The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a 64-team, $1 million winner-take-all event televised live on ESPN, returns to Wichita for one of its four regional tournaments July 16-20 at Charles Koch Arena. Also returning this year are the AfterShocks, the Wichita State alumni team, who will be one of 16 teams featured in the tournament.
“We’re eager to welcome TBT and the AfterShocks back to Wichita this summer after an incredibly successful event in 2019,” said Brad Pittman, WSU senior associate athletic director, and tournament manager.
Wichita was set to host a regional in 2020 until the COVID-19 epidemic forced TBT to construct a 24-team “bubble” in Columbus, Ohio, making TBT the first athletic event in the United States to award a winner while the country was shut down.
Wichita, a first-time host city in 2019, smashed the TBT attendance record for four days in a row, attracting 20,000 spectators to Charles Koch Arena to watch Aftershocks participate in their inaugural TBT.
The roster for the AfterShock’s, the second seed in the Wichita Regional, includes former Wichita State star Ron Baker. Former WSU walk-on Zach Bush will serve as the team’s head coach, and Garrett Stutz and J.R. Simon will serve as the team’s assistants. The team roster also includes:
- Toure’ Murry (2008-12)
- Clevin Hannah (2008-2010)
- Rashard Kelly (2014-18)
- Conner Frankamp (2015-18)
- Markis McDuffie (2015-19)
- Darral Willis (2016-18)
- Samaje Haynes-Jones (2017-19)
- Tyrus McGee (Iowa State)
- David DiLeo (Central Michigan)
- Damonte Dodd (Maryland)
The AfterShocks first round appearance in the tournament will be on Fri., July 16 at 8 p.m. The No. 2 seed AfterShocks will face the No. 15 seed Ex-Pats (Patriot League alumni). If they advance, the AfterShocks will meet the winner of the #7 seed Purple & Black (Kansas State alumni) and #10 seed Omaha Blue Crew (Creighton alumni) on Sun., July 18 at 3 p.m.
If they make it, the AfterShocks will play their third and final game in the Wichita Regional on Tues., July 20 at 8 p.m.
Eight quarterfinalists will progress to Championship Weekend at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, where a million-dollar winner-take-all championship game will take place on Tues., August 3.
All-session tickets for the TBT Wichita Regional Tickets are on sale now at goshockers.com/tickets