Kansas Men’s Basketball Heads to Louisville for Exhibition Game

On October 24, the No. 19 Kansas men’s basketball team will travel to Louisville, Kentucky, to face off against the No. 10 Louisville Cardinals. The exhibition game is set for 6:30 p.m. CT at the KFC Yum! Center and will be broadcast live on the ACC Network, featuring commentators Dave O’Brien and Seth Greenberg.

Kansas Jayhawks – A Brief Overview

Kansas is entering the 2025-26 season following a successful previous year, where they achieved a 21-13 record. This marked the 34th time in the last 35 years that the team advanced to the NCAA Tournament, continuing a streak that began in 1990. In the Big 12, they finished sixth with an 11-9 record.

Head Coach and Players

Under the guidance of Hall of Fame head coach Bill Self, who begins his 23rd season, Kansas features several notable returners, including Flory Bidunga, Jamari McDowell, and Elmarko Jackson. The roster adds eight newcomers this season, highlighted by freshman Darryn Peterson, the top-rated recruit in the nation.

• Returners: Flory Bidunga, Jamari McDowell, Elmarko Jackson
• Newcomers:
  • Darryn Peterson (Top national recruit)
  • Melvin Council Jr.
  • Jayden Dawson
  • Nginyu “Gee” Ngala
  • Tre White

Darryn Peterson joins Kansas as the third No. 1 ranked national recruit to play under Coach Self, following the likes of Andrew Wiggins and Josh Jackson. He is supported by a talented freshman class which also includes Kohl Rosario, Paul Mbiya, Bryson Tiller, Samis Calderon, and Corbin Allen.

Louisville Cardinals Overview

In contrast, the Louisville Cardinals, led by second-year head coach Pat Kelsey, posted a strong 27-8 record last season. They finished tied for second in the ACC with an impressive 18-2 conference record.

Historical Meeting Between Kansas and Louisville

The upcoming game marks the first exhibition meeting between Kansas and Louisville. Historically, Kansas leads the series 6-5. Their last match took place on January 16, 1993, where Kansas triumphed with a score of 98-77 in Louisville. Remarkably, Kansas has claimed victory in four of the last five encounters, dating back to 1959.

Kansas is currently ranked No. 19 in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches polls, marking the 34th consecutive year they have been ranked in the AP Preseason Men’s Basketball Poll. Additionally, they have been featured in the coaches’ poll for 20 consecutive seasons since 2006-07, reflecting a strong tradition of excellence in the program.

Looking Ahead

Following the exhibition game against Louisville, Kansas will host Fort Hays State on October 28 at 7 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse. This upcoming matchup will also be televised on ESPN+. Kansas leads the all-time series against Fort Hays State at 13-0, including a perfect 11-0 record in previous exhibition games. Their last encounter was on November 1, 2023, resulting in a 73-55 victory for Kansas.