Kansas University’s men’s basketball team may open the 2004-05 season in late August instead of mid-October.

The Jayhawks are considering a foreign tour to Canada during Labor Day weekend Sept. 3-6 — a four-day, four-game excursion preceded by 10 practices in accordance with NCAA rules.

Ten sweltering summertime practices in Lawrence and four exhibitions in Toronto or Vancouver might prove invaluable to a KU team that will include five newcomers.

“The main value is getting your team together and practicing 10 days prior to leaving,” KU coach Bill Self said. “Obviously, with a lot of young faces, it would be a great time to bond and get guys prepared for practice. It’d be a great experience.”

The NCAA allows such tours once every four years. KU last made such a trip to France during the 1995-96 season.

“I’d rather have us play in an exempt tournament, but if we’re not eligible, we’ll consider it (foreign tour),” said Self, who never has taken a team on a foreign tour in 11 years as a head coach.

KU had planned to open the season in the Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic. The Jayhawks, however, are ineligible to compete in an exempt event until the district court system erases a rule allowing teams to play in just two exempt tourneys in a four-year period. A court decision is expected soon.

KU’s women’s team played four games in Monterrey, Mexico last Labor Day weekend.

“The advantage to going to Canada is there are better teams,” said KU senior associate AD Larry Keating, who indicated Mexico remained a possibility.

“We could play Simon Fraser or the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. There are similar schools in the Toronto area. Generally, the facilities are better in Canada. It takes just a couple hours to get there.”

After returning from the tour, the Jayhawks would cease practicing, then resume at Late Night in the Phog on Oct. 15.

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No Classic: KU recently dropped out of the Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic, which would have included two games in Allen Fieldhouse and two in New York.

“We pulled out because they (organizers) wanted an answer and we could not wait on the courts any longer,” Keating said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Coaches Vs. Cancer asks us again if something happens (with courts) soon. A lot of schools in the tournament are now as unsure as we were.”

The Gazelle Group, which runs the Coaches Vs. Cancer tourney, also sponsors other tourneys which might interest the Jayhawks.

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Schedule update: KU still is looking for two home games — one at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo., and one in Allen Fieldhouse.

KU originally was to have played Cal in Kemper, but that game will be held in K.C. during the 05-06 season. This year’s Kemper game will be included on KU’s season-ticket package.

KU will travel to Kentucky and Villanova. The home slate includes Saint Joseph’s, Georgia Tech, TCU, Nevada and Vermont.