Kansas turned Late Night in the Phog into something closer to a real game on Friday, and the 42nd edition of the event opened the season with the Jayhawks rolling past Pittsburg State 80-62.
For the first time in the event’s history, the night featured more than a brief scrimmage. There was less of the dancing and skit-heavy presentation that has defined parts of the show over the years, but the crowd of about 15,000 at Allen Fieldhouse seemed to be on board anyway, even with some of the west-side chairbacks empty.
The on-court headliner was Tre White, who buried four 3-pointers on his way to 16 points and eight rebounds. Kansas freshman guard Tyran Stokes, the No. 1-ranked prospect in the recruiting class of 2026, added 14 points while shooting 4-of-9 in 17 minutes. He missed both of his 3-point tries and finished 6-of-9 at the free-throw line.
Christian Reeves also made a strong first impression. The former Duke and Charleston center finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots in just 12 minutes, and he was coming off summer shoulder surgery before recently returning to full-court scrimmaging.
The Jayhawks had to answer an early punch from Pitt State. After the Gorillas grabbed a 22-21 lead, Kansas ripped off a 22-0 run in the first half and took control.
Reeves set the tone early, scoring 10 points with seven rebounds and three blocks in the first 13 minutes of action. White got rolling too, hitting his first three 3-point attempts before missing, and he logged 11 points and six rebounds in nine minutes during the opening half.
Before the scrimmage even got going, one of the evening’s biggest moments came from the stands. Former KU wing Perry Ellis banked in a halfcourt shot to win $10,000 for KU student Addyson Devlin.
There was another money shot opportunity later when former KU guard and current staff member Brennan Bechard just missed on three close 3-point tries for student Sergio Jimenez. Bill Self then told Jimenez that he would get $10,000 if he could hit a shot in the paint, and Jimenez knocked it down to claim the prize.
Self’s first lineup looked nothing like last season’s group. He opened with Taylen Kinney, Leroy Blyden Jr. and Stokes in the backcourt, with Keanu Dawes at forward and Reeves at center. It was a completely new starting five compared with a year ago.
Self had already said at Thursday’s KU media day that he would not start returning players Melvin Council Jr. and White, since both had joined the roster recently. Both have received favorable court rulings that, for now, leave them eligible for a final season at Kansas. They checked in five minutes into the game, and White immediately drained a 3 and waved his arms over his head to the crowd.
Self also used the same group to begin the final half.
Pitt State coach Jeff Boschee, a former KU guard and now in his fifth year leading the Gorillas, drew a loud ovation during introductions.
Another newcomer worth noting was Luke Barnett, who came in with a reputation as a sharp shooter. He hit his first 3-point attempt soon after entering at the 15-minute mark of the first half, but he missed his next five tries from deep.
There were also familiar faces in the building. Former Boise State and KU forward Cam Martin attended the event, as did Ellis. Boschee coached Missouri Southern at the time Martin played there for three seasons before he spent one season at Kansas.
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Bill Selfs Early Tyran Stokes Verdict Will Get Kansas Talking
Tyran Stokes made his official Kansas debut during the 41st Late Night in the Phog and gave Jayhawks fans plenty to chew on, scoring 14 points with four rebounds and two assists in a little more than 17 minutes. It was an efficient first look at the highly anticipated newcomer, and enough to stand out in an exhibition setting where the crowd was eager to see how he would fit into Bill Selfs program.
Bill Self, though, wasnt willing to hand out too much praise after the performance, calling it average even with Stokes finishing as Kansas second-leading scorer. That kind of early-evening assessment is worth watching in Lawrence, especially with the next chance to evaluate Stokes coming Oct. 21 against Louisville, when the stakes and the scrutiny figure to be a little higher. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Fans Got An Early Answer On This New Rotation
Kansas gave its fans an early look at a new rotation in a comfortable 80-62 exhibition win over Pittsburg State at Allen Fieldhouse, and there were already a few clues about how the pieces might fit. Tre White led the way with 16 points, while Christian Reeves and Tyran Stokes each added 14, giving the Jayhawks a balanced scoring night and some first impressions to sort through before the games start counting.
The result also kept Kansas long home exhibition streak alive at 58 games, a reminder that the building still tends to look familiar even when the roster does not. There is still another tuneup ahead, with Louisville visiting on Oct. 21, and that matchup should offer a clearer read on how this group handles a more serious test. [Read more 🡒]
Lance Leipold Pressure Just Hit A New Level At Kansas
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The loss, 35-24, pushed Kansas to an 18-game skid and added another layer to the scrutiny around Lance Leipold. It also extended his losing streak against Kansas State to six straight since taking over in 2021, a number that has only intensified the questions around where the program is headed as the Jayhawks search for answers. [Read more 🡒]