Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals iconic, intense rivalry reaches a new chapter in 2026 TBT opener
- Chas Post
- 15 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals rivalry, known as The Battle of the Bluegrass, is one of college basketball's most iconic, intense and storied rivalries. Now, the rivalry enters a new chapter as the in-state foes alumni teams square off in the 2026 TBT!
For more than a decade, TBT has been a must-see event that's filled with former NBA and NCAA stars, representing their colleges in an alumni tournament that features a winner-take-all $2 million grand prize. The 14-team tournament will begin on July 18.
Kentucky's alumni team, La Familia, features former NBA guards Archie Goodwin and DeAndre Liggins, and center Willie Cauley-Stein, as well as former McDonald's All-Americans guard Andrew Harrison, forward Reid Travis and guard Kahlil Whitney.
Louisville's alumni team, The Ville, consists of former All-American and NCAA champion guard Russ Smith, NBA centers Montrezl Harrell and Jaylen Johnson, guard David Johnson and forward Ray Spalding, in addition to All-ACC forward Jae'Lyn Withers.
La Familia and The Ville faced off in the 2024 TBT, and it led to the most-attended game in tournament history with over 13,500 people filling Freedom Hall. On the way to reaching the Final Four, La Familia beat The Ville 70-61 to rekindle the historic rivalry.
"We’ve faced The Ville before and came out on top, so we plan to do it again,” Cauley-Stein told the media in a recent interview. "We’re prepared and motivated to show we’re a better team. We won’t let them get in the way of us winning $2 million."
"These two fan bases are incredible. Based on the 13,506 fans that came out for this matchup in 2024, we expect this to be one of the most raucous events of the summer," TBT representative Jon Mugar explained. "Especially now that there’s $2 million at stake."
The intense in-state rivals are separated by 78 miles, and the blue-blood programs have a deep disdain for each other that dates back to the first battle in 1913. Even though it's alumni teams that will be facing off, there's no doubt the rivalry will be on full display.
2026 TBT opening round schedule
Game 1: July 18
Game 2: July 20
Game 3: July 22
2026 TBT opening round matchups
- Kentucky vs. Louisville
- Kansas vs. Kansas State
- Syracuse vs. Seton Hall
- Wichita State vs. New Mexico
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