stands out, though, is his 37.2% 3-point shooting. As a 6-foot-3 guard, he has good size and can go up against some of the best guards in TBT.
Make-or-break Player: Roquez Johnson
Roquez Johnson is going to be a veteran force. His leadership is going to be massive for this team. Johnson must use his experience to find open space and create space for other players. Even if he doesn’t play, his leadership will be required for this team’s success.
Johnson takes intelligent shots and is one of the best offensive weapons for this team. He shot 65.1% from the field and isn’t known for his 3-point shooting, but he made 1-for-3 last season. Johnson fights for rebounds and puts it back up, which will be pivotal for his team if they want to win some games in this tournament.
Team Outlook
The luck of the draw favors Sweet Home Alabama. Getting a solid 5-seed, the team is in a difficult region. The team will face We Are D3. The opportunity to win is there, but this team will need to find a groove and work together. We Are D3 has been playing together more recently than Sweet Home Alabama, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
Sweet Home Alabama will have to work together and step up defensively. With both teams wanting their first win, this contest will be close. If the returning Champion Heartfire makes it past the 8-seed Rise and Grind, the next game will be much more challenging. However, anything can happen, and hopefully for Sweet Home Alabama they can come out of the region ahead.