Kansas hosts Howard in the opening game of the regular season

LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 1 Kansas officially opens the 2024-25 season when it hosts Howard in the second annual McLendon Classic on Monday, Nov. 4. The contest will air at 7:00 p.m. CT from Allen Fieldhouse and the game will be televised on ESPN+.

Kansas earned an 84-53 win over Washburn in an exhibition game on Oct. 29. KU went 1-1 in exhibition contests, losing to No. 16 Arkansas 85-69 on Oct. 25. Howard also went 1-1 in exhibition play, defeating William and Mary 74-63 on October 21 and losing at American 74-66 on October 28.

The Howard Kansas contest marks the second annual McLendon Classic honoring KU alumnus and two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee John McLendon.

Kansas leads the overall series with Howard 3-0, with their last meeting won 96-68 on March 16, 2023 in the opening round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.

KU has won an incredible 51 straight home openers, starting in 1973-74 under head coach Ted Owens. Owens won his last ten home openers to start the series. KU coaches Larry Brown (5-0) and Roy Williams (15-0) have never lost a home opener and Bill Self is 21-0.


Kansas head coach Bill Self is 588-143 and entering his 22nd season at KU. Self is three wins away from becoming Kansas' all-time winningest coach, surpassing Phog Allen, who went 590-129 in 36 seasons on the KU sideline. At 795-248, Self is five wins shy of No. 800 in his career.

NEXT
In a rematch of the 2022 NCAA title game, No. 9 North Carolina will play at Kansas on Friday, Nov. 8. Tip-off from Allen Fieldhouse is at 6:00 p.m. CT and the game will be televised on ESPN2.