Kansas Basketball: Breaking down Jayhawks’ 2017-18 non-conference schedule

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Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self looks on during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /

Cupcake games

The Kansas Jayhawks play several teams that they should defeat handily next season, including their first game against the Tennessee State Tigers on November 10, a matchup with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on November 17, and a December 9 game against the Omaha Mavericks – all at home.

Their other cupcake opponents should come in the Miami Invitational, as they face off with the Texas Southern Tigers, Oakland Grizzlies, and Toledo Rockets on November 21, 24, and 28, respectively.

Before you jump on me for saying that Oakland, Toledo, and Texas Southern are cupcakes, these are all solid teams who have featured in the NCAA Tournament in recent seasons and are not considered cupcake programs – and they should not be.

However, they are in the middle of major transition years and losing top players, making them nothing more than a schedule filler for the Jayhawks. Now, if these teams had been on the schedule a season or two ago, things might have been much more interesting.

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