Via Kansas Athletics
LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 1 Kansas officially opens the 2024-25 season when it plays host to Howard in the second annual McLendon Classic, Monday, Nov. 4. The contest will tip from Allen Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. CT and the game will be televised on ESPN+.
Kansas is coming off an 84-53 win against Washburn in exhibition play on Oct. 29. KU went 1-1 in exhibition contests falling at No. 16 Arkansas, 85-69 on Oct. 25. Howard also went 1-1 in exhibition play, defeating William and Mary, 74-63 on Oct. 21 and losing at American, 74-66, on Oct. 28.
The Howard-Kansas contest marks the second-annual McLendon Classic honoring KU graduate and two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee John McLendon.
Kansas leads the overall series with Howard, 3-0, with the last meeting a 96-68 win on March 16, 2023, in the opening round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.
KU has won a mind-boggling 51-straight home openers, beginning in 1973-74 under head coach Ted Owens. Owens won his final 10 home openers to start the streak. KU coaches Larry Brown (5-0) and Roy Williams (15-0) never lost a home opener and Bill Self is 21-0.
Kansas head coach Bill Self is 588-143 entering his 22nd season at KU. Self is three wins from becoming Kansas’ all-time winningest coach and surpassing Phog Allen, who was 590-129 in 36 seasons on the KU sidelines. At 795-248, Self is five wins from No. 800 for his career.
UP NEXT
In a rematch of the 2022 NCAA title game, No. 9 North Carolina will play at Kansas on Friday, Nov. 8. Tip from Allen Fieldhouse will be at 6 p.m. (CT) and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
