Baylor basketball alumni will comprise a team, Sic Em Squad, that will compete in The Basketball Tournament—a $2 million dollar winner take all contest. And they need our help.

The team is organized by Brent Wilison, who serves as the team’s general manager. Wilson is a 2002 Baylor graduate and served as a graduate assistant for Baylor basketball from 2004-2006. Wilson said that the first year The Basketball Tournament was played, “Me and some of my buddies in the Y league could play with some of these guys, man I think we could put together a team and compete in this. As the tournament caught on in popularity, that quickly became not true.”

But Wilson’s desire to have a Baylor team grew, as the skill level in The Basketball Tournament increased. Wilson talked with former Baylor players and members of the program to try and form a squad of former Baylor basketball players. This year it has come together.

The Sic Em Squad will feature well known Baylor players. Quincy Miller is on the roster. Wilson reached out to Isaiah Austin about the best way to contact him, and it turns out sliding into Miller’s DM’s on Instagram is, if not the best path, a very good one. Thirty minutes after sending Miller a message, he was all-in and one of the first two Bears to commit.

Tweety Carter was the second man on board. Scott Drew’s first McDonald’s All-American agreed to play. He’s joined by his former teammate Kevin Rogers, a former All-Big 12 selection and man who started 101 consecutive games.

Three other members, besides Miller, from the 2012 Elite Eight team are on the roster. Brady Heslip, Gary Franklin and A.J. Walton have joined the team. Each of those guys played in at least two Sweet 16s. And they’ll give the team nice range.

Nuni Omot and T.J. Maston have also agreed to play. Omot finished the season on a tear and hit 41% of his threes last season. Maston was the 2018 Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year. He’ll give the team needed size.

Wilson is also in contact with a few other Baylor players. Isaiah Austin would really like to play, but his contract in China conflicts with league games. So, it’s unlikely he’ll be on the team. A few other former Bears could join the team too.

The team has had discussions with Mark Morefield, a former Baylor basketball assistant and current head women’s basketball coach at Mary Hardin Baylor, about being the head coach. The team is also in talks with Royce O’Neale, the former Baylor player and current member of the Utah Jazz, about being an assistant coach.

How you can help:

The field for The Basketball Tournament is partially selected by how many fans there are for a team. You can click this link and support Sic Em Squad. It costs nothing. And it helps the team make the field.

Wilson said, “Right now we’re doing pretty well... 1,500 (fans) is what they estimate will get you in.” “We’re at 200 right now.”

The team could also use some financial help. They’ll likely add a GoFundMe, something Arkansas’ team has used to finance their efforts in the past. Uniforms, insurance and flying guys from around the world to the tournament takes money.

Sic Em Squad needs to be one of the nine most supported teams in the Midwest region (they’ll move there from the West shortly). So, click the link!

Supporting the team can also earn fans money. A $40,000 prize pool is split among the winning team’s best fans. Tweeting links and getting others to sign up can boost someone’s fan level.

Timeline:

The Basketball Tournament field will be announced on June 6th. The games start in July, and some will be televised on ESPN2.

This is an excellent opportunity to support a team entirely made up of Baylor guys, led by Baylor guys and organized by Baylor guys. All they need is someone to click on a link supporting the team. Take the few seconds and support the team and bother a friend to do so as well.