Kansas Men's Basketball To Face Traditional National Powers In Challenging 2010-11 Non-Conference Schedule

May 24, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas men’s basketball faces a challenging 2010-11 schedule that includes six games against traditional national powers, two more against conference champions, a trip to New York’s historic Madison Square Garden and a return visit to Las Vegas.

“Once again, this schedule will be as competitive as any in the country,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said. “We have some great trips for our team and fans.”

The traditional powers Kansas will face this coming season include:

– UCLA, in the 2010 Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series on Thursday, Dec. 6, in Allen Fieldhouse. Last year KU defeated UCLA, 73-61, at Pauley Pavilion. It will be the 16th meeting between the two historic programs, with the Bruins holding a 10-5 edge.

– Arizona, Saturday, Nov. 27, at Las Vegas’ Orleans Arena in the final game of the Las Vegas Invitational. KU and Arizona split games during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons. The Jayhawks hold a 7-4 all-time series advantage against the Wildcats.

– Michigan, in the Jayhawks’ first trip to Ann Arbor since 1985. Last year, Kansas defeated Michigan for the first time in six meetings, 75-64, in Allen Fieldhouse.

– USC, in Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 18. Kansas, which holds a 9-5 all-time series mark against USC, has won five straight against the Trojans, including two victories in the Bill Self era – 72-65 during the 2006-07 season in Lawrence and 59-55 at USC the following year.

– Memphis, in the Jimmy V Classic, in the Jayhawks first game in Madison Square Garden since 2005. It will mark the third-straight neutral-site meeting between the Jayhawks and Tigers. Last year KU edged Memphis, 59-57, in the Basketball Hall-of-Fame Classic in St. Louis. The previous meeting was the 2008 NCAA National Championship Game, which Kansas won, 75-68, in overtime in San Antonio. KU leads the overall series with Memphis, 5-2.

– California, which won the Pac-10 regular-season title last season. The Bears went 24-11 overall and 13-5 in league play, defeated Louisville in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, then lost to eventual National Champion Duke. Kansas has won the last nine meetings with Cal and holds a 15-3 series advantage. The Jayhawks defeated Cal, 84-69, last season in Allen Fieldhouse.

KU will face two other teams that won conference championships in 2010 – Ohio University and North Texas. Ohio won the MAC Tournament championship en route to a 22-15 record that included a romp over Big East power Georgetown in the NCAA Tournament. KU has won both meetings with Ohio, including an 88-51 victory in the Kansas City Shootout during Kansas’ NCAA National Championship season in 2007-08. North Texas went 24-9 last season and won the Sun Belt Conference regular-season and postseason titles before losing to Kansas State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. KU and UNT will be meeting for the first time. Colorado State brings a distinct local flavor to the M&I Bank Kansas City Shootout at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. The Rams, from the Mountain West Conference, feature Lawrence product Dorian Green. It will be the first meeting for the Jayhawks and the Rams.

After a regular-season home opener against Longwood, an independent from Farmville, Va., on Friday, Nov. 12, Kansas will host Valparaiso in the first round of the Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 15. KU holds a 2-0 all-time series advantage over Valpo, with the last meeting in 2002. Kansas’ second-round game of the Las Vegas Invitational will also be in Allen Fieldhouse – on Tuesday, Nov. 23, against Southland Conference foe Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. It will be the first meeting between the Jayhawks and Islanders.

Kansas hosts Southland Conference member Texas-Arlington on Wednesday, Dec. 29, the first of three-straight home games. The Jayhawks and the Mavericks will be meeting for the first time in men’s basketball. KU will then host Miami (Ohio) on Sunday, Jan. 2. The Jayhawks defeated the Redhawks, 78-54, in their only meeting during KU’s NCAA National Championship season of 2007-08.

KU will close out the home portion of its non-conference slate by taking on neighbor UMKC on Wednesday, Jan. 5. The Jayhawks have won all five meetings with the Kangaroos, including back-to-back season matchups in 2007-08 (a KU 85-62 win) and 2008-09 (a KU 71-56 victory).

The Jayhawks will play two exhibition games – Tuesday, Nov. 2, vs. Washburn and Tuesday, Nov. 9, vs. Emporia State.

Ranked in many top 15 preseason polls, Kansas returns three starters and five regulars from last season’s 33-3 team that won the Big 12 regular-season championship, KU’s sixth straight, was ranked No. 1 for 15 weeks and was the No. 1 overall seed in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

The Big 12 Conference will release the league schedule later this summer. Kansas has won or tied for each of the last six Big 12 regular-season titles, including a 15-1 record in 2010.

Kansas Men’s Basketball 2010-11 Non-Conference Schedule

(Home games in CAPS; times and TV to be determined)

Date (Day) – Opponent, Site

Nov. 2 (Tuesday) – WASHBURN (Exhibition), Lawrence, Kan.

Nov. 9 (Tuesday) – EMPORIA STATE (Exhibition), Lawrence, Kan.

Nov. 12 (Friday) – LONGWOOD, Lawrence, Kan.

Nov. 15 (Monday) – VALPARAISO (Las Vegas Invitational), Lawrence, Kan.

Nov. 19 (Friday) – NORTH TEXAS, Lawrence, Kan.

Nov. 23 (Tuesday) – TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI (Las Vegas Invitational), Lawrence, Kan.

Nov. 26 (Friday) – Ohio University (Las Vegas Invitational), Las Vegas, Nev.

Nov. 27 (Saturday) – Arizona (Las Vegas Invitational), Las Vegas, Nev.

Dec. 2 (Thursday) – UCLA, Lawrence, Kan.

Dec. 7 (Tuesday) – Memphis (Jimmy V Classic), New York, N.Y.

Dec. 11 (Saturday) – COLORADO STATE (M&I Bank Kansas City Shootout, Sprint Center), Kansas City, Mo.

Dec. 18 (Saturday) – USC, Lawrence, Kan.

Dec. 22 (Wednesday) – at California, Berkley, Calif.

Dec. 29 (Wednesday) – UT-ARLINGTON, Lawrence, Kan.

Jan. 2 (Sunday) – MIAMI (OHIO), Lawrence, Kan.

Jan. 5 (Wednesday) – UMKC, Lawrence, Kan.

Jan. 9 (Sunday) – at Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Big 12 regular-season home opponents – Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M

Big 12 regular-season road opponents – Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas Tech

2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship – March 9-12, Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo.