The AfterShocks are back in TBT with special home-court advantage at Wichita State again
The AfterShocks will once again chase a $1 million dream this summer at Koch Arena.
The Basketball Tournament announced Wednesday morning that the Wichita State men’s basketball alumni team will serve as a regional host in the 64-team, single-elimination tournament for the third straight year.
And just like last year, if the AfterShocks win their regional, they will be awarded home-court advantage for the quarterfinals. This marks Wichita’s fourth time as a regional host, making it the longest-running location in TBT’s 10-year history.
“There’s nothing like watching the AfterShocks compete in Koch Arena,” TBT founder Jon Mugar said in a press release. “We’re excited to bring the Elam Ending back to Wichita in 2023. Fans have always made it a special and electrifying experience.”
The AfterShocks have inched closer and closer to the $1 million winner-take-all prize each year, advancing to the quarterfinals in 2021 and losing a nail-biter in the semifinals last summer.
WSU fans have helped give the AfterShocks the best home-court advantage in TBT, as the team owns an 8-1 record in the Roundhouse and is unbeaten on its home floor in the last two TBT competitions. Wichita owns the five largest crowds in TBT history and eight of the top 12.
Zach Bush, J.R. Simon and Garrett Stutz have all agreed to return on the coaching staff and assemble the roster, which will be announced throughout the spring.
“We’re thankful that TBT chooses to return to Wichita each and every summer,” Bush said in the press release. “It’s a testament to the incredible Shocker fan base who continue to support us. We’ve made some incredible memories over the years through TBT and we’re looking forward to putting on another great show for our fans again this summer.”
There will be a new championship location after Dayton served as the host site the past two summers, a TBT official told The Eagle. A final destination has yet to be decided, but Wichita is no longer being considered as a possibility, multiple sources confirmed to The Eagle.
Tickets for all TBT games in Wichita will go on sale starting April 1.
“TBT is a chance for players and fans alike to relive old memories and create new ones,” WSU senior associate athletic director Brad Pittman said in the release. “It has become an annual highlight on our summer calendar and we’re looking forward to continuing the tradition in 2023.”
This story was originally published January 11, 2023 at 10:41 AM.
.jpg)