Fans in the Kansas student section get wild before tipoff against Missouri on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023 at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug

Updated 2:55 p.m. Thursday, July 11:

The Kansas men’s basketball team released its full nonconference schedule Thursday morning, unveiling another challenging slate highlighted by matchups against seven NCAA Tournament teams from last season.

The Jayhawks will open the year at home against Howard on Nov. 4 in the second edition of the McLendon Classic, honoring the trailblazing coach John McLendon. From then through another game at home against Brown on Dec. 22, KU will play in total 11 nonconference games as it prepares for an expanded 20-game Big 12 schedule.

The schedule also includes dates for this year’s Late Night in the Phog (Oct. 18) and a home exhibition against Washburn (Oct. 29).

After Howard, which lost to KU in the opening round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the Jayhawks will host the first game in a home-and-home against North Carolina (Nov. 8) in a rematch of the 2022 title game, and travel to Atlanta for a Champions Classic game against Michigan State (Nov. 12).

KU will be back at Allen Fieldhouse to battle last year’s tournament Cinderella Oakland (Nov. 16) and UNC Wilmington (Nov. 19), both of which beat Kentucky last year. Then comes the Vegas Showdown against Duke at T-Mobile Arena (Nov. 26) and Furman at Allen Fieldhouse (Nov. 30), before back-to-back road games: the Big 12-Big East Battle at Creighton (Dec. 4) and Border Showdown at Missouri (Dec. 8).

Final Four participant NC State (Dec. 14) comes to Lawrence before the Brown game ahead of the Christmas break.

For the second year in a row, KU is a candidate to be one of the top teams in the nation this preseason after pairing returning starters KJ Adams, Hunter Dickinson and Dajuan Harris Jr. with transfers Rylan Griffen, Zeke Mayo, Shakeel Moore and AJ Storr and freshmen Flory Bidunga and Rakease Passmore.

The Jayhawks have already learned that during their conference slate, they will at some point host Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, UCF and West Virginia; and travel to Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas State, TCU and Utah.

Nonconference schedule

Friday, Oct. 18: Late Night in the Phog

Tuesday, Oct. 29: vs. Washburn

Monday Nov. 4: vs. Howard

Friday, Nov. 8: vs. North Carolina

Tuesday, Nov. 12: vs. Michigan State in Atlanta

Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. Oakland

Tuesday, Nov. 19: vs. UNC Wilmington

Tuesday, Nov. 26: vs. Duke in Las Vegas

Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Furman

Wednesday, Dec. 4: at Creighton

Sunday, Dec. 8: at Missouri

Saturday, Dec. 14: vs. NC State

Sunday, Dec. 22: vs. Brown

Fieldhouse renovation details

KU Athletics also announced Thursday afternoon that season tickets are on sale for the newly renovated Allen Fieldhouse, which will have a capacity of 15,300.

That is a decrease of 1,000, or just over 6%, from the previous number of fans the historic arena could hold. The release attributes the slightly lessened capacity to three factors: more chairbacks, more accessible seating and new video boards in the corners of the venue.

The $50 million renovation project, which will be concluded before the start of the season, also includes a new central video board. Other features of the updated Allen Fieldhouse included redesigned concourses, hospitality areas and concession offerings.

“There is no other venue in sport with more history and energy than Allen Fieldhouse,” KU athletic director Travis Goff said in the release. “Going forward, we are incredibly excited for our supporters to couple the building’s tradition with an unrivaled game-day experience. Extensive scrutiny, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail have gone into the renovation plan and we are very confident our fans will enjoy the enhanced amenities and experience, while continuing to appreciate the aura they have always loved about Allen Fieldhouse.”

Allen Fieldhouse is having its first “reseat process” since 2018, according to the release, and season-ticket holders have until Sept. 6 to renew their tickets for inclusion in the seat-selection process.