Kansas basketball’s first exhibition test comes with a familiar face on the other side.
When the Jayhawks meet Louisville on Wednesday in Lawrence, Flory Bidunga will be back at Allen Fieldhouse, only this time in a Cardinals uniform. The junior forward began his college career at Kansas, where he grew into the Big 12 Conference defensive player of the year as a sophomore before transferring after last season.
Kansas guard Kohl Rosario said Tuesday at Big 12 media days in Kansas City that he isn’t treating it like anything bigger than another game, even with Bidunga returning to his old home court.
“I mean, really it’s just another game,” Rosario said inside the T-Mobile Center. “I’m not going to try to single anybody out.
But I’m sure that’s going to mean something to him and the fans when we get back. So, we’ve just got to make sure we get the job done, even though it’s an exhibition game.”
The 6 p.m. CT tipoff will also give Kansas a chance to evaluate where the roster stands early, and that includes the status of fifth-year forward Trey Kaufman-Renn. KU coach Bill Self said he believes Kaufman-Renn could play, but he also left the door open for that not to happen, noting that the forward still needs to get into better shape.
Self framed the matchup as a useful measuring stick for both teams. He said it should show whether the things each side has stressed in practice actually hold up once the ball goes up. He also said the Jayhawks want to be patient and adjust to situations they haven’t even talked through yet, while still aiming to play to their standards.
Keanu Dawes said much the same from the player side. The senior forward said he wants the win, naturally, but he also sees value in getting better against a quality opponent before the games count.
The matchup carries preseason weight, too. In the coaches poll, Kansas landed at No. 18, while Louisville checked in at No.
- The Jayhawks are expected to be a factor in the Big 12, and Louisville is projected as a contender in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
In Other News...
Kansas Fans Have Seen This Freshman Guard Scare Before
Kansas fans got an early reminder of how quickly a preseason game can turn uneasy. In the Jayhawks 89-83 loss to No. 11 Louisville, freshman guard Taylen Kinney exited before the finish after dealing with cramps, then received IV fluids, according to coach Bill Self. The good news for Kansas is that Self did not sound concerned afterward, and the expectation is that Kinney will keep moving forward as the preseason continues.
For a team still sorting out its rotation, any brief scare involving a young guard tends to draw immediate attention, especially in a game that already provided plenty of evaluative value against a ranked opponent. Self said Leroy Blyden Jr. will start the next game, giving Kansas another look at the backcourt while Kinney gets back to full strength and the Jayhawks keep working through the final preseason tuneups. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Gets A Big Early Test As Bill Self Sorts Things Out
Kansas has already gotten one reminder that exhibition games can still reveal plenty, after its loss to Louisville offered Bill Self an early look at where this group stands. The Jayhawks now turn to another marquee tune-up against Duke in the Blueblood Classic at Phog Allen Fieldhouse, a setting that should provide even more useful information for a roster mixing newcomers and returning pieces.
Self does not need the result to count in the standings to care about what happens next. What matters is how Kansas handles the details, especially on the perimeter and from outside, where the recent outing showed there is still sorting out to do before the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Just Added A Key Transfer But Fans Still Have One Concern
Kansas basketball got a boost this week with the addition of Purdue transfer Trey Kaufman-Renn, a move that gives Bill Self another experienced option as the Jayhawks continue sorting out their rotation. Self said Kaufman-Renn was not physically ready to play in the recent exhibition against Louisville, but the expectation is that he should be available when the regular season opener arrives.
For Kansas, the timing matters after a loss to Louisville in that exhibition tune-up and with Duke waiting in the next preseason game. The Jayhawks are still searching for the right early-season feel, and Kaufman-Renns arrival adds intrigue to a roster that could use another dependable piece once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]