Kansas Jayhawks, who beat Kentucky on Tuesday, tackle tough nonconference slate
In the words of Kansas basketball coach Bill Self, his team has entered the “monster” portion of its nonconference schedule.
“I don’t know anybody will be playing the schedule we’ll be playing up until the Indiana game,” 21st-year KU coach Self said before the No. 1-ranked Jayhawks’ 89-84 Champions Classic victory over No. 17 Kentucky on Tuesday night at Chicago’s United Center.
KU opened the 2023-24 campaign with wins over unheralded mid-majors North Carolina Central (99-56) and Manhattan (99-61).
Those contests gave the Jayhawks’ three freshmen newcomers (Elmarko Jackson, Johnny Furphy, Jamari McDowell) some game experience at the Division-I level heading into the marquee matchup against a young, athletic Kentucky team.
Here’s what’s coming up between now and the Dec. 16 contest against Indiana in Bloomington, Indiana.
The (3-0) Jayhawks on Saturday will head to Honolulu for three Maui Invitational contests Monday through Wednesday.
After a first-round game against NCAA Division-II Chaminade at 8 p.m., Central time, Monday in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Jayhawks will play either No. 4-ranked Marquette or unranked UCLA (fourth in the “others receiving votes” category of the AP poll) on Tuesday.
Awaiting KU in a third game in Hawaii will be either No. 7 Tennessee, unranked Syracuse, No. 2 Purdue or No. 11 Gonzaga.
KU will meet Eastern Illinois on Nov. 28 at Allen Fieldhouse then play host on Dec. 1 to defending national champion UConn, the No. 5-ranked team in the country. After that, KU will meet the Kansas City Roos on Dec. 5 and unranked Missouri on Dec. 9 at Allen Fieldhouse, then unranked Indiana on Dec. 16 in Bloomington. The Hoosiers were picked to finish sixth of 14 teams in the Big Ten preseason media poll.
In summary, KU, which just defeated No. 17, could play two ranked teams in Honolulu, face No. 5 at home, a rival in Missouri and an Indiana team that could be ranked if the Hoosiers are able to beat UConn on Sunday in New York.
“The fun and games are over. Now the real season starts,” Self said before the Kentucky game.
“Talent, athleticism, size, speed, a lot of things,” Self added of what’s coming up on the 2023-24 nonconference slate.
After the Indiana game, KU will meet Yale on Dec. 22 at Allen Fieldhouse, then Wichita State on Dec. 30 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. KU will open Big 12 play against TCU on Jan. 6 at Allen Fieldhouse.
“Every game is going to be big because we’re the No. 1 team right now,” senior guard Kevin McCullar said of the nonconference schedule. “Everyone wants to come after us. We don’t want to lose, so every game will be big.”
Self was asked specifically about the UConn game recently.
“I’ll be honest. I haven’t really thought a lot about Connecticut. We’ve got a couple of people we play before them. But to think that the last three national champions are going to play on our court this year — Baylor, ourselves, and Connecticut, I think is pretty cool.
“Certainly with what Dan (Hurley, UConn coach) and that group did last year and what they’ve done in the short time they’ve been there is remarkable, and they’ll have a chance to win it all again. I hope that game and others like that prepare us for what will be as difficult a league as what we’ve seen since I’ve been at KU,” Self added.
