William Buford tossed a lob to a streaking David Lighty who flushed it down with force, bringing an emphatic and triumphant end to a weekend full of Buckeye basketball nostalgia.
A group of some of the most talented Buckeyes from the Thad Matta era teamed up again this weekend, competing in the opening rounds 2018 TBT in front of a local Columbus crowd, returning to a college home court feel for the first time since they their playing days ended years ago.
The fans didn't disappoint. The group of former Buckeyes, aptly named Scarlet & Gray, were met with full and raucous crowds both days, complete with a student section, Zubaz pants and a friendly O-H-I-O chant going around the arena.
“Coming into the gym yesterday, I think we all knew it was going to be full, but I didn’t realize how excited it was going to make me."– Aaron Craft
“We we were running out, I kind of got chills. Like, ‘Damn, we’re playing in front of the hometown again,'” Jared Sullinger said after Saturday's first-round win. "You see all that Scarlet and Gray, you see the student section – you don't get that. You don't get that. Where we go, you don't get no student section going crazy."
It was exactly what the players should have expected, coming back home to a loyal and rowdy fanbase, but it's something they were fully prepared for after being away for so long.
“Coming into the gym yesterday, I think we all knew it was going to be full, but I didn’t realize how excited it was going to make me," Aaron Craft said. "Just to be able to do that again – because you just don’t think you’re going to have that opportunity once school’s out.”
Fans ate up the opportunity as well. Tickets for both games were sold out hours before tipoff and fans – many clad in old Buckeye jerseys – were told to squeeze towards the center of the bleachers to make room for as many spectators as possible.
It was clear that the 3,000 seat arena was not enough to house this Buckeye basketball celebration, leaving many wanting more and bigger after just the one year. Scoonie Penn, a Buckeye great serving as Scarlet & Gray's coach, hopes this weekend helped serve as an audition for possible TBT events in Columbus in the future.
"It being its first year here, TBT had a chance to see what is possible here," Penn said. "Definitely a bigger venue. I think we are obviously a good enough city to where we can host the top-16 or even the final four – whatever the case may be."
There are certainly options in the Columbus area. The city is home to Ohio State, which houses the Schottenstein Center and houses St. John Arena, and downtown is Nationwide Arena, which has already hosted the NHL All-Star Game and the NCAA Women's Final Four in the last two years.
“We we were running out, I kind of got chills. Like, ‘Damn, we’re playing in front of the hometown again.'”– Jared Sullinger
The venues are not an issue, and based on the overwhelming turnout and fan support, neither is attendance.
"This is definitely a hotbed. There's the support here," "I can see going forward that this will grow, because even as these guys get older and I get pushed out, whatever it is, as long as TBT keeps doing it, I think there will be enough guys in this area, enough Buckeyes that will continue to carry the torch.”
For now though, Scarlet & Gray will gladly take its weekend homecoming trip and advance to next weekend's Super 16, held in Atlanta. The former Buckeyes will look to give the Buckeye faithful more to cheer about with a deep tournament run, with eyes on the $2 million winner-takes-all cash prize.
