Summer Madness: War Tampa makes TBT’s 24-team field

The last time Bryce Brown and Horace Spencer played in a tournament together, they advanced all the way to the Final Four in arguably the greatest season in Auburn basketball history. 

This summer, the duo is back together and eyeing another championship as a part of War Tampa. They will team up with former Auburn players Desean Murray and LaRon Smith to compete in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) – a $1 million, winner-take-all basketball event – beginning July 4 in Columbus, Ohio. 

On Tuesday, the 24-team bracket was revealed. War Tampa earned the No. 17 seed and will face 16 seed House of 'Paign (Illinois alumni) on July 4 in the first round. 

🚨THE #TBT2020 BRACKET IS HERE🚨

Live basketball officially returns on Fourth of July! pic.twitter.com/yKFi9u4qOb

— TBT (@thetournament) June 16, 2020

"The expectation is pretty high now," Smith said. "We went from being in the conversation of just being in the tournament to now we're trying to win."

Smith and Murray played in TBT last year with Tampa 20/20 and bowed out in the first round with a loss to Team CP3. This year, with the additions of Brown and Spencer and several other notable Auburn alumni joining as supporters, they changed the team to War Tampa. It should come as no surprise that Auburn fans have responded by showing more support than any other team in the field. 

"It's just like being back in college," Murray said. "I remember all the support we got, and I know how Auburn fans are. I know with four Auburn players on the team and Bryce and Horace and everybody, they're just ready to go."

Murray played one season on the Plains (2017-18) and started all 34 games for an Auburn team that won the SEC regular-season championship for the first time since 1999. His favorite memory is still the regular-season finale when the Tigers beat South Carolina to clinch the title. 

"We didn't have Anfernee. We were on a little down slump since Anfernee got hurt, and we needed that game to win the SEC." Murray recalled. "So Bryce Brown just came in going crazy. He just got hot. I wouldn't even call it getting hot for Bryce because he just does that on the regular."

Murray says Smith, who also played just one season at Auburn (2016-17), is the one who deserves the credit for helping bring Brown and Spencer into the fold.  

Other notable players on the team include Fletcher Magee (Wofford; 2015-19), Justin Gray (Texas Tech; 2014-18) and Walter Hodge (Florida; 2005-09). See the full roster below. The team was initially organized by Tampa native Matt Moschella and will be coached by John Bianchi. 

TBT's opening rounds will take place from July 4-5. The quarterfinals will be held on July 10 and July 11 with the semifinals on July 12 and the 2020 TBT Championship Game will be played on July 14. Game times and networks will be announced soon, but the event will be broadcast live on ESPN networks. 

ROSTER

Supporters of War Tampa include Chuma Okeke, Marquis Daniels, Austin Wiley and Mustapha Heron.