The Kansas Jayhawks team could very well enter next season as the top team in the nation.If they remain that way throughout a grueling non-conference slate, they will deserve it.
Kansas released the non-conference portion of its 2009-10 basketball schedule Tuesday and it features some must-see matchups, including a rematch of the 2008 national championship game against Memphis while also renewing the rivalry with UCLA.
The Jayhawks, who return all five starters and their top nine scorers from last season's Big 12 regular season champions and Sweet 16 qualifiers, will play eight teams in non-conference that made last year's NCAA tournament and a total of 13 with their league opponents.
"This year's strength of schedule should certainly measure up with the best we've had since I came to Kansas," said KU coach coach Bill Self, whose team still has three games to announce for its non-league schedule. "Playing 13 teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year will be a stiff challenge for what many consider a young ball club. I'm excited about the possibilities as we will be tested home, away and at the two neutral games."
The Jayhawks will meet Memphis for the first time since the 2008 national title game in San Antonio, locking up during the Hall of Fame Classic in St. Louis Nov. 17. They will later play UCLA as part of the Big 12/ Pac-10 Hardwood Series at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Dec. 6.
Rounding out their non-conference opponents who made the tournament last season are games against Michigan, Tennessee, Cal, Cornell, Temple, and Radford.
Kansas Men's Basketball 2009-10 Non-Conference Schedule (home games in CAPS)
Date (Day) - Opponent, Site
Nov. 3 (Tuesday) - FORT HAYS STATE (Exhibition), Lawrence, Kan.
Nov. 11 (Tuesday) - PITTSBURG STATE (Exhibition), Lawrence, Kan.
Nov. 13 (Friday) – HOFSTRA, Lawrence, Kan.
Nov. 17 (Tuesday) – Memphis, St. Louis, Mo.
Nov. 19 (Thursday) – TBA, Lawrence, Kan.
Nov. 23 (Monday) – TBA, Lawrence, Kan.
Nov. 27 (Friday) – TBA, Lawrence, Kan.
Dec. 2 (Wednesday) - ALCORN STATE, Lawrence, Kan.
Dec. 6 (Sunday) – UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif.
Dec. 9 (Wednesday) – RADFORD, Lawrence, Kan.
Dec. 12 (Saturday) - LA SALLE (Sprint Center), Kansas City, Mo.
Dec. 19 (Saturday) – MICHIGAN, Lawrence, Kan.
Dec. 22 (Tuesday) – CALIFORNIA, Lawrence, Kan.
Dec. 29 (Tuesday) – BELMONT, Lawrence, Kan.
Jan. 2 (Saturday) – Temple, Philadelphia, Pa.
Jan. 5 (Tuesday) – CORNELL, Lawrence, Kan.
Jan. 9 (Saturday) – Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
What is tough about this schedule? Memphis will not be what they have been for years. UCLA is decent but not what they were 2 years ago. Michigan might be decent, who knows. Tennessee isnt what they were 2 years ago. California wont be able to play with them. The rest are directional schools. Geez. What a dumb article.