As the Golden Eagles Alumni compete for $2 million in the 2016 TBT, the team contains remnants from the 2003 Final Four team, the James-McNeal-Matthews trifecta of the late 2000s and the Buzz Williams-led teams that enjoyed back-to-back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances at the beginning of this decade.
One would expect an alumni team coming from primarily two different coaching philosophies and three eras to have trouble gelling. Joe Chapman, who suited up from 2002-’06 for former coach Tom Crean rejected that notion without an ounce of hesitation.
“It’s not two different philosophies,” Chapman stated. “We play hard … That’s always how we’ve played.