It’s been a long offseason for Coach Bill Self and Kansas Basketball, having to go through the courtroom for several key players on the active roster. The program is ranked in the top-15 currently and has Final Four hopes but will be looking for a big moment on the national stage to prove their work.
They have the chance to do it on Tuesday night, taking on Kentucky in the Champions Classic. Including recent breaking news, there are some key storylines to watch. Here is what the Big 12 program will be looking at as they try to win this top-25 matchup.
1. Making do without Melvin Council Jr.
See below for a statement from Coach Self. pic.twitter.com/H9xDxagLem
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) November 9, 2026
The big news out of Monday was the announcement that starting point guard Council (8.0 ppg and 4.0 apg) will be out indefinitely with a foot injury. He’ll be out for the Champions Classic, leading five-star freshman guard Taylen Kinney (4.0 ppg) as the lead guard. He’s shooting just 25% from the field and will have to improve, as he’ll be getting around 30 mpg going forward. They’ll need others to help with the facilitating as well.
2. Tyran Stokes showing why he’s a future top NBA Draft pick
The 6’8 freshman forward and No. 1 class of 2026 prospect is off to a slow start, putting up 11.5 ppg and 6.0 rpg through two games. Stokes can use this game as his launching pad to superstardom in college basketball, taking on the other program that was in the mix to land him. Against a top-25 opponent, Stokes will need to score around 20 points to feel comfortable about a win, especially with Council now out.
3. Limiting Malachi Moreno of Kentucky
A big x-factor for the Wildcats is Moreno, a sophomore center who nearly stayed in the NBA Draft in June. Center has been a position of question for Kansas, with Keanu Dawes, Christian Reeves, Paul Mbiya, and even Trey Kaufman-Renn set to get minutes. If Moreno goes off against them, that could give the advantage to Kentucky so Kansas has to figure out its frontcourt rotation for the Champions Classic.
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