Bill Self says Kansas made the right call with the overhaul of Late Night in the Phog.
The Jayhawks changed the annual event earlier this month, splitting it into two separate showcases this fall so both the men’s and women’s programs can have their own turn in the spotlight. Kansas also moved away from the old intra-squad setup. Instead, the men will face Pittsburg State on October 16, and the women will play Washburn two weeks later.
Self backed the shift when he addressed it earlier this week.
“You know, we actually try to play well at late nights. You don't say, ‘go just jack around.’
Okay, we're gonna try to play the right way. And it never works out that way.”
The longtime Kansas coach also pointed to one practical benefit of the change.
“I think this Late Night will probably allow us to not waste a day of practice, which will be good.”
Even though Pittsburg State is a DII program, the move gives Kansas a real opponent instead of the stale format fans had grown used to over the years. Self also noted that the event still has room to be something special.
“Also, there's some things about this Late Night that are different. There's only a few opportunities where people that don't get a chance to watch this play can come, and hopefully there can be some great, creative things done in that regard that will make it a special night, but we're not gonna take away from interactions…”
Kansas’ athletics department has said the familiar attractions that made Late Night unique will still be part of the experience, and the full picture won’t be clear until the event actually arrives.
The Late Night changes are only one piece of a much bigger preseason reset for the Jayhawks. Over the last week, Kansas also announced home exhibitions against Louisville on October 21 and Duke on October 25.
Those matchups already look like two of the most intriguing exhibitions Kansas has had in a long time. Louisville now features Flory Budunga, the Jayhawks’ biggest portal loss from last season. Budunga’s offense has its limitations, but his defense makes him one of the best defenders in the country, which is why he was billed as the nation’s No. 1 transfer.
Kansas also saw Duke up close last season in the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden. The Jayhawks were without Darryn Peterson, but they still hung around until the final five minutes before Jon Scheyer’s team pulled away for a 78-66 win.
For most programs, preseason exhibitions can feel like little more than a tune-up. Kansas has lined up something far more compelling this October.
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