KU basketball will play UNC, UConn, Duke: Highlights of 2025-26 nonconference schedule
A matchup against fellow blue blood North Carolina in the Dean Smith Center, Border War battle with Missouri in Kansas City and Thanksgiving-week excursion to Las Vegas for the Players Era Tournament highlight the non-conference portion of the Kansas Jayhawks’ 2025-26 men’s basketball schedule.
“Once again we have a non-conference schedule that should be one of the most challenging non-conference schedules that anyone will play,” KU head coach Bill Self said in a program release. “We have a home game against UConn game in early December, away matchups at North Carolina and NC State and neutral games Duke in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden, the three games at the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, and another with Missouri in Kansas City.
“Those, along with the Big 12 competition, make this a very tough and demanding schedule. Our non-conference slate should certainly prepare us for what will be considered another great Big 12 season.”
The Jayhawks open the season on Monday, Nov. 3, against Green Bay. Shortly after, Kansas will travel to North Carolina to face UNC on Friday, Nov. 7.
Other notable games on the schedule: The Jayhawks travel to New York City to play against blue blood Duke in the Champions Classic on Nov. 18.
Right after that, KU will play three games in the Players Era Tournament, which spans from November 24 to 27, with details to be announced later.
Big East foe UConn will play the Jayhawks on Dec. 2 as part of a home-and-home series. Right after that, Kansas will face bitter rival Missouri at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Dec. 7.
Here is a look at the complete nonconference schedule, which includes several other contests:
KU basketball’s 2025-26 nonconference schedule
- Oct. 24 (Fri.) – at Louisville (Exhibition)
- Oct. 28 (Tue.) – Fort Hays State (EXHIBITION)
- Nov. 3 (Mon.) – Green BAY
- Nov. 7 (Fri.) – at North Carolina
- Nov. 11 (Tue.) – Texas A&M- Corpus Christi
- Nov. 15 (Sat.) – Princeton
- Nov. 18 (Tue.) – vs. Duke (Champions Classic, New York City)
- Nov. 24-27 (Mon.-Thurs.) – at Players Era (Las Vegas)
- Dec. 2 (Tue.) – UConn
- Dec. 7 (Sun.) – vs. Missouri (Kansas City, Mo.)
- Dec. 13 (Sat.) – at NC State
This story was originally published June 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM with the headline "KU basketball will play UNC, UConn, Duke: Highlights of 2025-26 nonconference schedule."
