Kansas forward K.J. Adams Jr. (24) pulls in an offensive rebound over Omaha forward Marquel Sutton (10) and Omaha forward Luke Jungers (0) during the first half, Monday, Nov. 7, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

After two matchups with guard-heavy, 3-point shooting teams to open the 2022-23 season, the fifth-ranked Kansas men’s basketball team is prepared for a different look in its next outing.

When North Dakota State comes to Allen Fieldhouse for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Thursday night, the Bison will bring with them a pair of big men that will provide KU’s front court with a significant test.

Acting head coach Norm Roberts said Wednesday that NDSU’s Grant Nelson and Andrew Morgan are legitimate big men. Both players have size, talent and experience, and they figure to be a handful for KU’s young players down low.

“They’ve got two big guys in Nelson and Morgan, that may be better than any big guy we play against in our league,” Roberts said. “I mean, they’re that good.”

At 6-foot-11 and 235 pounds, Nelson, a junior, is big enough to do work inside and skilled enough to shoot from the outside and handle the ball on the perimeter.

Roberts called the 6-10, 245-pound Morgan “a load.”

“He’s a guy that can up-and-under you (and is) very, very skilled,” Roberts said of the NDSU sophomore. He can shoot the ball to about 15 feet, as well. So, it’s going to be a huge challenge for us.”

The Nelson-Morgan duo combined for 24 points and 13 rebounds, with two blocks, in the Bison’s season-opening loss at No. 10 Arkansas earlier this week. They played just 25 and 21 minutes apiece and shot 8-of-17 from the floor along with a 7-of-12 clip from the free throw line.

After a bucket by Nelson to open the game, the Razorbacks ripped off a 9-0 run to take control. Arkansas led by eight at the break after closing the half on a 13-5 run.

Although the Jayhawks (1-0) went with different starting lineups in their exhibition game and regular season opener, Roberts said Wednesday that the lineup for Thursday was not yet settled yet.

Roberts was asked specifically if KU had determined its fifth starter. His willingness to answer at least hinted at the fact that the Jayhawks once again will go with Dajuan Harris Jr., Kevin McCullar Jr., Gradey Dick and Jalen Wilson at the 1 through 4 spots.

It’s the 5 spot that remains a question, and Kansas used sophomore KJ Adams (6-7, 225) to start in the opener and freshman Ernest Udeh Jr. (6-11, 250) in the exhibition victory over Pitt State.

The difference between the two is significant in both size, which favors Udeh, and experience, which favors Adams. But it’s safe to say that both will play a fair amount against the Bison.

“There’s different scenarios out there of how we’ve got to play,” Roberts said. “We’re not getting caught up in starters. We probably have six, maybe even seven, starters. We’re not worried about that. (We want to go with) the best lineup we can put out there to give us the best chance to get out to a good start.”

NDSU’s last victory over a ranked opponent came in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, when they knocked off 20th-ranked Oklahoma by five in the first round.

That’s not to say there haven’t been a few close calls since then. In fact, one of them came against Kansas in December of 2020.

In that one, which was also KU’s second game of the regular season, the 7th-ranked Jayhawks led for just eight minutes the entire game, as NDSU controlled the pace of play and made timely shots to keep KU out of rhythm.

The fact that less than 100 fans were inside Allen Fieldhouse that night because of COVID restrictions, also contributed to the way that one played out.

In the end, the Jayhawks came out on top, 65-61, and although this team watched that game film this week to prepare for the Bison, Roberts said both teams were drastically different than the two clubs that played back in 2020.

“I think they’re playing a little different than they were before because they’ve got the two bigs,” Roberts said. “But they’re a very, very well coached team.”

Roberts said the biggest thing he wants to see from the Jayhawks in this one — other than them standing up to the challenge inside — is more consistency on the defensive end. Whether that means cleaner rotations, rotational rebounding, protecting the rim or getting to the right spots and forcing NDSU away from its spots.

“We should be very good (defensively),” Roberts said. “We’re not there yet at all, but we’re gaining on it every day.”

KU leads the all-time series with NDSU 2-0, with the wins coming in 2020 and in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament in a 3 vs. 14 matchup.

Probable Starters

No. 5 Kansas

G – Dajuan Harris Jr., 6-1, 175, Jr.

G – Kevin McCullar Jr., 6-6, 210, Sr.

G – Gradey Dick, 6-8, 205, Fr.

F – Jalen Wilson, 6-8, 225, Soph.

F – KJ Adams, 6-7, 225, Soph.

North Dakota State Bison

G – Luke Yoder, 6-0, 180, Jr.

G – Lance Waddles, 6-3, 180, Fr.

G – Boden Skunberg, 6-5, 205, Jr.

F – Grant Nelson, 6-11, 235, Jr.

F – Andrew Morgan, 6-10, 245, Soph.