The release of Kansas University’s 2003-04 men’s basketball schedule is on hold until a legal battle over the 2-in-4 rule in college basketball is resolved.

“We were told today the (federal) judge (in Columbus, Ohio) agreed to give the NCAA attorneys two more weeks so they could present some more information. This delay continues to be frustrating in our efforts to complete the schedule,” KU senior associate athletic director Richard Konzem said Friday.

KU will play in the season-opening Guardians Classic if the judge rules against the NCAA, which wants to keep alive the 2-in-4 rule — a rule that limits schools to two appearances in exempt basketball tournaments every four years.

KU competed in the Preseason NIT last year and the Maui Invitational the year before that.

“So much hinges on that ruling,” Konzem said. “If the ruling is we can play in an exempt tournament, we’d play in the Guardians Classic and change the date of the Michigan State game (Nov. 25 at Allen Fieldhouse). If the judge rules we can’t play, there are a couple opponents, likely one of the possible first-round opponents in the Guardians Classic, we’d play home only.”

The Guardians Classic would include two home games for KU with the possibility of two more in Kemper Arena. The Classic field has not been announced.

In addition, ESPN is trying to find a top nonconference opponent to play Kansas, in a game that would be played in Allen Fieldhouse next season. Cincinnati is one of the schools being considered for the made-for-TV home-and-home series.

¢ 6Sports video: Billy Thomas hopes for chance in the big show

• Big 12/SEC challenge: The Knoxville News Sentinel reported the SEC and Big 12 will begin a men’s basketball challenge series in the 2004-05 season. It’d be the same as the ACC/Big 10 series, in which teams in the two conferences would be matched. As of Friday, KU officials had not been told if indeed the series had been finalized. A Kansas-Kentucky matchup would be a natural for the first year of the challenge.
• Hinrich happy: Former KU guard Kirk Hinrich worked out Friday for the Washington Wizards. It was his final individual workout heading into Thursday’s NBA Draft. ESPN.com says Hinrich will be tabbed 10th by the Wizards and Nick Collison 11th by Golden State.

“This was my last one, so it’s nice to be done. Now it’s just sit and wait and see what happens,” Hinrich told nba.com. “I think it would be great to play in Washington. They have a young team. They are on the uprise. Coach (Eddie) Jordan seemed really cool, all of the other guys seemed really good. It would be fun to play here.”

• Around town: If you see somebody that looks like North Carolina coach Roy Williams golfing at Alvamar today or Sunday, that person probably is Roy Williams. North Carolina’s head coach is back in town to pack up some belongings to transport to his new home — Chapel Hill, N.C.