K-State basketball will face Missouri Valley foe at T-Mobile Center next season in KC

The Kansas State basketball team will return to its home away from Bramlage Coliseum next season.

Head coach Jerome Tang has agreed for K-State to play a nonconference game against Drake on Dec. 17 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

The game will technically be considered a neutral-court affair for both teams, but the hardwood will feature a purple powercat at midcourt and K-State season-ticket holders will get first dibs on seats. Tickets for the public will go on sale this fall.

This matchup will mark the 13th time that K-State has traveled to Kansas City for the “Wildcat Classic.” K-State has won 10 of the previous 12 “Wildcat Classic” games, including a decisive victory over Wichita State last season.

Drake could be an interesting opponent for K-State. The Bulldogs are coming off a 28-win season in which they won the Missouri Valley Tournament and played in the NCAA Tournament. But they will be breaking in a first-year coach in Ben McCollum, who comes to Drake after many years with Northwest Missouri State.

The Wildcats won 19 games last season and participated in the NIT.

Other notable nonconference games on the K-State basketball schedule for 2024-25 include California and LSU at home in addition to road games with St. John’s and Wichita State. The Wildcats will also play in the Paradise Jam along with UAB, George Washington, Illinois State, Liberty, Louisiana-Lafayette and McNeese State.