With the calendar flipping to the month of July, there's only a few more weeks until Louisville men's basketball fans get to relive former Cardinals glory.
Following a failed attempt in 2021, a UofL alumni team will be officially taking part in the 2023 iteration of The Basketball Tournament later this month. TBT is a 64-team, $1 million winner-take-all tournament that has seen its popularity rise in recent years after it was first established in 2014.
"I'm super excited to play in TBT with the Louisville squad, get back to playing at Freedom Hall and play with some guys I used to play with, have a good time and try to win a championship," former Louisville forward Kyle Kuric said. "Excited to get back, and I can't wait to get started."
Kuric will be one several former Cardinals to suit up for "The Ville." Russ Smith, Peyton Siva, Wayne Blackshear, Chane Behanan, Steven Enoch, Rakeem Buckles and Dillon Avare have also committed to the playing roster. Luke Hancock, Mark Lieberman and Jordan Sucher are among those that will serve on the coaching staff.
The Ville will host to one of TBT’s eight regional locations, with play taking place at legendary Freedom Hall. Eight teams will compete in the Louisville Regional, with the regional champion advancing to the quarterfinals.
The Louisville Regional lasts from Tuesday, July 25 to Saturday, July 29, with a quarterfinal at Freedom Hall taking place on Monday, July 31. The Ville will kick off their run on the first day of the regional at 7:00 p.m. EST against the Auburn alumni team "War Ready."
"I can't wait to play (in Freedom Hall)," Kuric said. "It's one of the main reasons that I decided to play. I think the atmosphere is gonna be unbelievable. The Louisville fans are always great. To go back into that building, especially the way that it all ended there, is going to be something special. It's gonna be a lot of fun for us."
On Friday, Kuric took time to meet with the media and discuss the alumni team. He talked about reuniting with several of his former Louisville teammates, returning to Freedom Hall, his performance in the historic venue's final game, and more.
Below is the video from his press conferences:
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