Kansas-Missouri kicks off a slate of NCAA basketball exhibitions for charity

One of the 2017-18 college basketball season’s biggest matchups won’t be televised or streamed. In will belong solely to 18,000 fans in attendance at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. The proceeds, on the other hand, will go directly to hurricane victims in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Showdown for Relief will pit Kansas vs. Missouri in an exhibition battle of top-25 programs. Tickets for the game have already sold out, which should mean a boon for relief efforts after a series of natural disasters have taken a massive toll in the Atlantic and up through the Gulf of Mexico. Sunday’s game will mark the first time these former rivals have met since 2012.

That’s not the only exhibition aimed at raising money for the unfortunate Americans who had their lives changed by hurricanes. Teams like Kentucky, Kansas State, and Baylor will all unofficially open their seasons with fundraising exhibitions aimed at helping others.

To benefit hurricane victims across the United States and its territories.

The marquee matchup in a solid slate of exhibitions is a game that may serve as a potential NCAA tournament preview. The Jayhawks will be their solid, stoic selves after recording their eighth straight year with a season-ending top-10 ranking. The Tigers are much less consistent, but hope five-star big man Michael Porter and a cache of blue-chip recruits can live up to the hype and push Missouri to its first Big Dance in five years.

To benefit the Hurricane Harvey relief fund

Last winter, coach Scott Drew took a team with just one senior and led it to the Sweet 16. That set Baylor up for a big 2017-18, but the early departures of Johnathan Motley (NBA draft) and Allerik Freeman (graduate transfer) leave some questions to be answered in Waco. Drew will put his players to the test against a tough Houston team that’s won 21 games or more in each of its last two seasons under Kelvin Sampson.

To benefit a yet unnamed charity.

Kentucky may have only landed two players on this year’s preseason All-SEC team, but they’re a heavy favorite to win the conference yet again — even with Florida and a revitalized Missouri chasing them. That journey starts with an in-state tilt against Morehead State. The Eagles went 14-16 last season and graduated their two top scorers, but that won’t matter to the blueblood faithful. Expect Rupp Arena to be packed just for offering a first glimpse at this year’s Wildcats.

To benefit Red Cross hurricane relief.

The Wildcats rebounded from a two-year drought to earn an at-large First Four bid in last year’s NCAA tournament. That left plenty of room for improvement, and a high-powered backcourt led by Kamau Stokes and Barry Brown will have to prove it’s strong enough to overcome the loss of forwards Wesley Iwundu and D.J. Johnson. They’ll be tested by a Missouri State defense that was effective against shooters last winter; the Bears held opponents to just 34.1 percent from three-point range in 2016-17.

Admission to the game is free, but donations are encouraged.

To benefit Red Cross hurricane relief.

A traditional Brew City showdown will pit Milwaukee’s biggest private school against its biggest public one. The Panthers and Golden Eagles haven’t played each other since 2011. That’s a good thing for UW-Milwaukee; the program has never beaten Marquette in 39 tries.

To benefit hurricane relief.

Another inter-city matchup will pair the Panthers and Yellow Jackets as GSU coach Ron Hunter works to build his team back into the Cinderella that shocked the world back in 2015. Georgia State returns four of its five leading scorers, but a lack of height will lock the team in a disadvantage against Tech’s All-ACC big man Ben Lammers.

To benefit the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

These former Big East rivals, who haven’t met since the football schools left to form the AAC, will meet in Connecticut at the Mohegan Sun casino. The Huskies hold the all-time edge over their cross-state rival, but losses to the Friars tend to bring out the worst in UConn coaches. As for Providence, Ed Cooley’s team needs to build on last season’s First Four appearance to help keep a top 10 recruiting class intact.

To benefit hurricane relief

This game is being played at 3 p.m. before the Purdue football team hosts Nebraska. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will go to hurricane relief.

To benefit hurricane relief through One America Appeal

Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for everyone else, with all proceeds going to the humanitarian fund founded by five former presidents.