Kansas opens up its 2023-24 basketball season in Lawrence, Kansas on Nov. 6 towards North Carolina Central and has one other residence recreation towards Manhattan earlier than the Jayhawks’ face their first robust take a look at of the season on the Champions Basic towards Kentucky on Nov. 14 in Chicago.
Kansas is the No. 1 ranked staff within the CBS Sports activities High 25 And 1 and is among the favorites to chop down the nets this spring on the Ultimate 4. The Jayhawks added the highest switch accessible within the portal in Michigan middle Hunter Dickinson. Kansas additionally brings again three skilled starters from final season: Dajuan Harris, Kevin McCullar and KJ Adams.
Earlier than the actual video games start, Kansas has an exhibition recreation on the street towards Illinois on Oct. 29. That recreation will increase cash for the ongoing aid efforts after the tragic wildfires in Maui, Hawaii and also will function a homecoming for Kansas coach Invoice Self. The preseason recreation was set to be a closed scrimmage between the 2 packages however it’ll now be open to the general public for followers to attend.
One other intriguing matchup for Kansas is a house recreation towards the reigning nationwide champion, UConn. The Huskies are anticipated to be one of many prime groups within the nation regardless of shedding Jordan Hawkins, Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson Jr. to the NBA Draft. This recreation is a part of the fifth annual Large East/Large 12 Battle.
Listed below are the highest 5 nonconference video games for the Kansas Jayhawks this season
1. UConn
When: Dec. 1, 2023Â The place: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence, Kansas)
UConn had one of the crucial dominant March Insanity runs within the historical past of the NCAA Match and is again for extra this season. The Huskies misplaced three essential gamers to the NBA Draft however Donovan Clingan is predicted to take an enormous leap this season to exchange a few of that manufacturing that was misplaced. Different gamers anticipated to make an influence are returners Tristen Newton and Alex Karaban and Rutgers switch Cam Spencer. This recreation is occurring 4 weeks after the faculty basketball season formally begins and must be among the finest matchups of the season. It would not damage for the leisure facet that it is a residence recreation for Kansas and never a neutral-site matchup.
2. Kentucky
When:Â Nov. 14, 2023Â The place:Â United Middle (Chicago)
This recreation was previewed in Kentucky’s nonconference preview and it ranked because the No. 1 matchup for the Wildcats this season. If Kansas did not have a date with the champs, this recreation would simply be the very best matchup for each groups this season. Probably the greatest features of school basketball is all the large time matchups you get through the first few weeks of the season. Kentucky is not as robust because it as soon as was however they’ve a loaded recruiting class coming in that is headlined by DJ Wagner and Justin Edwards. We’ll be taught so much about each groups after this staff.
When: Dec. 16, 2023Â The place:Â Meeting Corridor (Bloomington, Indiana)
This would be the hardest street recreation Kansas has earlier than it begins league play on the flip of the calendar yr. This can be a matchup of conventional blue blood powers and though Indiana is not as dominant because it as soon as was, Mike Woodson has the Hoosiers program again in a superb place. Returning ahead Malik Reneau, Oregon switch Kel’el Ware and five-star ahead Mackenzie Mgbako ought to assist Woodson substitute the void Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino left. The Jayhawks may very well be on upset alert after they journey to Bloomington.
When: Dec. 9, 2023Â The place:Â Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence, Kansas)
How are you going to neglect a couple of matchup between two former Large 12 foes? This recreation has been promoted because the Hy-Vee Hoops Border Showdown since 2021 and is among the oldest rivalries in faculty basketball. The primary recreation performed between the 2 packages in hoops was in 1907 and the rivalry took successful when Missouri departed for the SEC in 2012. The Jayhawks have received 13 of the final 15 matchups, together with a blowout win on the street final season. This recreation shall be performed in Columbia subsequent season earlier than being shifted to a impartial website matchup in 2025 and 2026.
When: Dec. 30, 2023Â The place: T-Cellular Middle (Kansas Metropolis, Missouri)
Talking of video games with custom, it is a matchup between two in-state packages that dates again 115 years. This would be the first assembly since Wichita State took down Kansas within the Candy 16 through the 2015 NCAA Match. The Shockers aren’t the identical mid-major powerhouse that Kansas bumped into throughout that event, however a impartial website recreation towards a top quality opponent ought to function one closing take a look at earlier than Large 12 play begins.