Kansas Basketball: Breaking down 2023-24 non-conference schedule

Kansas Basketball enters the 2023-24 season as one of the consensus top teams in the country. Their non-conference schedule will be their first opportunity to prove they deserve top billing.

There were some key losses for Bill Self’s team in the offseason. Jalen Wilson finally left for the NBA. Top-tier sharpshooter Gradey Dick also went to the league, becoming a lottery pick for the Toronto Raptors.

There’s a trio of solid returnees to Lawrence, however, including guard Dajuan Harris Jr. and wing Kevin McCullar Jr. The third notable player to come back to Kansas is another “Jr.,” but he played like a star last year: big man K.J. Adams Jr.

Not to mention the incoming players, led by potential All-American big man Hunter Dickinson. Nick Timberlake is also joining the fray and should be bringing his strong scoring touch all the way from Towson.

Non-conference action is the first chance to see how it all comes together this season.

Let’s have a look at the non-conference schedule for one of college basketball’s top teams in 2023-24, the Kansas Jayhawks.

Last year, the Jayhawks won yet another Big 12 regular season title. But they faltered in the NCAA Tournament, failing to make it out of the first weekend after being upset by the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second round.

During the regular season, Kansas was barely touched in non-conference play, securing upper echelon wins such as a neutral site victory over Duke, a home win over Indiana, a dominant win at rival Missouri, and a win at Kentucky in the final Big 12/SEC Challenge. The lone blemish came against Tennessee in the Battle 4 Atlantis title game.

Let’s take a look at Kansas’ non-conference schedule, starting with the traditional contests.