Former Jayhawk Naadir Tharpe joins Philly-based TBT squad; Self Made not yet registered

By Matt Tait     May 13, 2020
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Kansas guard Naadir Tharpe is defended by North Carolina guard Marcus Paige during the second half, Sunday, March 24, 2013 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

It remains to be seen if this year’s version of the 2-million-dollar hoops competition known as “The Basketball Tournament” is able to be played. But teams and tourney organizers are making preparations like the games will go on.

For former Kansas point guard Naadir Tharpe, that meant recently getting picked up by Philadelphia-based squad Team T.S.E.

Tharpe, who has spent the past several years playing professionally in the G League and overseas, joins a roster that features former players from Temple, LaSalle and the University of Boston.

Last year, Tharpe was a late addition to KU’s “Self Made” squad.

Currently scheduled for late July and early August at eight regional sites throughout the country, the TBT’s 64-team bracket is scheduled to be revealed on June 22.

There is currently no entry for a “Self Made” squad listed [on the TBT web site,][1] but the team of KU alums, should they desire to participate, still has more than a month to make a push to be included in this year’s field if the tournament is played.

The application deadline for the 2020 tournament arrives June 15.

Last year, the Self Made squad, which featured Elijah Johnson, Tyshawn Taylor, Travis Releford, Mario Little, Darrell Arthur, Perry Ellis, Landen Lucas, Kevin Young, Jeremy Case and Darnell Jackson, lost in the opening round in Wichita.

Back in March, TBT founder Jon Mugar released a statement expressing hope that the event will be played.

“We look forward to summertime, when we hope to be able to host a collection of teams, all across the country, for competitive, meaningful, championship basketball once again,” Mugar wrote. “Therefore, we opened our online team application process as planned. We hope you find some fun and respite in participating in the process or following along.”

Mugar added that event organizers would take necessary precautions and guidance to determine whether this year’s tournament can take place.

“We at TBT are committed to doing whatever we can to play our part,” Mugar said. “And will continue to pay close attention to CDC recommendations as they evolve.”

[1]: https://www.thetournament.com/

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.