SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Fans of Drury men's and women's basketball will have the opportunity to greet the 2026-27 Panthers and Lady Panthers for the first time Thursday, Oct. 8 at DU's annual Meet the Teams event at 6 p.m., at Plaster Family Gallery, located inside the O'Reilly Family Event Center.

Doors for the event open at 5 p.m., and no RSVP is required. Admission to the event is free and open to the public.
 
Fans will hear from men's head coach Chris Foster, who will begin his sixth season leading the Panthers, and Lady Panthers head coach Kaci Bailey, who will start her fourth year piloting the Drury women's program. Additionally, Information highlighting events during the 2026-27 season will be provided, and players from both rosters will be introduced.

The Drury women's team returns three All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selections, Rhi Gibbons, Sara Mendel, and Kaylee King, in addition to seven letterwinners from a squad that went 21-8 overall and 17-3 in GLVC play. The Lady Panthers also add six true freshmen and one transfer.
 
The DU men's team brings back seven letterwinners from last year's 17-14 club that advanced to the title game of the GLVC Tournament. Sophomore KeShaun Thomas is the Panthers' top returner following a breakout rookie year in which he led all GLVC freshmen in scoring (14.8 ppg.) while pulling down a team-best 7.6 boards per game.

The Drury women kick off their 2026-27 season with a Nov. 3 exhibition contest against Ottawa at O'Reilly Family Event Center before opening the regular season against Fort Hays State on Nov. 13. The DU men open their season Nov. 9 with a home non-conference tilt against Ecclesia College.