Kentucky's La Familia has one last opponent standing between its TBT run and a $2 million payday: Davis Steel, a veteran independent squad that already handed the Wildcats' alumni team a brutal one-point loss last summer. The two teams will meet Sunday at Historic Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, giving La Familia a chance to settle the score on its home floor.
Davis Steel earned the championship matchup by defeating The Mecca 71-69 on Thursday, according to The Courier Journal. The team eliminated La Familia, 71-70, in last year's round of 16 at Memorial Coliseum, so Sunday's game brings a ready-made rematch angle without needing much extra seasoning.
La Familia Finally Reaches The TBT Final
La Familia secured its first championship-game appearance by beating JHX Hoops, the Kansas alumni team, 78-65 on Wednesday. The official TBT recap said Kentucky defended its home court and advanced to the tournament's $2 million championship game.
Davis Steel is playing under a new name after previously competing as Eberlein Drive, but several familiar pieces remain in place. Its roster includes former college standouts Gabe York of Arizona, Terrell Brown of Washington, Pedro Bradshaw of Bellarmine, Terry Taylor of Austin Peay and Hassani Gravett of South Carolina, according to CBB Review.
Sunday's Game Comes With A Familiar TBT Twist
The championship will use TBT's Elam Ending format, which removes the game clock late and sets a target score for the finish. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET Sunday at Memorial Coliseum, with the game airing on FOX and streaming through the Fox Sports app, per The Courier Journal.
According to University of Kentucky Alumni, Memorial Coliseum was the largest basketball arena in the South when it opened in 1950. A University of Kentucky purchasing document says the Memorial Coliseum renovation reduced its seating capacity from 11,500 to 8,500. UKNow reported that Memorial Coliseum hosted Kentucky's first-ever NBA Math Hoops tournament in 2017.
For La Familia, the stakes are straightforward: win at home, claim the $2 million prize and erase the memory of Davis Steel's one-point escape. For Davis Steel, it is another shot at the title after Eberlein Drive reached the 2025 championship game and came up short.
