He didn't make a 3-pointer for Butler basketball. He didn't miss one in second half of alumni team's TBT win
INDIANPOLIS — Former Butler basketball forward Tyler Wideman earned the nickname Big Cat in high school for his cat-like reflexes.
During his Bulldogs career, the 6-foot-8 forward played more of a physical, interior-oriented role. Wideman didn't make a single 3-pointer in four seasons at Butler, but time spent working on his game overseas helped him expand his game.
During the first round of The Basketball Tournament (TBT) on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Wideman caught fire from deep, sinking four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, helping All Good Dawgs (Butler alumni) defeat Shield 219 (Valparaiso alumni) 77-69.
Wideman led All Good Dawgs with 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Myles Tate added 18 points, four assists and three rebounds.
All Good Dawgs advance to play Fail Harder, comprised mostly of Indianapolis-area players, at 8 p.m. Monday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Fail Harder beat Assembly Ball, the alums of Indiana basketball, 89-76.
"Just trusting the work and trusting my teammates," Wideman said of his shooting. "My teammates gave me confidence. ... It's been a long time coming. (Shooting) is something that I've worked on since I got (to Butler), eight, 10 years in the making."
Here are three takeaways.
Tyler Wideman takes over fourth quarter
Before Wideman found his range from deep, All Good Dawgs trailed 59-53 with 8:13 left in the fourth quarter. Wideman's first triple cut the deficit to three. All Good Dawgs mustered a turnover and a missed 3-pointer before Wideman sank his next trey.
After a Wideman steal, Tate's 3-pointer put them up for good. Wideman added 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions, expanding his team's lead to five with 4:47 remaining. Wideman finished 5 for 6 from 3, his lone miss in the first half. Wideman scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth.
"Seeing one go through (the hoop), quick layup, quick free throw and my teammates trusting me," Wideman said. "I think we have enough good shooters on the team that we trust everybody if they have an open shot."
Young Dawgs give team energy off the bench
Tate finished his college basketball career at Appalachian State as an All-Sun Belt first-team performer in 2025. Tate said he felt honored when he got the call to be a part of All Good Dawgs and the scrappy guard gave the team a boost off the bench.
Tate led the team with 13 first-half points. He scored eight straight points in the first quarter, tying the game at 12.
"We just stayed together and stayed poised," Tate said. "We just had to stop turning the ball over and execute our offense. We stayed together and stayed connected."
Fellow recent graduates Jalen Thomas (seven rebounds, two blocks) and Andre Screen (three rebounds) gave All Good Dawgs a boost inside.
Ty Groce puts exclamation point on Elam Ending
TBT uses the Elam Ending to avoid constant fouling during late-game situations. The Elam Ending was created by Ball State grad Nick Elam in 2007. When the game clock reaches the final four minutes of the fourth quarter, the clock is shut off, and a target score needed to win the game is established.
All Good Dawgs led 68-63 when the target score of 76 was determined. The host outscored Shield 219 9-6 to close the game. Ty Groce capped the game with an emphatic tip dunk off a McDermott missed 3. Groce finished with 15 points.
"I was confident Sean was going to make the shot; he's a great shooter," Groce said. "Being confident in him but also crashing the glass was a big-time play. I'm glad I made it happen."