Kansas State basketball vs Kansas alumni TBT: What fans need to know

MANHATTAN — The Basketball Tournament is here, and it will provide fans with a summertime Sunflower Showdown clash, with alumni from both Kansas State and Kansas facing off this week.

Purple Reign (Kansas State) and JHX Hoops (Kansas) will meet in a three-game series to tip off this year's TBT event. It starts on Tuesday, July 21, with an 8 p.m. tip at Bramlage Coliseum.

Showcase names will appear for both programs, including Michael Beasley's TBT debut for K-State, while Kansas features Mario Chalmers and Frank Mason III.

Here's what you can expect this week.

What is new in The Basketball Tournament in 2026?

TBT will guarantee rivalry matchups throughout this year's tournament, starting with a three-game series between alums from Kansas State and Kansas.

Purple Reign and JHX Hoops will meet on July 21 and 22, with an if-necessary matchup on the 24th. This guarantees a matchup between old Wildcats and Jayhawks rivals after the two played last season in Kansas City, with K-State rallying to win 59-57. This is the second matchup between the two, while the tournament is in its 13th year.

The Basketball Tournament will have a $2 million prize to split amongst the champion in 2026. This year's format will feature 16 teams in total, with eight alumni and eight non-alumni teams on separate sides of the bracket.

Michael Beasley highlights Kansas State's roster

Beasley will suit up for Purple Reign for the first time, making him the main attraction of this year's Wildcats alumni team. Of course, he played the 2007-08 season at K-State before becoming the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

During that season, K-State split its series with the Jayhawks. The Wildcats eventually advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, with Beasley being named the Big 12's Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. He averaged 26.2 points and 12.7 rebounds.

Beasley enjoyed a lengthy professional career, though it didn't rise to the hopes many thought he'd reach. He was a first-team NBA All-Rookie, but eventually bounced around quite a bit, with international play mixed in. His most recent professional stint came in 2022 with the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Purple Reign 2026 roster

• Michael Beasley (2007-08)
• Jacob Pullen (2007-11)
• Xavier Sneed (2016-20)
• Cartier Diarra (2017-20)
• DaJuan Gordon (2019-21)
• Austin Trice (2018-19)
• Shaun Williams (2018-20)
• John Florveus (Georgia)
• Tyonte Robertson (Panola College)
• Brandon Childress (Wake Forest)

Purple Reign 2026 coaching staff

• Martavious Irving (2009-13, Owner, assistant coach, GM)
• Jordan Henriquez-Roberts (2009-13, GM, owner)
• Lance Harris (2003-07, head coach)
• Clent Stewart (2004-08, assistant coach)
• Tyler Adams (assistant coach)
• Noah Jacobson (assistant coach)
• Jonathan Hoard Martinez (assistant coach)
• Ashleigh Sharp (GM)
• Jamar L Samuels (2008-12, booster)

Purple Reign vs JHX Hoops schedule

• Tuesday, July 21 — 8 p.m. CT at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan
• Wednesday, July 22 — 7 p.m. CT at Lee Arena in Topeka
• Friday, July 24 — 8 p.m. CT at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan (if necessary)

Who will the winner play in the TBT?

The winner will play the winner of the Wichita State-New Mexico series in a single-game quarterfinal matchup on Monday, July 27.

A potential semifinal would be against alumni from either Louisville, Kentucky, Syracuse or Seton Hall.

This year, a six-team non-alumni bracket will play in Las Vegas for the right to play the alumni bracket champion. The winner of the non-alumni bracket will travel to the alumni champion's home venue to play for the $2 million prize on Aug. 2.

JHX Hoops 2026 roster

• Mario Chalmers (2005-08)
• Zeke Mayo (2024-25)
• Frank Mason III (2013-17)
• Marcus Garrett (2017-21)
• Tyshawn Taylor (2008-12)
• Kevin Young (2011-13)
• Darnell Jackson (2004-08)
• Carlton Bragg Jr. (2015-17)
• Andrew Orr (Washburn)
• Tra-Deon Hollins (Omaha)
• DJ Burns (Youngstown State)
• Jacob Hanna (Washburn)

Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State basketball vs Kansas alumni TBT: What fans need to know