HAWK ZONE

Kansas men’s basketball releases full, non-conference slate of games for 2022-23 season

Topeka Capital-Journal

LAWRENCE — Kansas men’s basketball has released its full, non-conference slate of games for the 2022-23 season.

It’s one that includes its share of high-profile opponents, like Duke and Indiana. It’s one that includes some familiar opponents from the Jayhawks’ run to a national championship this past season.

“Nationally ranked non-conference schedules are common for Kansas men’s basketball, and the 2022-23 slate will be no different,” Kansas’ release Tuesday began. “The Jayhawks have led the country in strength of schedule in two of the last four seasons and five times overall during coach Bill Self’s 19 campaigns at Kansas. Additionally, KU has placed in the top 10 in strength of schedule 12 times under Self, including third following KU’s 2022 NCAA National Championship season.”

Kansas head coach Bill Self watches a game against TCU on March 3 in Lawrence. Self says KU's upcoming non-conference schedule will prepare his team for the Big 12 conference run.

After an exhibition at home Nov. 2 against Pittsburg State, Kansas will open the season Nov. 7 at home against Omaha. Another home game, Nov. 10 against North Dakota State, follows ahead of a Nov. 15 contest in Indianapolis against Duke during the Champions Classic.

Then there’s a Nov. 18 home game against Southern Utah, the Battle 4 Atlantis from Nov. 23-25 in The Bahamas and a Nov. 28 home game against Texas Southern to round out the month.

Kansas is joined in the Battle 4 Atlantis field by Wisconsin, Tennessee, USC, NC State, Dayton, Butler and BYU. The Jayhawks topped Texas Southern during the NCAA tournament this past season.

In the month that follows, Kansas first faces Seton Hall on Dec. 1 at home during the Big 12-Big East Battle. The Jayhawks then travel for a Dec. 10 game on the road against Missouri, before returning home for a Dec. 17 game against Indiana. A Dec. 22 game at home against Harvard rounds out the non-conference slate for that month, with Big 12 Conference play starting Dec. 31.

Kansas trounced Missouri at home this past season. The Jayhawks were supposed to play Harvard, too, but ended up not having that game ever tip off — due to what was described COVID-19 protocols and injuries within Harvard’s program.

Kansas finishes its non-conference slate for the regular season with the SEC/Big 12 Challenge contest Jan. 28 on the road at Kentucky. The Wildcats topped the Jayhawks this past season in Lawrence in their latest meeting.

“Once again we have a non-conference schedule that should prepare us for what will be another strong Big 12 schedule,” Self said in the release. “This is a very attractive home schedule with games against Indiana and Seton Hall. Also mixed in is Duke in the Champions Classic in Indianapolis and road games at Missouri and at Kentucky. The Battle 4 Atlantis is a stacked field that includes USC, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

"Those, along with the Big 12, makes this a very competitive schedule and if we do well, it will enhance our chances for another high NCAA Tournament seed.”

Season tickets remain available, and cover the non-conference and Big 12 slates. They can be found at this link, or by going to kuathletics.com. According to the Kansas release, fans “must be active members of the Williams Education Fund” to order season tickets and “more information is available by calling 785.864.3141.”

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.