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

By Holden Walter-Warner

MANHATTAN, KS - JANUARY 17: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks instructs his players on the court in overtime against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum on January 17, 2023 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, KS - JANUARY 17: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks instructs his players on the court in overtime against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum on January 17, 2023 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /
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Trayce Jackson-Davis #23 of the Indiana Hoosiers blocks out Gradey Dick #4 of the Kansas Jayhawks (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
Trayce Jackson-Davis #23 of the Indiana Hoosiers blocks out Gradey Dick #4 of the Kansas Jayhawks (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

Regular Season Games

These are the regular season contests that are part of normal business for the Jayhawks: no early-season tournaments, no named rivalry games, no challenges, etc.

November 6 vs. North Carolina Central

LeVelle Moton has turned North Carolina Central into one of the top teams in the MEAC on a consistent basis, taking the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament on four occasions. They managed to put a scare into the major foes it faced last season, keeping the final score within a dozen at LSU, Marquette, and Virginia. Allen Fieldhouse is a different animal to start the season, though.

November 10 vs. Manhattan

It would be a short hop from Manhattan, Kansas to Lawrence. Unfortunately for the Jaspers, they’re coming all the way from the Big Apple. The team showed some good fight last season after losing their head coach weeks before the season, imploding the program. Manhattan is a mid-tier MAAC team at best, though John Gallagher is a great coach who should get the Jaspers into a better spot.

November 28 vs. Eastern Illinois

Thus continues the run of cupcake opponents coming to Allen Fieldhouse. The Panthers finished in the basement of the Ohio Valley Conference last season and their most notable moment came when a star took a swing at a fan.

December 5 vs. Kansas City

One could say the Roos are fortunate that they don’t have to leave the state to go to Kansas, but the program actually plays its home games in Missouri. Last season was the team’s first under former New Mexico State and UNLV coach Marvin Menzies; the team went 11-21. Menzies has built mid-majors up in the region before, so the Roos should be better, but not good enough to really scare the Jayhawks.

December 16 at Indiana

After beating the Hoosiers at home last year, the Jayhawks return the favor by visiting Bloomington for their first true road game of the season, more than a month into the year. The Hoosiers were formidable last year, but are likely to take a step back following several key exits, none larger than Trayce Jackson-Davis. Still, this should be a highly competitive game and Xavier Johnson and Kel’el Ware will present big problems.

December 22 vs. Yale

James Jones has turned Yale into a perennial Ivy League contender, winning the regular season title last year before succumbing to Princeton in the conference tournament championship. With Matt Knowling back for another season, the Bulldogs should be one of the conference’s best once again and the toughest non-conference home game for Kansas this season.

December 30 vs. Wichita State (at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO)

Kansas closes non-conference play with a game at the T-Mobile Center against Wichita State. The program quickly gave up on Isaac Brown, but made a great hire in poaching Paul Mills from Oral Roberts. There are a couple of interesting players there, including big man Kenny Pohto, but the Shockers need some time before they could possibly shock the Jayhawks.

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