Kansas opens up its 2023-24 basketball season in Lawrence, Kansas on Nov. 6 towards North Carolina Central and has any other house recreation towards Manhattan earlier than the Jayhawks’ face their first tricky take a look at of the season on the Champions Classic towards Kentucky on Nov. 14 in Chicago.
Kansas is the No. 1 ranked crew within the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 and is without doubt one of the favorites to chop down the nets this spring on the Final Four. The Jayhawks added the top switch to be had within the portal in Michigan heart Hunter Dickinson. Kansas additionally brings again 3 skilled starters from remaining season: Dajuan Harris, Kevin McCullar and KJ Adams.
Before the actual video games start, Kansas has an exhibition recreation at the highway towards Illinois on Oct. 29. That recreation will carry cash for the ongoing reduction efforts after the tragic wildfires in Maui, Hawaii and also will function a homecoming for Kansas trainer Bill Self. The preseason game was once set to be a closed scrimmage between the 2 techniques however it’ll now be open to the general public for lovers to wait.
Another intriguing matchup for Kansas is a house recreation towards the reigning nationwide champion, UConn. The Huskies are anticipated to be probably the most top groups within the nation regardless of dropping Jordan Hawkins, Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson Jr. to the NBA Draft. This recreation is a part of the 5th annual Big East/Big 12 Battle.
Here are the top 5 nonconference video games for the Kansas Jayhawks this season
1. UConn
When: Dec. 1, 2023 Where: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence, Kansas)
UConn had probably the most dominant March Madness runs within the historical past of the NCAA Tournament and is again for extra this season. The Huskies misplaced 3 essential avid gamers to the NBA Draft however Donovan Clingan is anticipated to take an enormous bounce this season to exchange a few of that manufacturing that was once misplaced. Other avid gamers anticipated to make an have an effect on are returners Tristen Newton and Alex Karaban and Rutgers switch Cam Spencer. This recreation is going on 4 weeks after the school basketball season formally begins and will have to be probably the most perfect matchups of the season. It does not harm for the leisure side that it is a house recreation for Kansas and no longer a neutral-site matchup.
2. Kentucky
When: Nov. 14, 2023 Where: United Center (Chicago)
This recreation was once 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 most efficient matchup for each groups this season. One of the most efficient facets of faculty basketball is the entire large time matchups you get all over the primary few weeks of the season. Kentucky is not as robust because it as soon as was once however they have got a loaded recruiting magnificence coming in that is headlined through DJ Wagner and Justin Edwards. We will be informed so much about each groups after this crew.
When: Dec. 16, 2023 Where: Assembly Hall (Bloomington, Indiana)
This would be the hardest highway recreation Kansas has earlier than it begins league play on the flip of the calendar 12 months. This is a matchup of conventional blue blood powers and even if Indiana is not as dominant because it as soon as was once, Mike Woodson has the Hoosiers program again in a just right position. Returning ahead Malik Reneau, Oregon switch Kel’el Ware and five-star ahead Mackenzie Mgbako will have to assist Woodson change the void Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino left. The Jayhawks may well be on disappointed alert after they trip to Bloomington.
When: Dec. 9, 2023 Where: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence, Kansas)
How are you able to omit a few matchup between two former Big 12 foes? This recreation has been promoted because the Hy-Vee Hoops Border Showdown since 2021 and is without doubt one of the oldest rivalries in faculty basketball. The first recreation performed between the 2 techniques in hoops was once in 1907 and the contention took successful when Missouri departed for the SEC in 2012. The Jayhawks have gained 13 of the remaining 15 matchups, together with a blowout win at the highway remaining season. This recreation will likely be performed in Columbia subsequent season earlier than being shifted to a impartial web site matchup in 2025 and 2026.
When: Dec. 30, 2023 Where: T-Mobile Center (Kansas City, Missouri)
Speaking of video games with custom, it is a matchup between two in-state techniques that dates again 115 years. This would be the first assembly since Wichita State took down Kansas within the Sweet 16 all over the 2015 NCAA Tournament. The Shockers don’t seem to be the similar mid-major powerhouse that Kansas bumped into all over that event, however a impartial web site recreation towards a high quality opponent will have to function one ultimate take a look at earlier than Big 12 play begins.