Milwaukee Bucks: Wes Matthews congratulates TBT’s Marquette squad

Milwaukee Bucks wing Wesley Matthews congratulated The Golden Eagles, as the Marquette alumni claimed TBT championship victory on Tuesday.

Let’s be honest, this summer was always supposed to feature a Milwaukee basketball title, right?

Although the COVID-19 pandemic means that the Milwaukee Bucks will have to wait another couple of months if they’re to be crowned this year’s NBA champs, another team with Milwaukee connections picked up their own hardware on Tuesday.

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The Golden Eagles, a squad consisting of Marquette alumni, prevailed as 78-73 winners over Sideline Cancer in the finale of The Basketball Tournament on Tuesday night.

TBT has been capturing the imagination of many fans of late as the single elimination, winner take all tournament has filled the gap left by other forms of televised basketball since the NBA and college seasons came to an abrupt halt back in May.

Played over the course of 10 days, this year’s staging of TBT took place entirely in Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, eliminating the need for travel amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As Travis Diener drilled a game-winning triple to claim the $1 million prize for the Golden Eagles, there was at least one high profile observer left celebrating in the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

Former Golden Eagles standout and current Bucks starter Wesley Matthews remains a big supporter of all things Marquette, and he provided his reaction to his fellow alumni’s win ahead of Bucks practice on Wednesday.

Speaking to the Bucks’ social media team, Matthews shared the following message:

"“Yes sir! Marquette TBT, Marquette alumni, take care of business, finally. I was watching it intently. I was calling my teammate Jerel McNeal, my friend, my brother. I called some of the guys afterwards. I’m so happy for them, so excited for them. Much deserved. Enjoy, but be safe, though!”"

Matthews was a standout during a four-year career at Marquette, making up “The Three Amigos” alongside McNeal and Dominic James, and is still remembered very fondly by Golden Eagles fans and alumni alike to this day.

That was evident earlier in the season when Marquette held a Wesley Matthews bobblehead night at Fiserv Forum, where not only was Matthews in attendance, but he was joined by Bucks teammates Giannis Antetokounmpo and Donte DiVincenzo, along with head coach Mike Budenholzer.

As Matthews alluded to in his message of congratulations, this was not the Golden Eagles’ first attempt at winning a TBT title. After finishing as a beaten finalist last year, a semi finalist the year prior, and a quarter finalist the year before that, Marquette’s alumni have truly worked their way up to this success, and that will make it only all the sweeter.

Now, let’s just hope that won’t be the last championship celebration of 2020 for those with connections to Milwaukee basketball.