Luke Hancock to Serve as Player/Coach With Louisville Alumni TBT Team

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Basketball Tournament is less than a week away from kicking off for the Louisville men's basketball program's alumni team that is taking part in it, but they're still making moves for the playing roster

Former Cardinal Luke Hancock, who was already serving as an assistant coach for "The Ville," has been elevated to a player/coach, TBT announced Saturday. He takes the roster spot that was previously occupied by Earl Clark, who had to back out Tuesday due to “recent contractual obligations beyond his control."

The small forward is part of a roster that is full of names familiar to Louisville fans. Russ Smith, Peyton Siva, Kyle Kuric, Wayne Blackshear, Chane Behanan, Steven Enoch, Rakeem Buckles and Dillon Avare have also committed to the playing roster. Mark Lieberman is serving as the head coach for The Ville.

Hancock currently serves as an analyst for the ACC Network and co-host for 93.9 The Ville. He last played professional basketball in 2014 for Panionios of the Greek Basket League, playing in just six games before tearing a muscle in calf. He retired from playing soon thereafter.

A transfer from George Mason, Hancock played a crucial role in Louisville's run to the 2013 national championship despite being a bench player. He averaged 8.1 points and 2.6 rebounds for the season as a redshirt junior, but he best work came in the Final Four. He poured in 20 points against Wichita State and 22 points in the title game vs. Michigan, getting named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player as a result.

His best season came as a redshirt senior in 2013-14, when he averaged a career-best 12.3 points per game. Hancock also putting up 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 34.5 percent on three-point attempts.

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. While anyone over 18 years old and not currently on an NBA roster can play, teams more often than not consist of former collegiate and professional basketball players.

It is also home to the Elam Ending, which is an alternate way to conclude basketball games without them turning into an intentional foul fest. At the first dead ball under four minutes in the fourth quarter, a target score for both teams is then established by adding eight points to the leading team’s score.

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. One of TBT’s Quarterfinals games will also take place at Freedom Hall, with the winner of the Louisville Regional taking on the champion of another regional.

The Louisville Regional lasts from Tuesday, July 25 to Saturday, July 29, with the 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.

(Photo of Luke Hancock: Kim Klement - USA TODAY Sports)

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