The Kansas basketball team will continue its recent trend of playing a top program in an exhibition game before the start of the regular season. They’ve played Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas in the past, and in 2025, they will travel to Louisville to play the Cardinals.
The game was announced by Louisville earlier today and is scheduled for October 24. The Cardinals should provide a tough match-up for the Jayhawks, who are returning very few players from last season.
Louisville went 27-8 overall and 18-2 in ACC Conference play under first-year head coach Pat Kelsey. Like Kansas, the Cardinals were ousted early in the NCAA Tournament, both schools getting bounced in the first round.
Playing teams like the Louisville Cardinals helps Kansas basketball prepare for the season
Kansas has historically used exhibition games against schools like Washburn, Emporia State, Pittsburg State, and Fort Hays State to tune up for the season. These games typically aren’t close or competitive, and it’s debatable how helpful they are beyond getting the players in front of a crowd.
The Cardinals return starter J’Vonne Hadley, who averaged 12.2 points and 7.3 rebounds last season. Kasean Pryor, who only played in seven games, averaged 23 minutes and 12 points.
Louisville added a couple of pretty good pieces. They have Mikel Brown Jr., a high school McDonald’s All-American point guard a year ago. Through the transfer portal, they added scorer Adrian Wooley from Kenesaw State, who averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists last year as a freshman.
KU freshman Darryn Peterson was also a McDonald’s All-American last year, so this might be an excellent showcase for two young players who excel with the ball in their hands. Flory Bidunga could have his hands full with Hadley in another intriguing matchup.
Unlike some of the past exhibition clashes, which were one-offs, Louisville will visit Allen Fieldhouse before the 2026-27 season.
These games should help the Jayhawks prepare for what is usually an arduous non-conference schedule. If past exhibitions against similar schools are any indication, it will be competitive as well.