Kansas State and Kansas alumni are back on opposite sides of the floor, and Bramlage Coliseum gets the first crack at the latest chapter Tuesday night.
Purple Reign and JHX Hoops open their first-round series in the 2026 edition of The Basketball Tournament at 8 p.m. CT on July 21, with FS1 carrying the game nationally.
The matchup is part of a three-game set, and the rivals will meet again Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT at Lee Arena in Topeka before a possible deciding game Friday at 8 p.m.
CT back in Manhattan.
Michael Beasley is the headliner for Purple Reign, and his return to Bramlage Coliseum brings him back to the place where he spent the 2007-08 season before going second overall in the 2008 NBA Draft. On the other side, Kansas is led by Frank Mason III.
This year’s TBT carries a $2 million prize for the champion, with 14 teams split into two sides of the bracket - eight alumni teams and six non-alumni teams. The tournament is in its 13th year, and this will be the second time Kansas State and Kansas have met in the event. Last year in Kansas City, Purple Reign rallied for a 59-57 win.
Purple Reign’s roster also includes Xavier Sneed, Cartier Diarra, Shaun Williams, Austin Trice, Jacob Pullen, DaJuan Gordon, Tyonte Robertson, John Florveus and Brandon Childress.
JHX Hoops counters with Mario Chalmers, Zeke Mayo, Frank Mason III, Marcus Garrett, Tyshawn Taylor, Kevin Young, Darnell Jackson, Carlton Bragg Jr., Andrew Orr, Tra-Deon Hollins, DJ Burns and Jacob Hanna.
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Klein already knows Johnson well from recruiting him out of high school, which only adds to the sense that the quarterback is stepping into a season with real familiarity around him. And while the basketball side of the department is already looking ahead with its 2026-27 non-conference schedule coming into focus, Johnsons appearance was another sign that he understands the broader weight of being one of the faces of Kansas State right now. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas States Rebuild Suddenly Rests On One Familiar Name
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For Kostic, the reset is as much about fit as it is about responsibility. Alexanders run-and-gun offense should give him more freedom, and both coach and player have sounded upbeat about what that could mean after a rocky first season in which Kostics production never quite matched the expectations around him. The bigger question now is how quickly he can turn that fresh start into something more than just a promising storyline in summer practice. [Read more 🡒]