AfterShocks eye $1 million prize — and TBT history — in front of Wichita fans
Money is at stake. History is on the line.
And the AfterShocks don’t have to leave home to claim either.
With four straight wins in The Basketball Tournament, Wichita State’s alumni squad is two victories away from the $1 million prize and the program’s first TBT championship. For the first time, the title path runs entirely through Koch Arena.
“It feels like God put this situation in our hands,” Shocker alumnus Markis McDuffie said. “This is the perfect chance.”
Next on the AfterShocks’ schedule is hosting We Are D3 in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Thursday with the game televised on FS1. With two more wins, the WSU squad will become the first alumni team in history to win the TBT bracket on its home court — a twist made possible by the tournament’s new format that rewarded the most supportive fan bases with home-court advantage.
Wichita finished fourth in TBT’s ticket count but leapfrogged to the top after alumni teams from Louisville, Kentucky and Syracuse were eliminated. That leaves the AfterShocks with a huge edge, the same one that’s helped them build a 15-3 record over the last five summers in the Roundhouse.
“I think it’s the black and yellow in the gym, that’s tough,” McDuffie said. “There are certain colors when you walk in and it’s just not that serious. But black and yellow and the way that gym is set up with everybody on top of you, it’s just different. We’ve got the best home-court advantage.”
Head coach Zach Bush agrees. After Sunday’s 74-68 win over Heartfire, which he called the team’s most mature performance yet, Bush sensed the opportunity at hand.
“It does feel like the stars have aligned, so we’re talking about capitalizing on the moment,” Bush said. “These guys understand how special this is.”
Alumni teams have found success in TBT before — Ohio State, Syracuse, Marquette and Buffalo have accounted for five of the last six titles — but none have done it in their own building. That’s part of what’s fueled the AfterShocks’ energy, both on the court and in the locker room.
When tournament officials entered postgame Sunday, players jokingly told them to get the “bag” ready. Their only gripe? The prize money no longer hits your bank account immediately. Now, it’s a check handed to the winning players after the final buzzer.
“We’re sitting on it, man,” said Nike Sibande, who has emerged as the team’s leading scorer. “We’re right there. But we know we’ve got to take it one game at a time. Four down, two to go.”
It’s not just former Shockers making an impact.
The group of newcomers in Sibande, Marcus Keene, Marcus Santos-Silva, James Woodard, Chevez Goodwin and Leyton Hammonds have all had their moments helping the AfterShocks win. The Shocker core made it clear this summer that once the games begin, there are no outsiders. And they have enjoyed watching the group of newcomers soak up the crowd love and be embraced by WSU fans.
That unity shows up in everything, from celebrations to the huddles to hustle plays. Even as an injury limited Conner Frankamp and playing time was short for Trey Wade, both have remained engaged and vocal on the bench. On Sunday, Goodwin waved a Wichita State flag over his shoulders postgame like he was a former Shocker himself.
“I played in this before, but being here in Wichita? Oh my God, the energy is amazing, man,” Sibande said. “It makes a huge impact in these games. There are times in the game where you can’t even hear yourself. I’m totally bought into this team and I love it here. We’re going to get it even more jumping in here these last two games, too.”
This version of the AfterShocks might be the most complete yet. There’s talent, depth, experience— and the crowd behind them. They don’t have a top scorer in the tournament, and that’s by design.
“We’re not beating people with just one or two guys,” said Rashard Kelly. “It’s beautiful basketball because we hit teams in waves. Our first group wears you down, and then the second group comes at you again.”
Defense, rebounding and balanced scoring— the old Shocker blueprint — have carried them to the doorstep of something unprecedented.
Now, they want Wichita to show up again.
The AfterShocks are challenging fans to break the Koch Arena TBT attendance record, set at 7,202 in 2023. And with a Final Four game coming to the Roundhouse on Thursday, they believe it can happen.
“Every game, the crowd is getting louder and more into it,” Kelly said. “We want to bring life back to this city. Wichita deserves this. These fans deserve this. And we’re going to need them again Thursday.”
This story was originally published July 29, 2025 at 6:12 AM.