The Gang Reunites – Again
After making its debut in the 2024 edition of The Basketball Tournament (TBT), Assembly Ball – a team of IU alumni – will be gearing up for the 2025 edition that tips off next Friday. The former Hoosiers will see their first action next Saturday, at 4 PM E.T.
This year’s team will feature even more former Hoosiers, with Al Durham and James Blackmon Jr. making their TBT debuts in 2025. The team also brings back Yogi Ferrell, Troy Williams, Christian Watford, Juwan Morgan, Jordy Hulls, Race Thompson, and Miller Kopp.
In case you missed it last season, TBT was surprisingly fun, as far as summer basketball goes.
It’s not the same as the G League, where guys are trying to carve out a career, but features a bunch of guys like Ferrell and Hulls who have years of professional experience overseas. That plus the win-or-go-home format between former college rivals make for a pretty good TV product, especially at this time of the year when the MLB is the only pro sport we have.
The addition of Durham and Blackmon will make this roster more Indiana-centric than last year’s group, and add to the generational mix on the team as a whole.
Assembly Ball now features players who played for just Tom Crean, some who played for Crean and Archie Miller, some who played for Miller and Mike Woodson, and some who played for just Woodson.
While listing the coaches may make Hoosier fans reluctant to tune in, the cross-generational aspect can also bring a sense of closure.
No longer do you have to wonder what Miller Kopp could have done with other capable shooters and facilitators around him. Guys like Juwan Morgan and Race Thompson bring the grit inside that so many late Crean teams lacked, allowing Yogi to really shine on the perimeter like he did during his best seasons in Bloomington.
Check out TBT’s website to view the full roster and schedule, which only guarantees Assembly Ball that opening game. This team will look to improve on last year’s showing, as the former Hoosiers fell to some former Boilermakers in the second round of 2024’s contest.