The Basketball Tournament is back in 2026 for a 13th year. However, there are significant changes to the format. This year, instead of the 61 teams involved in the 2025 TBT or the 64 teams for several prior years, there will only be 16 teams - 8 "Alumni Teams" and 8 "Non-Alumni Teams". And the "Winner Take All" prize money is increased back to $2 million, where it was prior to Covid in 2020, instead of the $1 million it has been for the last 6 years.
First round matchups are Best-of-Three. Then Rounds Two, Three, Four and the $2 Million Championship will be single-elimination.
There are several other changes, including who the teams are, how they are selected, and what venues are chosen for the games.
In the Alumni bracket, all 8 teams apparently have already been chosen. Louisville and Kentucky got bids. But last year's winners, the AfterShocks (Wichita State alumni), did not. The other 6 teams in the Alumni bracket are being kept secret.
In the Non-Alumni Bracket, 4 teams have been selected, and 4 slots remain available.
In this press release, they name 2 of the Non-Alumni teams- TeamBIG.io, led by two-time NBA All-Star and UCLA legend Baron Davis, and Black Sheep, led by two-time MLB All-Star Dee-Strange Gordon.
Press release- https://tbthoops.com/announcement/t...t-doubles-winner-take-all-prize-to-2-million/
Website- https://tbthoops.com/
After what they call record viewership and attendance for the 2025 TBT, it seems illogical to me to make all these changes, especially limiting the number of teams to just 16.
Does this new format appeal to anyone?
This new format is confusing and far less appealing to me as a viewer, and I doubt I'll be watching.
First round matchups are Best-of-Three. Then Rounds Two, Three, Four and the $2 Million Championship will be single-elimination.
There are several other changes, including who the teams are, how they are selected, and what venues are chosen for the games.
In the Alumni bracket, all 8 teams apparently have already been chosen. Louisville and Kentucky got bids. But last year's winners, the AfterShocks (Wichita State alumni), did not. The other 6 teams in the Alumni bracket are being kept secret.
In the Non-Alumni Bracket, 4 teams have been selected, and 4 slots remain available.
In this press release, they name 2 of the Non-Alumni teams- TeamBIG.io, led by two-time NBA All-Star and UCLA legend Baron Davis, and Black Sheep, led by two-time MLB All-Star Dee-Strange Gordon.
Press release- https://tbthoops.com/announcement/t...t-doubles-winner-take-all-prize-to-2-million/
Website- https://tbthoops.com/
After what they call record viewership and attendance for the 2025 TBT, it seems illogical to me to make all these changes, especially limiting the number of teams to just 16.
Does this new format appeal to anyone?
This new format is confusing and far less appealing to me as a viewer, and I doubt I'll be watching.
