Kansas Kicks off Late Night in the Phog Hosting Pittsburg State on Friday

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas kicks off the 2026-27 season with the 42nd Annual Late Night in the Phog in conjunction with its first of three exhibition games when it hosts Pittsburg State on Friday, Oct. 16.

Festivities from inside historic Allen Fieldhouse will begin around 6:40 p.m. CT and the game will tip at 7 p.m. (Central) and will be televised on ESPN+ with Steven Davis and Wayne Simien calling the action.

Kansas is 103-11 in exhibition history. KU has won the last 57 exhibition games in Allen Fieldhouse beginning in 1994.

Kansas leads the overall series with Pittsburg State, 14-0, including a 10-0 mark in exhibition meetings. The series dates back to 1944 and all 14 matchups have been in Lawrence, 13 in Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas is coming off a 24-11 season where it finished third in the Big 12 with a 12-6 league record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

PIttsburg State coming off 15-15 season in 2025-26, including at 9-10 MIAA record. Pitt State coached by former Kansas standout guard Jeff Boschee who played at KU from 1999-2002.

Kansas features returning starters Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White, along with returning letterwinners Kohl Rosario, center Paul Mbiya, and guard Will Thengvall. Self welcomes 11 newcomers with four transfers – sophomore guard Leroy Blyden Jr., senior forward Keanu Dawes, senior guard Dennis Parker Jr., and fifth-year center Christian Reeves. KU's freshman class is loaded with two McDonald's All-American guards Tyran Stokes and Taylen Kinney and fellow guards Luke Barnett and Trent Perry, and forwards Davion Adkins, Grant Mordini, and Atticus Richmond.

UP NEXT
Kansas plays its second exhibition game of the season when it hosts Louisville on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The contest begins at 6 p.m. Central and will be televised on ESPNU.

Kansas leads the overall series with Louisville, 7-5, including a 1-0 record in exhibition play. KU won last season's exhibition contest, 90-82, at Louisville on Oct. 24, 2025. KU has won the last two and five of the last six meetings against Louisville.

University of Kansas Athletics

Kansas Kicks off Late Night in the Phog Hosting Pittsburg State on Friday

Related News

Players Mentioned

Davion Adkins

Luke Barnett

Leroy Blyden Jr.

Melvin Council Jr.

Keanu Dawes

Taylen Kinney

Paul Mbiya

Grant Mordini

Dennis Parker Jr.

Trent Perry

Christian Reeves

Atticus Richmond

Kohl Rosario

Tyran Stokes

Will Thengvall

Tre White

Related Videos