LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Home dates with perennial national powers Arizona and UCLA, road contests against Oregon, Tulsa and California, an appearance in the Preseason NIT and four conference games on Big Monday highlight the 2002-03 University of Kansas men's basketball schedule, released on Wednesday by school officials.
The Jayhawks open the year with a pair of exhibition games in Allen Fieldhouse -- against the EA Sports All-Stars on Nov. 4 and versus Washburn on Nov. 12. KU has won 16 straight home exhibition games, dating back to a 93-82 loss to Australia on Nov. 29, 1993. The 'Hawks have beaten the All-Stars four straight years, while KU has a record of 30-3 against Washburn in regular season action.
Kansas opens its regular season slate against Holy Cross on Nov. 19 in Allen Fieldhouse in the first round of the Preseason NIT. The 'Hawks lead the all-time series with the Crusaders 2-0, including a dramatic 70-59 Jayhawk win over Holy Cross on March 14, 2002 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in St. Louis, Mo. If the Jayhawks get past the Crusaders, they will play host to the winner of UNC Greensboro and Wagner on Friday, Nov. 22, and if KU continues to advance, it will travel to New York, N.Y., for the semifinals and finals Nov. 27-29 in Madison Square Garden. KU is 15-1 all-time in the Preseason NIT, including a 12-0 mark under Roy Williams.
Following the Preseason NIT, the Jayhawks return to Lawrence for a home game against Central Missouri State on Dec. 4. KU leads the all-time series with the Mules 12-1, but the two teams haven't met since 1991.
After their game with the Mules, the Jayhawks have a pair of challenging road games ahead. First, KU travels to Portland, Ore., to take on the Oregon Ducks on Dec. 7. Kansas leads the series with the Ducks 3-2, including a 104-86 KU win on March 24, 2002 in the NCAA Midwest Regional Final in Madison, Wis. Next up for KU is a trip to Tulsa, Okla., on Dec. 11 to face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. The Jayhawks are undefeated -- 5-0 -- against Tulsa, including last year's 93-85 win on Dec. 29 in Kemper Arena.
Upon returning from Tulsa, Kansas plays a pair of home games. Emporia State visits Lawrence on Dec. 14, as the Jayhawks continue their tradition of playing two in-state, Division II schools each season -- one in exhibition play and one in the regular season. The 'Hawks are 12-3 all-time against the Hornets, with the last regular season meeting coming in 1997. After the game with ESU, Kansas plays host to UCLA on Dec. 21 -- last year the Bruins upset the No. 1 ranked Jayhawks, 87-77 in Pauley Pavilion, and UCLA leads the all-time series 9-3.
Kansas hits the road on Dec. 28, travelling to Oakland, Calif. to play the California Golden Bears in the Pete Newell Challenge in The Arena in Oakland. The Jayhawks have won the last six meetings with the Bears, and they lead the all-time series 12-3.
When KU gets back from the Golden State, it hosts UNC-Asheville on Jan. 2, then faces UMKC in Kemper Arena in the Feist Shootout on Jan. 4. Kansas is 2-0 against Asheville and 2-0 against the Kangaroos, including last season's 79-68 win in Allen Fieldhouse.
The Jayhawks have two home non-conference affairs in the midst of conference play -- they host Wyoming on Jan. 15, and then the Arizona Wildcats come to town on Jan. 25. The 'Hawks are 1-0 in one previous meeting with the Cowboys, while KU is 5-1 versus the Wildcats in six memorable games, including last season's 105-97 thriller in Tucson.
Kansas opens conference play on Jan. 6 at Iowa State on ESPN's Big Monday, and the Jayhawks are slated for three other appearances on Big Monday this season -- Jan. 27 at home against Texas, Feb. 3 against Missouri at home and March 3 versus Texas Tech in Lubbock.
Other notable conference games for the Jayhawks this season include a Feb. 23 game at Oklahoma -- a fellow participant in the 2002 Final Four -- and a date with Missouri on March 9 in Columbia to close out the regular season. Senior Day this season will be March 1 versus Oklahoma State.
The Jayhawks are guaranteed to appear on national television at least 14 times in 2002-03 -- at least six times on ESPN, at least five appearances on CBS, at least twice on ABC and at least once on ESPN2.
2002-03 KU Men's Basketball Schedule (PDF Format)