Wichita State to Face Drake in Kansas City Matchup

Longtime Missouri Valley rivals to renew competition at neutral site next season.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:52pm

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A cubist, geometric painting featuring overlapping planes of the official team colors of Wichita State and Drake, conceptually representing the energy and competition of a basketball game between the two programs.The upcoming neutral-site matchup between Wichita State and Drake will provide an opportunity for the longtime rivals to compete on the court in an exciting environment.Kansas City Today

Wichita State University's men's basketball team will face off against Drake University in a neutral-site game to be played in Kansas City, Missouri next season. The two schools have a long history as rivals in the Missouri Valley Conference, and the upcoming matchup will rekindle their on-court competition.

Why it matters

The game will provide an opportunity for the two programs to reignite their historic rivalry, which dates back decades when both were members of the same conference. Neutral-site games between longtime rivals often generate significant interest and excitement among fans of both teams.

The details

The Wichita State Shockers and Drake Bulldogs will face off in a single non-conference game to be played at the T-Mobile Center in downtown Kansas City. The game will take place during the 2026-27 season, though the exact date has not yet been announced.

  • The game will be played during the 2026-27 college basketball season.
  • The specific date of the matchup has not yet been announced.

The players

Wichita State Shockers

The men's basketball team of Wichita State University, a Division I program that competes in the American Athletic Conference.

Drake Bulldogs

The men's basketball team of Drake University, a Division I program that competes in the Missouri Valley Conference.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to bring this historic rivalry to Kansas City and give our fans a chance to see two great programs compete on a neutral court.”

— Darron Boatright, Director of Athletics, Wichita State University

“This matchup will be a great opportunity for our team to test itself against a quality opponent in an exciting environment.”

— Darian DeVries, Head Coach, Drake University Men's Basketball

What’s next

The specific date and time of the Wichita State-Drake matchup in Kansas City will be announced by the schools at a later date.

The takeaway

This neutral-site game between longtime Missouri Valley rivals Wichita State and Drake will provide an opportunity for the two programs to rekindle their historic on-court competition and give fans an exciting early-season matchup to look forward to.