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Scarlet Sunrise: Carmen's Crew running things back for 2024 TBT

IMG_7408by: Andy Backstrom06/26/24andybackstrom

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.

Carmen’s Crew running things back for 2024 TBT

After bowing out in the Round of 16 of The Basketball Tournament (TBT) last year, Carmen’s Crew, Ohio State men’s basketball’s unofficial alumni team, indicated that it’d be back in the fold in 2024.

Now it’s official.

Carmen’s Crew is in fact running things back, and three players are already on board: Kyle Young, Andre Wesson and Kaleb Wesson.

Following a year off, Carmen’s Crew returned to TBT in 2023 in pursuit of the winner-take-all, $1 million prize with a new look. The roster included five players from now-former Buckeyes head coach Chris Holtmann’s tenure: Young, the Wesson brothers, C.J. Jackson and Keyshawn Woods, all of whom played for Ohio State at some point between 2017 and 2022.

Trevor Thompson, who played for the Buckeyes in 2016-17 — the year before Holtmann’s arrival — was part of last year’s team as well. So was William Buford, another fellow Buckeyes alum (2008-12).

The rest of the roster consisted of Javon Bess (Gahanna Lincoln, Michigan State/Saint Louis), Scott Thomas (Buckeye Valley, Bowling Green), Jalen Tate (Pickerington HS Central, Northern Kentucky/Arkansas) and Malik Dime (Senegalese center, played for Indian Hills CC/Washington).

Coached by former Ohio State star forward Jared Sullinger, Carmen’s Crew reached the TBT regional final in Dayton last year, thanks to wins over Team Overtime and India Rising.

Originally known as “Scarlet & Gray,” Carmen’s Crew won TBT and, at the time, the $2 million, winner-take-all prize in 2019. Back then, the team was led by players from the Thad Matta era, including the likes of Aaron Craft, David Lighty and Jon Diebler.

Ohio State set to play Kentucky at MSG in CBS Sports Classic

The date and tip time are set for Ohio State-Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic. The Buckeyes will take on the Wildcats Dec. 21 in Madison Square Garden following the 3 p.m. showdown between UCLA and North Carolina.

This marks the second time in three years Ohio State will play the annual event in MSG. Two seasons ago, the Buckeyes let a double-digit lead slip — UNC’s Pete Nance beat the buzzer to force overtime, and the Tar Heels pulled away in the extra frame.

Ohio State is 5-4 all-time in the CBS Sports Classic, a four-team event that’s been around since 2014. For more details on this year’s Ohio State-Kentucky matchup, head on over here.

Tale of the Tape: Knowing the basics of Buckeyes defensive ends, defensive tackles

Lettermen Row “Defensive Line Week” is underway, and we’ve got you covered with a quick primer of the basics on the guys who make up the Buckeyes’ defensive front.

We outlined the measurables of Ohio State’s scholarship defensive ends and defensive tackles, in addition to noting where each of them went to high school, what recruiting ranking they received, who they picked the Buckeyes over and their biggest strength, among other things.

For the defensive end rundown, go here.

For the defensive tackle rundown, go here.

Counting Down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 66 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 157 days

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