2025 Las Vegas 35+ National Tournament Preview
Our 35+ Ultimate Hoops Living Legends will be competing this weekend in our final National Tournament of the year.
I’m going to switch things up with my annual preview. Check out my 8 bold predictions for the 35+ tournament this weekend in Las Vegas.
Which team is the favorite to win it all?
I may get some heat for this one but I’m going with the Nor Cal Buckets from Sacramento. The team is loaded with size with Zack Andrews and Darian Townes manning the middle. Kent Bazemore is obviously the biggest x factor here if he actually shows up. But I think if Oregon point guard legend Darius Wright makes the trip, then I think Roseville goes home with their 1st National Title. Add in sharpshooter Keenan Prince and that’s a lot of firepower on one team. Again the best team on paper doesn’t always win. We saw what happened in New York just a couple of months ago lol. If a team with just 5 players can win it all in New York, anything is possible at this point.
Who will be the Cinderella team this weekend?
Again after what I saw in New York, I’m going to pick a home team from Las Vegas. It’s such an advantage to have home court and be able to basically pick anyone you want for the tournament and not have to pay for any travel expenses. At the time of this writing, we are still missing 3 team rosters so based on what I see, I will go with Living the Dream. GM Chris Mitchell has put together a very well-balanced team with all the Vegas legends. I see a lot of high IQ guys that will move the ball and play very well together. Vegas is due for a National Title and this just might be the year they do it with 3 teams in the tournament. I haven’t even mentioned the other Veegas team Flight since they haven’t submitted their roster but you know it’s probably going to be an NBA starting 5..
Who is the most overrated team in the tournament?
Haha had to throw this in here to stir up some drama of course. I haven’t even seen their roster yet but based on history I’m going to put Flight in here. Nothing personal against Flight. They just always have the biggest names and most athletic guys on the roster but for some reason they can never get it done. I know Ball So Hard was basically unbeatable for 10 years but Flight literally had legit NBA and D1 all-time leading scorers type talent. Hopefully this will be enough ammo for Flight to bring home Vegas 1st National Title haha.
Which team most likely to choke on Sunday?
I hate to do this to my guy Kenny Zeigler haha. But I am going to put CTE here as the team I see most likely to choke on Sunday. Yes they are the defending champs and probably still one of the favorites for the tournament. I see a roster loaded with bigs but not sure about the backcourt. I was expecting to see Brensley Haywood on the roster who was a key piece in last year’s championship team but I don’t see him on the roster this time around. I’m sure there are names that are new and I will probably eat my words haha. But I can only predict on what I know and from what I see I think CTE may disappoint this year.
Which team will finish last place?
I have to really be careful here as the team I picked last in New York won the entire thing lol. But at the time of this writing this team still has not submitted their roster yet so that tells me they are probably still scrambling to find guys to book a last-minute Spirit airlines flight to make the trip lol. I’m going to put my home team Private Lessons from Arizona on here unfortunately. My guy Phil Johnson asked for a shout out on the article so here it is lol.
Which team has the best team name?
The Hangover. Not even a debate. Obviously, they are here for a good time not a long time.
Which team will probably have the most fire jerseys?
I’m going to pick Sin City here. They came with some fire Miami Heat throwbacks last year so I expect nothing but heat from captain Jeff Leider again. I don’t know much about the basketball talent on the roster but I think they will at least look cool. San Antonio always come with heat too so they are my darkhorse pick on this one.
Which team will most likely be the most hungover for the tournament?
There is a reason why I gave Baseline all the late games on the schedule. I been running this tournament long enough to know that there aint a party like a H-Town Party. We can always count on the Houston boys to be at all the Tao Group events haha. I know captain Bobby Rouse still fuming on the loss in New York so maybe he changes his ways this time around. But if I know Bobby probably not, he will most likely be at Hakassan with me lol.
As we wrap up the final tournament in 2025, I just want to say thank you so much to all the teams that came out for a tournament this year. It means a lot to me that you guys make the effort to come out and it’s definitely my favorite part of my job. Looking forward to another fun tournament to wrap up the year! See everyone soon.
- Donald