Three Things to Monitor in Kansas Basketball’s Preseason Opener During Late Night

The Kansas basketball team is set to compete in its first preseason scrimmage of the season tonight. It will be the first time Jayhawk fans get to see the new-look 2026-27 roster in action in what has been an eventful offseason.

The Jayhawks will take on Pittsburg State, a Division II school which they hold a 10-0 all-time record against in exhibition matchups. Although the result won’t count toward KU’s record, the coaching staff will approach it like any regular-season tune-up against a lower-tier opponent.

With so many new faces on the roster, there are several things fans will want to watch for before tip-off. Here are three storylines the Jayhawk faithful should keep an eye on this evening.

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3. New Late Night Format

This will be the 42nd annual Late Night in the Phog in Allen Fieldhouse, though the format is changing significantly. The university received plenty of pushback last year after what turned out to be an underwhelming event and lousy scrimmage, prompting the athletic department to revamp the experience for fans.

Rather than holding an intrasquad scrimmage where neither side shows much effort, the Jayhawks will host a Division II school looking to make a statement in college basketball’s most historic venue. That should give the players more reason to take the game seriously instead of treating it as a formality.

Kansas men’s basketball’s Corbin Allen (2) shoots the ball during Late Night in the Phog, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 at Allen Fieldhouse . | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

There will still be activities for fans, with PhogFest beginning at 2 p.m. on the front lawn of the Fieldhouse. However, the on-court product should be a considerable improvement over what we’ve seen in recent years.

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2. The Impact of KU’s Freshmen

Everyone in the building will be zeroed in on Tyran Stokes during the scrimmage, and rightfully so. The Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year is expected to be a game-breaking presence for the Jayhawks, entering his…

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Publish date : 2026-10-16 13:00:00

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