La Familia Eyes $1M Prize in TBT Sweet 16 While Revenue-Sharing Firestorm Ignites SEC Tensions

KSR Today: La Familia Eyes $1M Prize in TBT Sweet 16 While Revenue-Sharing Firestorm Ignites SEC Tensions

It’s not your average sleepy Tuesday in July. Not in Lexington. Not when La Familia, Kentucky’s basketball alumni team, is three wins away from taking home $1 million in The Basketball Tournament (TBT)  and not when the Wildcats’ revenue-sharing breakdown is suddenly the hottest controversy in college sports.

🏀 La Familia Hosts Eberlein Drive in Lexington Regional Final

Tonight, Kentucky fans have a real game day on their hands. At 6 p.m. ET inside Memorial Coliseum, top-seeded La Familia will square off with second-seeded Eberlein Drive for the Lexington Regional crown and a coveted Sweet 16 berth in the national TBT bracket.

This is more than just a summer exhibition. It’s a battle of TBT titans. La Familia  led by household names like Eric Bledsoe, Marquis Teague, and Archie Goodwin  is trying to bring glory to Big Blue Nation and secure home-court advantage for the remainder of the million-dollar gauntlet.

Eberlein Drive is no pushover, though. The squad has made deep runs in the past, including a championship game appearance in 2018. Their roster is stacked with former college stars like Gabe York (Arizona), Anthony Clemmons (Iowa), and Tommy Rutherford (UC Irvine). Even better? Kentucky natives AJ Slaughter and Dayvion McKnight are suiting up for the Drive  and you can bet they’re coming for blood on home turf.

Vegas odds? La Familia is just a 3.5-point favorite. This one promises drama.

📺 TV: FS2
📍 Location: Memorial Coliseum
🏆 Prize: Winner hosts next round and stays on track for $1 million

Revenue-Sharing Controversy Heats Up in the Bluegrass

Off the court, the spotlight has shifted to a far more polarizing arena — revenue-sharing.

A report by CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander stirred up the SEC on Monday, claiming Kentucky is allocating a staggering 45% of its $20.5 million revenue-share budget to men’s basketball  more than triple what most programs are setting aside for the sport. That would seemingly leave Kentucky football behind in the dust while most schools funnel upward of 75% to the gridiron.

But is it true?

KSR’s Matt Jones refuted the report, tweeting that insiders are calling the numbers “false” and insisting Kentucky football’s share is still “very competitive” with other SEC programs. That aligns with Mark Stoops’ recent tone from SEC Media Days, where he said he’s “cautiously optimistic” about the rev-share system helping level the playing field  something he wouldn’t likely say if his program was being shortchanged.

Meanwhile, UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart is staying silent. He’s refused to confirm or deny specific numbers, sticking to a vague “flexible budgeting” approach  a strategy that only fuels the speculation.

Expect this to dominate the conversation when Barnhart finally steps to the mic at Kentucky Football Media Day next Friday.

Kentucky Extending Long-Term Deal with Nike

While revenue-sharing debates swirl, Kentucky is securing another bag. The Wildcats are finalizing a lucrative long-term extension with Nike, per reports from Jeff Drummond and confirmed by Matt Jones.

Kentucky has been a Nike school since 1997, and its most recent contract  worth $47 million  expires in 2025. The new deal is expected to be significantly bigger, reinforcing Kentucky’s branding power and giving its programs a boost as college athletics transitions into the pay-for-play era.

Also: Fans dreaming of those iconic denim uniforms from the 1996 title run? Maybe it’s finally time for the return.

ICYMI on KSR: Pope, Peach Jam, and a Booming 2026 Recruit

There’s more content waiting on KSR’s YouTube channel. Monday’s “Happy Hour” podcast dives into:

• Mark Pope’s 30-minute presser (and his candid thoughts on Malachi Moreno)
• La Familia’s TBT dominance
• Revenue-share breakdowns
• Peach Jam scouting, including why KSR recruiting insider Jacob Polacheck believes UK leads for Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 player in the 2026 class

 What’s Next for La Familia?

If La Familia wins tonight, they’ll play again next Monday at 6 p.m. ET, once again in Memorial Coliseum. And if they keep winning, they’ll remain in Lexington for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and even the $1 million championship.

That’s right the road to a million runs straight through the Bluegrass.

Final Takeaway:

Whether you’re tuning in for tonight’s TBT thriller, watching revenue drama ripple through the SEC, or just hoping Nike drops throwback denim unis  Tuesday is anything but slow in Wildcat Country.

📣 Stay locked in, BBN. The summer heat is just getting started.