Kansas Faces Green Bay in Monday’s Season Opener at Home
Kansas, ranked No. 19, is set to begin its 2025-26 regular season by hosting Green Bay. The highly anticipated game takes place on Monday, November 3, at Allen Fieldhouse, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. Central Time. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+, featuring commentators Steven Davis and Nick Bahe.
Exhibition Performance
In preparation for this season opener, Kansas participated in two exhibition games, finishing with an impressive 2-0 record. The Jayhawks defeated No. 11 Louisville 90-82 and secured a 71-35 victory against Fort Hays State on October 28. Green Bay, on the other hand, managed a 1-1 record in its exhibition games, with an 83-78 loss to Bradley and a 75-48 win against St. Norbert.
Series History
This matchup marks the first encounter between Kansas and Green Bay. Historically, Kansas has dominated its home openers, boasting a remarkable streak of 52 consecutive victories since the 1973-74 season under coach Ted Owens. Current head coach Bill Self maintains an undefeated record of 22-0 in home openers.
Key Players
Kansas showcased strong performances during its exhibition games. In the win against Fort Hays State, senior Melvin Council Jr. led the team with 16 points and six assists. Tre White contributed 12 points, and Bryson Tiller added another 10. Sophomore Flory Bidunga made his mark with nine rebounds and three blocks.
During the victory over Louisville, freshman Darryn Peterson stood out, scoring 26 points, 24 of which came in the first half. Bidunga and White both added 14 points, while Tiller recorded 12 points, and Council and redshirt-sophomore Elmarko Jackson each scored 11.
Season Outlook
Last season, Kansas finished with a 21-13 record and reached the NCAA Tournament for the 34th time in the past 35 years. They finished sixth in the Big 12 Conference with an 11-9 record. This year, Kansas welcomes back six letterwinners from the previous season, including Bidunga and Jackson, who returns after recovering from a torn patella injury.
Newcomers and Expectations
The roster also includes eight newcomers, highlighted by the top-rated recruit, Darryn Peterson. He joins a talented freshman class that features Kohl Rosario, Paul Mbiya, Tiller, Samis Calderon, and Corbin Allen. Among the transfers are Council, senior Jayden Dawson, graduate Nginyu “Gee” Ngala, and Tre White.
Next Matchup
Looking ahead, Kansas will face another formidable opponent, No. 25 North Carolina, on Friday, November 7. This game will take place at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, with tip-off at 6 p.m. Central Time, also broadcasted on ESPN. Kansas currently ranks second all-time in NCAA Division I wins with 2,414, with North Carolina closely following in third with 2,395.
Historically, the rivalry dates back to the 1957 NCAA title game. Kansas leads the series 7-6 after claiming a 92-89 win last season in Allen Fieldhouse. This upcoming match will represent the first contest held in Chapel Hill between these two storied programs.
