Kentucky men’s basketball added one final matchup to its 2026-27 non-conference schedule on Thursday afternoon, finalizing an agreement to host the Wichita State Shockers of the American Conference in Rupp Arena on Friday, Nov. 27.

Come November, the contest will be the two sides’ first time battling each other in the regular season; the Wildcats and Shockers have only ever met twice, both in the NCAA Tournament, once in 2014 and once in 2017.

No. 8-seeded Kentucky, led by the Harrison twins and Julius Randle, pulled off a shocking 78-76 upset win over Ron Baker and the undefeated Shockers in the Sweet 16 of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, slashing Wichita State’s hopes of a perfect season.

Three years later, in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, No. 2-seeded Kentucky, led by De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk and Bam Adebayo, squeaked by the Shockers again, winning 65-62 in a Round of 32 nail-biter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Even though they never won a national title, the Shockers ruled college basketball throughout the 2010s. They earned an NCAA Tournament bid seven years in a row (2012-2018) and even found themselves dancing to the 2013 Final Four before falling to head coach Rick Pitino and eventual national champions, Louisville, 72-68 in the semifinal.

More recently, though, Wichita State has floated back to mediocrity after making a move from the Missouri Valley Conference to the American Conference back in 2017. Wichita State has earned just one NCAA Tournament bid this decade, and it came in 2021, when as a No. 11 seed it fell to the Drake Bulldogs 53-52 in the First Four.

The Shockers are led by head coach Paul Mills, who was hired in 2023, and he holds a 58-46 overall record over the course of three seasons at the helm, accepting NIT Tournament invites at the conclusion of two of those three seasons.

Last season, the Shockers finished the regular season with a 21-10 overall record, a 13-5 record in conference play, and were one win away from earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament; however, they fell to the South Florida Bulls 70-55 in the American Conference Tournament Championship game.

It’s clear that about a dozen or so years ago this would have been quite the marquee matchup. In today’s world, it won’t have as much juice as it once would’ve. Kentucky should be able to take care of the Shockers in Lexington with confidence.

UK’s other non-conference opponents for the 2026-27 campaign include: Manhattan, James Madison, Kansas, Northern Arizona, Grambling State, Indiana, Virginia, Appalachian State, Bryant, Louisville, North Carolina, Sacred Heart and Gardner-Webb.

Tipoff time and viewing logistics for the Wildcats’ first-ever regular season tilt with the Shockers is yet to be announced at this time.

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