LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky Men’s Basketball is adding another intriguing matchup to its 2026-27 schedule, as the Wildcats are set to host Wichita State at Rupp Arena.
The upcoming meeting will mark the first regular-season matchup between Kentucky and Wichita State, adding a new chapter to a rivalry that has already produced some unforgettable NCAA Tournament moments.
Although the programs have never faced one another during the regular season, they have met twice in the NCAA Tournament, with Kentucky winning both games. Those March Madness battles came in 2014 and 2017, but it is the 2014 showdown that remains one of the most memorable games in recent NCAA Tournament history.
The 2014 matchup took place in St. Louis during the second round of the tournament. Wichita State entered the game as a No. 1 seed and carried an extraordinary 35-0 record, making the Shockers one of the hottest teams in college basketball.
Kentucky, meanwhile, entered the tournament as a No. 8 seed. Despite the significant difference in seeding and Wichita State’s undefeated record, the Wildcats had the talent and confidence to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Kentucky ultimately prevailed 78-76 in a thrilling contest that went down to the final seconds.
With Wichita State trailing by two points, Shockers point guard Fred VanVleet had an opportunity to change the outcome. His three-point attempt at the buzzer missed, allowing Kentucky to escape with the victory and end Wichita State’s perfect season.
The game immediately became part of NCAA Tournament lore. Wichita State had entered the contest hoping to continue an unbeaten run that had captured the attention of the college basketball world, while Kentucky was trying to prove that its talented roster was capable of making a deep tournament run.
The Wildcats’ victory showed just how unpredictable March Madness can be. A No. 8 seed defeated a No. 1 seed that had not lost a single game all season, creating one of the most dramatic moments of the tournament.
The two programs met again in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, with Kentucky once again coming away victorious.
Now, nearly a decade after their most recent NCAA Tournament meeting, Kentucky and Wichita State will finally meet in a regular-season environment.
For Kentucky, the game provides another opportunity to challenge itself against a program with a history of NCAA Tournament success. Playing Wichita State at Rupp Arena should also give Wildcats fans another exciting non-conference matchup to look forward to as the team prepares for the rigors of SEC play.
The matchup also carries an interesting historical angle because of what happened in 2014. While the upcoming game will not have the same NCAA Tournament stakes, the history between the two programs should add plenty of intrigue.
Kentucky has continued to build an ambitious non-conference schedule under head coach Mark Pope, and adding Wichita State gives the Wildcats another opponent with postseason experience and a recognizable name in college basketball.
For Wichita State, traveling to Lexington will provide a chance to revisit a memorable matchup while attempting to create a different result. The Shockers will undoubtedly remember the 2014 loss, when their undefeated season ended in heartbreaking fashion.
For Kentucky fans, meanwhile, the game represents more than just another addition to the schedule. It is a chance to see the Wildcats face a program that has already been part of two significant moments in Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament history.
The Wildcats won both previous meetings, but the 2014 contest remains the matchup most fans remember. Wichita State’s 35-0 start, Kentucky’s No. 8 seed, the 78-76 final score and VanVleet’s missed three-pointer at the buzzer all combined to create an instant classic.
Now, the next chapter will take place at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky and Wichita State have already given college basketball fans memorable March moments. Their first regular-season meeting will provide both programs with an opportunity to add another chapter to that history.
And with the Wildcats continuing to shape their 2026-27 schedule, this is another matchup Kentucky supporters will have circled on the calendar.
