The Pit Selected to Host 2022 TBT Regional
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Basketball Tournament (TBT), the annual 64-team, $1 million winner-take-all competition, announced Wednesday that New Mexico will serve as one of the eight regional sites for the 2022 tournament. The event, televised on ESPN networks, will feature first, second and third round games from The Pit from July 18-21, 2022.
The Enchantment, a team highlighted by Lobo alumni, will be the featured team in the New Mexico Regional.
“We are excited that The Pit will be hosting a regional in next year’s TBT,” said UNM head coach Richard Pitino. “It is a great opportunity for some of our former players to have the chance to play in front of our unbelievable fans again. It is a very entertaining tournament and I know Lobo fans will turn out and make it an incredible experience for everybody.”
The Enchantment, led by co-general managers Brandon Mason and Ryan Berryman, has already secured commitments from former Lobos Anthony Mathis (2016-19), Drew Gordon (2011-12), J.R. Giddens (2007-08) and Roman Martinez (2007-10), along with former Weber State standout and Albuquerque native Scott Bamforth.
“I’m super excited to have the opportunity to continue to represent the University of New Mexico as a member of The Enchantment,” said Mathis. “The support from our incredible fans, as well as Coach Pitino and the Athletic Department is what makes this all possible. I know The Pit will be packed with Lobos fans this summer, and my teammates and I can’t wait to put on a show for them this July!”
Along with The Enchantment, seven other teams will be competing this summer at The Pit. The rest of the field of 64 will compete at the other seven regional sites: Omaha, Neb. (headlined by Omaha Brew Crew – Creighton alumni), Cincinnati, Ohio (headlined by Zip ‘Em Up – Xavier alumni), Wichita, Kan. (headlined by AfterShocks – Wichita State alumni), Syracuse, N.Y. (headlined by Boeheim’s Army – Syracuse alumni), Charleston, W.Va. (headlined by Best Virginia – West Virginia alumni and Herd That – Marshall alumni) and a site to be announced later. The eight regional winners advance to quarterfinals, held July 28-30 in Wichita and Dayton, Ohio. Dayton will host the semifinals on July 31 and the $1 Million, Winner-Take-All Championship on Aug. 2. TBT’s registration period for teams interested in competing in any of its eight regional locations will run from April 1- June 15. The 64-team field and TBT bracket will be released in late June.
“The Pit has always been on our bucket list of places to bring TBT, so when New Mexico entered an alumni team last year, locating a regional to Albuquerque became an immediate priority,” said TBT CEO and founder Jon Mugar. “I wouldn’t be surprised if New Mexico fans beat the WIchita State TBT attendance record for their round one game.”
All-Session Tickets for the New Mexico Regional are on sale now at GoLobos.com/tickets and at The Pit Ticket Office. Fans who purchase All-Session Tickets will save at least 20% from the cost of buying every session individually, depending on seat location.
TBT originated in 2014 and this year marks the first time that New Mexico will host games in the tournament. The teams in the 64-team field are highlighted by college alumni squads, international pros, former NBA players and college standouts. Since 2017, TBT has used the Elam Ending, the end-of-game format adopted by the NBA All-Star game in recent years, that eliminates the game clock after a certain point and features teams playing to a Target Score.