Purdue Boilermakers alumni announce return for TBT 2021
By: Gabe Maturo
Men of Mackey is officially back for Year 2
In a rare down year for Purdue basketball in 2020, Men of Mackey gave the fanbase something to look forward to.
As it turns out, they were just getting started last year.
While chatting with Inside TBT on Monday, Evan Boudreaux announced that the Boilermakers alumni squad will be back for their second year in the tournament.
BREAKING: Evan Boudreaux (@EBoudreaux12) tells us that Men Of Mackey will be back for @thetournament 2021โผ๏ธ
โ Inside TBT (@InsideTbt) March 1, 2021
After an impressive debut last year, get ready to see some more @BoilerBall alumni playing for @PurdueTbt ๐๐ pic.twitter.com/rLILWfo0PF
Every year, itโs an expectation that Purdue will make the NCAA Tournament. Last year, however, was different.
Sitting 4th from last in the Big Ten with a 9-11 conference record, things were not looking great for the Boilermakers.
With no postseason in sight even before COVID arrived, the Purdue fanbase was disappointed.
Men of Mackey gave the fans exactly what they wanted: another chance to watch Purdue basketball.
๐จBREAKING๐จ: Evan Boudreaux tells @InsideTbt that @PurdueTbt will return for TBT 2021!
โ TBT (@thetournament) March 1, 2021
Your favorite @BoilerBall alumni are BACK (with a few surprises) for Year 2 ๐ pic.twitter.com/JY8Og9hQh0
For a team that won just one game last summer -- an opening round 85-79 comeback win over Team HEARTFIRE -- the squad is determined to make it further in the bracket this time around.
Last year was full of surprises for GM Ryan Kay.
When COVID-19 shook up the roster, it forced Kay to look outside of Purdue for help filling the roster.
The first source of help came from Justin Dentmon, a former Washington Husky who decided heโd join the team.
JUSTIN DENTMON IS TAKING OVERโผ๏ธ@PurdueTbt pic.twitter.com/SSJcGONaaF
โ TBT (@thetournament) July 6, 2020
Dentmon made a big splash in TBT 2020. His 22.5 points per game was tops in the tournament for players who competed in at least two games.
Though he never played in a Boilermaker uniform, he was still embraced by the Purdue fanbase.
Your final TBT 2020 scoring leaders:
โ TBT (@thetournament) July 17, 2020
1. Justin Dentmon
2. Iso Joe
3. JaCorey Williams
4. Chris Cokley
4. Khalif Wyatt
๐๐๐ pic.twitter.com/9dL0kH0rpS
The 2020 roster happened to only feature four Purdue alumni, all of whom fans hope will return for the teamโs second year in TBT.
Among that group was Isaac Haas, who has NBA experience with the Utah Jazz and is currently in China with the Guangzhou Long-Lions.
COMEBACK COMPLETE!!!!!!
โ TBT (@thetournament) July 6, 2020
Isaac Haas wins it for @PurdueTbt ๐๐๐ pic.twitter.com/6TkMqKh3K0
In addition to Haas are former Boilermakers Jonathan Octeus, Evan Boudreaux, and Jacquil Taylor.
Now, Men of Mackey is looking to add more alumni to their roster to create a more Purdue-centric feel to the team.
With a new-look roster, will they do more damage in the tournament this year?