Taking it easy outside of meetings wasn’t Bill Self’s style. While other teams spend his November and most of his December he’s playing against his 200’s and his 300’s teams at KenPom, Kansas is consistently early and frequent. to test the team.
So what are the best early-season games when it comes to opponents, storylines, and excitement? Here’s the official Blue Wings Rising ranking of the Jayhawks’ 13 non-conference matchups.
No. 13: Nebraska Omaha
November 7 | Lawrence
The Champions Classic doesn’t start the season like it has in recent years. Instead, KU starts off with the easiest game of the year, at least on paper. Nebraska Omaha is 330th in KenPom after his 5-25 season in 2021-22 when the Mavericks made his 353rd defense out of 358 DI teams.
12th place:Texas Southern
Nov 28 | Lawrence
From a storyline standpoint, this could be high. If you remember, Kansas scored a title run against Texas in the first round of his NCAA Tournament (his second game for the Southerns after the First Four), where he defeated the Southerns 83-56. have started. And Texas Southern head coach Jonny Jones has known Bill Self for quite some time. But thanks to KenPom, the Tigers have his 14-17 record and he finishes second in the SWAC.
11. Southern Utah
Nov 18 | Lawrence
The Thunderbirds are in their first year as a member of the Western Athletic Conference coming from Big Sky. Southern Utah voted him ninth in both the WAC coaches and media polls. The Thunderbirds were strong offensively, but defensively he struggled greatly a year ago, with KenPom ranked 249th in defensive efficiency.
No. 10: North Dakota
November 10 | Lawrence
The Bisons were named second in the competitive Summit League for 2010-23, when North Dakota lost to South Dakota in the Summit League tournament. Two of his NDSU players, Sam Griesel and Rocky Kreuzer, were named to the preseason All-His Summit League First Team, while Tyree Eady was selected to Second His Team. This should be a solid team to tune into before the Champions Classic.
No. 9: Harvard
Dec 22 | Lawrence
Harvard has a strong history in basketball, but it is coming to an end in the 2013-13 season, finishing fourth in the top Ivy League this year (although it has received one first-place vote). increase). The Crimson are the strongest in the post after Chris Redlam and Luca Sakota averaged double-digit points per game last season.
No.8: NC state
November 23 | Bahamas | Battle 4 Atlantis
Kansas’ first matchup at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament on Thanksgiving was against the Wolfpack, going 4-15 since January 1, and going 11-21 last year. The defense he was terrible a season ago, but expect KenPom to improve now that he has his NC. Ranked 81st overall and 118th in defensive efficiency (246th last year). Wolfpack voted him 10th in his ACC this year.
7th place: Seton Hall
Dec 1 | Lawrence | Lawrence | Big 12/Big East Battle
Shaheen Holloway wants to bring the magic of St. Peter to Seton Hall in his first year at his alma mater. The Pirates saw him seeded 8th in last year’s tournament, but in the Big East he was selected 7th and Cadaly Richmond made his second team his preseason All-His Big East as his selection. leading the way.
No. 6: Dayton or Wisconsin
November 24 | Bahamas | Battle 4 Atlantis
Dayton captured Kansas in last year’s Thanksgiving Week tournament and then nearly made it to the NCAA Tournament, becoming one of the starting four. This is the better potential second game matchup in this tournament, as Dayton won all five of his starters and was selected to take the A-10. Wisconsin, on the other hand, is expected to be late in the Big Ten pack team, but is still 55th in KenPom.
No. 5: Missouri
December 10 | Colombia
Last year Missouri was terrible, but now they have a new coach in Dennis Gates and they have a star in Isaiah Mobley, who is from Colombia and is from Missouri. It’s unclear how much better Missouri will be from his 12-21 team a year ago, but it’s the first time the Jayhawks are back in Columbia since the rivalry was renewed. last year.
4th Place: Battle 4 Atlantis Final Game
November 25 | Bahamas | Battle 4 Atlantis
Tennessee is the best team Kansas could face in a title fight this tournament, but BYU and USC are also expected to be solid teams, with all three ranked in the top 44 in the preseason KenPom. . Add in the fact that this final game will be an opportunity for the Jayhawks to get back on track, perhaps for a tournament championship, and it will be a pivotal point on Kansas’ calendar.
3rd place: Indiana
Dec 17 | Lawrence
Joining two historic Blue Bloods in a non-conference match in one of the school’s home arenas will always be a must-see game. But what makes it better is that Indiana has what should be the best team in years: The Hoosiers are 13th in preseason AP voting, and he’s 12th in KenPom. . Fieldhouse should rock just before Christmas.
2nd place: Kentucky
Jan 28 | Lexington | Big 12/SEC Challenge
Kentucky is the #1 preseason team in the KenPom, #4 in preseason AP voting, and Oskar Zibwe is back as a candidate for Player of the Year. And the Jayhawks will look to avenge the stomping the Wildcats gave them on his AFH last year. The last time KU went to the lap was in 2019 when he lost 71-63.
1st place: Duke
Nov 15 | Indianapolis | Champions Classic
Kentucky is, at this point, the toughest non-Big 12 opponent Kansas has faced. But story and excitement wins out here. It was Duke’s first Champions Classic without Coach K, and Duke’s roster has undergone a major overhaul. Neither team will look the same at the end of the year as they do here, but the venue (Champions Classic), timing (first true test of the year), and storyline intrigue make this one top billing. increase.
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