TBT
Champagn, ILL. – Illini basketball fans don't need to wait until November to hear familiar sounds and names. Champaign-Urbana radio station NewsTalk 1400 WDWS-AM will broadcast each of the House of 'Paign team games in the The Basketball Tournament (TBT), beginning Saturday, in Peoria, Illinois.
Comprised largely of Fighting Illini alumni that are now professionals and were household names while playing at the U of I, House of 'Paign captured the attention of Illinois fans last year in their run to the TBT quarterfinals. They are one of 64 teams in this year's event, a winner-take-all, single-elimination tournament that is nationally televised with a $1 million dollar pursue to the winning team.
A trio of WDWS broadcasters – Brian Barnhart, Scott Beatty and Trent Meacham – will call the games. Barnhart is well known to Illini fans as the "Voice of the Illini," serving as Illini basketball's permanent play-by-play voice since 2002. Beatty hosts local pregame and postgame Illinois basketball shows on WDWS along with calling play-by-play for other Illini sports, and Meacham is a former standout Illini basketball player (2007-2009) before a successful professional career in Europe.
"Just as the players are looking forward to playing for Illini fans again, I'm excited to see them on the court again and have a chance to the call their names again," said Barnhart. "They bring back happy memories for me and listeners."
This year's House of 'Paign squad returns several from last year's roster while also adding top-10 all-time Illini scorer Brandon Paul, who reached the NBA. Overall, there are seven former Illini – Leron Black, Nnanna Egwu, Andres Feliz, Demetri McCamey, Kipper Nichols, Brandon Paul, and Rayvonte Rice – as well as former South Dakota State star Mike Daum and Northwestern standout Juice Thompson. Former Illini Mike LaTulip coaches the team and serves as general manager.
"The proximity of these games and the stellar roster Mike LaTulip has put together made for a fantastic opportunity for our listeners," said Beatty. "We're grateful for TBT and Mike's partnership in this."
This season, the first three games take place at Carver Arena inside Peoria's Civic Center. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship will occur in Dayton, Ohio.
Schedule:
First Round vs. Jackson TN Underdawgs – Saturday, July 24 | 1 p.m. CT | Carver Arena; Peoria, Ill.
Second Round - Monday, July 26 | 8 p.m. CT | Carver Arena; Peoria, Ill.
Third Round - Wednesday, July 28 | 8 p.m. CT | Carver Arena; Peoria, Ill.
Quarterfinal – Saturday, July 31 | 1 p.m. CT | Dayton, Ohio
Semifinal – Sunday, Aug. 1 | 11 a.m. CT | Dayton, Ohio
Championship – Tuesday, Aug. 3 | 8 p.m. CT | Dayton, Ohio
WDWS-AM is a Champaign Multimedia Group station and a flagship affiliate of the Fighting Illini Sports Network, airing Illinois men's and women's basketball, football, baseball, volleyball and softball. House of 'Paign games will be heard over the air and at wdws.com. The TBT began in 2014. For more information on the event, visit thetournament.com.
