Then-senior guard Aaron Craft (4) caries the ball down the court in a game against Dayton. OSU lost, 60-59, at First Niagara Center March 20.
Credit: Ritika Shah / Lantern TV news director
A team of former Ohio State men’s basketball standouts won $2 million this past summer for taking the crown in The Basketball Tournament’s 64-team competition.
Now Carmen’s Crew –– which featured Aaron Craft, David Lighty and other accomplished Buckeyes a year ago –– will begin its run at a second-straight TBT title in front of Buckeye fans on Ohio State campus for the first time.
Games for the tournament’s Columbus Regional will take place at the Covelli Center beginning July 23 and culminating with the Regional Championship July 26, according to a press release from TBT Tuesday.
“Our program prides itself on welcoming back our former players and having Carmen’s Crew back on campus for the Columbus Regional of The Basketball Tournament takes that to a new level,” Ohio State men’s basketball head coach Chris Holtmann said in the press release. “Buckeye Nation will once again be able to cheer on legendary Buckeyes in our newest modern facility, the Covelli Center. TBT will be yet another opportunity for Carmen’s Crew to continue its success playing in Columbus in front of our tremendous fans.”
Craft, who played point guard at Ohio State from 2010 to ’14, is expected to return this year alongside Diebler, who averaged double-digit scoring in three of four seasons with the Buckeyes from 2007 to ’11.
Former two-time Ohio State All-American forward Jared Sullinger is expected to return as head coach, and Evan Turner –– who swept the national player of the year awards in 2010 for the Buckeyes –– is expected to join him on the coaching staff, per the release.
“There’s no better place to have the tournament,” Turner said. “I think that it’s going to be so special and fun to play at a place where we all became men. I think our guys are going to show up and show out and make the Buckeye faithful proud. This is definitely something I’m excited for and can’t wait to be part of and I know everybody in the city feels the same way!”
Ticket information is available at the thetournament.com.
