Kansas basketball has been known to never shy away from scheduling big-time opponents, you want proof? This season Bill Self's team will be facing North Carolina, Duke and the University of Connecticut with Duke being a part of the State Farms Champions Classic.
While a lot of eyes will inevitably be on the matchup against Duke on November 18th, after all, two of the nation's top prospects in Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer will be squaring off. 247Sports has Peterson as the No.1 player in the nation and Cam Boozer as the No.3 in the nation from the class of 2025.
Jeff Borzello of ESPN recently named every team in Borzello's top-25 ranking most important matchups, and a matchup against the Tar Heels takes the cake according to Borzello.
"The following week's game against Duke at Madison Square Garden is a stiffer test, but the earlier we see Darryn Peterson, the better. Peterson is ESPN's projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, and a true road game in Chapel Hill the first week of the season is a great test. This is also as unproven a Bill Self roster as we've seen in some time."
"Projected starting lineup"
"Darryn Peterson (No. 2 in ESPN 100)
Melvin Council Jr. (14.6 PPG at St. Bonaventure)
Jayden Dawson (13.9 PPG at Loyola Chicago)
Tre White (10.5 PPG at Illinois)
Flory Bidunga (5.9 PPG)"
Now UNC is no slouch here, the Tar Heels are bringing in Derek Dixon and Isaiah Denis who are each top-50 recruits in the nation, combine that with Caleb Wilson who is astoundingly ranked as the 8th-best class in the prospect in the 2025 class.
UNC is also raking in five transfers including four separate four stars in Jarin Stevenson from Alabama, Kyan Evans from Colorado State, Henri Veesaar out of Arizona Jonathan Powell who hails from West Virginia.
North Carolina is the second game on the schedule just after Kansas opens up the season against Green Bay who the Jayhawks take the hardwood against on November 3rd.