The Wichita St. Shockers will be latest NCAA division one men’s basketball program to kick-off their season on Canadian soil with a four-game tour.
The rebuilding Shockers, who lost five seniors including three starters, will look to get a jump start on their season with games against the University of Quebec (UQAM) in Montreal (August 6th) and will then travel to Ottawa to face the defending and six-time national champion Carleton Ravens (August 7) before returning to Montreal to wrap-up the tour against McGill (August 9th) and game against IndiSport All-Star team the following day.
Ottawa and Montreal have become synonymous with early August NCAA versus CIS challenges as the proximity of both cities (two hours) offer NCAA teams the opportunity to visit two of Canada’s top cities and play against the top teams Canada has to offer (Carleton Ravens) and Ottawa Gee-Gees and nationally ranked McGill Redmen.
To date, the Carleton Ravens have played the most games against NCAA teams (79), with a total of 45 games played on Canadian soil and boosting a record of 22-23 since 2003. Redmen have only mustered-up a total of 4 wins in 28 tries since 2004 and UQAM is still winless at 0-14 against NCAA teams.
Wichita St. last played on Canadian Soil back in 2006, hitting up Canada’s West coast and scoring 3-0 record with wins over Trinity Western University 92-63, Simon Fraser 87-62 and UBC 72-68.