Playing alongside Shelvin Mack gives 2 former Butler players glimpse of pro futures before TBT
Play against the 2025-26 Butler Bulldogs.
That was the scene Thursday as Butler stars past and present competed in a full-court scrimmage at Hinkle Fieldhouse in preparation for Saturday's opening round of The Basketball Tournament (TBT).
TBT is a 64-team tournament split across eight regions. The winning team wins $1 million.
The former Butler players will play for All Good Dawgs, led by former NBA players Shelvin Mack and Sean McDermott. All Good Dawgs are seeded third in the Hinkle-hosted Indianapolis regional and will face off against sixth seed Shield 219, a team of Valparaiso players at 2 p.m.
TBT: Butler basketball alumni team All Good Dawgs will play at Hinkle Fieldhouse
Happy Valley Hoopers (former Penn State players), Boeheim's Army (Syracuse alumni), reigning champion Carmen's Crew (Ohio State alumni) and Elite Nation are the No. 1 seeds in the tournament.
"It's a great feeling," Mack said of being back at Hinkle. "I came here a lot as a commentator, but it's a little different getting out there on the court and competing with the guys, having that chemistry and playing The Butler Way, playing a Butler brand of basketball.
"It's family. ... A lot of guys play overseas and don't get to come back to games throughout the year, so it's good to come back and have that chemistry and touch base with your family members."
Mack and McDermott will be joined by former Bulldogs Andre Screen, Avery Woodson, Bo Hodges, Jalen Thomas, Myles Tate, Ty Groce and Tyler Wideman. Extra players James Justice Jr. (Martin Methodist, Tennessee-Southern) and Martyce Kimbrough (Findlay) are also on the team.
Mack served as the general manager in charge of putting the team together. Of the players on the team, only Tate and Screen have not played professionally. Screen has been working out in Indy during the offseason. At 7 foot 1, playing in TBT is a great chance to show off his skill.
"I'm still learning (my teammates), but you can tell they're all experienced pros," Screen said. "That's something new for me. Just getting used to that play style and how I can make an impact on the game. It's been a good experience so far."
Insider: Butler basketball freshman was 'putting on a show' before he got to campus, shows glimpse of what's next
Tate is also hoping to show what he can do on TBT's stage. The 6-0 guard transferred to Appalachian State in 2023 after three seasons at Butler. Tate earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors last season, averaging 16.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.
"I came back last night, came in the gym and I just remember all of the memories of playing here,' Tate said. 'It's a good feeling with everybody welcoming me back.
"I'm just trying to show that I'm a dog and I've always been that. It started in this building right here. Butler gave me a chance, and I'm just trying to put on for Indianapolis, put on for Spartanburg, South Carolina and my family."
Playing against the Bulldogs was a challenge for All Good Dawgs. Thad Matta's crew looks to be in mid-season form and that's an encouraging sight for the former Bulldogs.
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