Congratulations to Boeheim’s Army and Team F.O.E. on advancing to Sunday’s Northeast regional final. With F.O.E. knocking off #1 seeded FCM Untouchables on Thursday, that would make the Syracuse alumni (#3 seed) the favorite to reach the semifinals over the squad captained by the Morris Twins (#4 seed). The Army picked up a 65-61 win over Team Fancy after Brandon Triche knocked down the final seven points for the victors, while Team F.O.E. went haywire in the second half with a 27-8 run to coast to their 85-71 win.

Onwards to Friday’s Super 16 games, then......

THE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT 2017

SOUTH REGION SUPER 16

Date: Friday, July 21, 2017
Times: 6pm & 8pm Central
Location: Steinberg Wellness Center in Brooklyn, NY
TV: ESPN 2
Streaming: WatchESPN
Twitter Updates: @thetournament

6pm Central: #2 Ram Nation vs #14 NC Prodigal Sons
8pm Central: #1 Overseas Elite vs #5 Tampa Bulls

The South Region is definitely the goofiest of the four regions in terms of which four teams made it to the Super 16. Obviously it’s not a surprise that Overseas Elite, the #1 seed and the two-time defending TBT champs, have won their first two rounds. OE did get pushed a little bit, needing to pull away from a two point margin at halftime in their opener against Chattanooga Trenches, and then had to use a 26-10 run to escape Matadors in their next game. That’s what they do, though, as last year’s championship game will always tell you.

Ram Nation, the VCU alumni squad, are the #2 seeded team, but they nearly turned in the biggest disappointment of the tournament. If it wasn’t for Jamie Skeen popping home a buzzer-beater after Showtime drained three free throws to tie the game at 80 with 4.6 seconds remaining, the Rams would be sitting at home right now. They turned it around the next day by beating Primetime Players by 14 in the second round, and now they have a chance for a third win. Their chances of making the regional championship game have been boosted waaaaaay the hell up by NC Prodigal Sons pulling the stunner on Marshall Henderson and Ole Hotty Toddy in the first round. NCPS escaped from their second round game by sinking free throws down the stretch to prevent Golden Boot Dynasty’s rally from down 13. As the #14 seed, they’re definitely the Cinderella team left in the bracket, and let’s face it: they could absolutely show up in Sunday’s regional final.

That brings us to the fourth and final team in the Super 16, Tampa Bulls. The team of South Florida alumni won their first game largely on the back of a 19-0 first half run, but the second round.... hoooooboy. Banking hours were open for Dominique Jones at the buzzer after Kentucky Kings gifted the Bulls one final possession by a horrible sideline turnover.

Real talk: Would Tampa Bulls defeating Overseas Elite on Friday be the biggest victory in USF basketball history?