ESPN analyst Jay Bilas previews the 2026‑27 college basketball season, praising Duke as the nation’s most talented squad and noting their depth, size and versatile guards after impressive exhibition wins over Kansas and Tennessee. He ranks Florida No. 1 in the preseason AP and Coaches polls, highlighting their elite frontcourt and veteran core, and points to the Miami‑Florida opener as a key Week 1 matchup. Bilas also stresses the importance of a strong start for Kentucky, lauds freshmen like Caleb Holt (Arizona) and Tyran Stokes (Kansas), and offers insights on Arizona’s roster outlook. The interview, edited for clarity, airs as Bilas calls Duke’s season on Monday against Army.
Rick Pitino’s St. John’s Red Storm shifts focus from the transfer portal to high‑school recruiting, scheduling a campus visit for four‑star Canadian forward Godson Okokoh on Nov. 6‑7. Ranked No. 111 by 247Sports, the 6‑ft‑8 Ottawa native—who logged a standout Overtime Elite season with Bella Vista Prep’s City Reapers, shined at the Nike EYBL Scholastic and Under Armour circuits, and helped Canada win the FIBA U‑18 AmeriCup gold—has also visited West Virginia and fields offers from Kansas, Ohio State, USC and others. Okokoh follows five‑star Malachi Jordan’s recent trip as St. John’s prepares for its season opener vs. Monmouth on Nov. 2.
The Big 12 media and coaches preseason polls, released on October 29, 2026, rank Kansas third behind Arizona and Houston. Both polls agree on the top three, with the Jayhawks led by five‑star freshman Tyran Stokes, who earns CBS Sports Preseason First Team All‑America honors and is projected as a potential No. 1 NBA draft pick. The full poll lists all 14 conference teams, confirming Kansas as a contender for a strong season in the league.
Indiana basketball is set to host 2028 four‑star point guard Amarion Smith‑Holley during the weekend of Nov. 14, according to 247Sports reporter Dushawn London. The 6‑foot junior from Richwoods HS in Peoria, Ill., posted 21.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 steals as a sophomore and earned Class 4A IBCA and Illinois Media all‑state first‑team honors. Ranked No. 74 overall and No. 14 at his position, Smith‑Holley also played for Mac Irvin Fire on the Nike EYBL circuit and has offers from Kansas, Illinois, LSU, TCU, and more. IU football meets USC that same weekend.
Duke’s recent trip to Kansas sees Patrick Ngongba explode into a dominant force, contributing 28 points – 31.1% of the team’s total – alongside John Blackwell’s 23. At 6‑11, 250 lb, Ngongba has added muscle and athleticism, showcasing a new three‑point range and the ability to finish through five defenders in the lane. His transformation from a smart, non‑athletic player last season to a powerhouse this year is the headline of Duke’s performance.
Duke finally breaks a 38‑year drought in Lawrence, edging Kansas in a high‑scoring 84‑point exhibition. While the Blue Devils dazzled with an 81.8% shooting night (27‑33), defensive lapses gave up 84 points, prompting coach Jon Scheyer to focus on cleanup work. Freshmen JoJo Boumtje Boumtje and Deron Rippey shot 3‑for‑12, all from three, and struggled with the intense crowd. Key contributors Pat Ngongba, John Blackwell, and newcomer Sebastian Wilkins dominated inside, but the team still needs a steady, pass‑first point guard—Cayden Boozer is a strong candidate. Upcoming games against Army, Coastal Carolina, Michigan State and others will test the freshmen’s progress and the impact of returning players like Drew Scharnowski and Caleb Foster.
Duke defeated Kansas 90-84 in an exhibition at Allen Fieldhouse as Patrick Ngongba II scored 28 points. The game revisited a memorable chapter of college basketball history.
The Daily Mauling recaps Kansas' 78-71 exhibition loss to Duke, highlighting Bill Self's small‑ball lineups and Keanu Dawes' dunk at Allen Fieldhouse. It also notes UNLV coach Josh Pastner's complaints about playing Trey Kaufman‑Renn, Dave Aranda's firing after KU's sloppy win over Baylor, and Oregon football's OC dismissal after a 0‑3 start. Additional links cover early‑season result reliability, a Guardian piece on policing, and a quirky fast‑food poll.
Duke storms into Allen Fieldhouse and beats No. 17 Kansas 90‑84 in an exhibition on Oct. 25, 2026. Junior forward Patrick Ngongba dominates with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists, while Jon Blackwell adds 23 points and Dame Sarr converts 8 of 11 free throws. Freshmen JoJo Boumtje Boumtje and Deron Rippey struggle, but depth from Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer and bench spark Sebastian Wilkins keep the Blue Devils ahead. Kansas briefly leads 68‑64 before a decisive 9‑0 run. Coach Bill Self cites Ngongba’s pivot as the key difference, and Duke coach Jon Scheyer praises the team’s road toughness.
No. 2 Duke pushed past No. 17 Kansas, 90-84, in a road exhibition game at Allen Fieldhouse on Sunday, Oct. 25.
No. 2 Duke visits No. 17 Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse for the Blue Devils' final preseason game on Sunday, Oct. 25, with tipoff at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The State Farm Blue Blood Classic pits Duke against Kansas on Sunday, a much‑anticipated showdown after Kansas’ narrow loss to Louisville. Kansas struggled from three‑point range (7‑29) but stayed competitive, led by starters Paul Mbiya, Taylen Kinney, Tre White, Melvin Council and freshman phenom Tyran Stokes, who posted 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists. New addition Trey Kaufman‑Renn may also impact the rotation. Duke will rely on freshman guard Taylen Kinney, veteran Council and potential NBA‑first‑pick Stokes, while coach Jon Scheyer decides how to use Dame Sarr and other talents like JoJo Boumtje Boumtje and Deron Rippey. The game promises a test of depth, coaching and rookie composure.
In an exhibition showdown on Oct. 21 at The Phog, Louisville edged Kansas 89-83, with standout guard Obinna “Obi” Ekezie Jr. delivering a triple‑double—four threes, eight rebounds and a block—that sparked the Cardinals’ comeback. Louisville’s Jackson Shelstad led with 23 points, while fresh faces De’Shayne Montgomery and Adrian Wooley added solid scoring. Kansas dominated the paint (40 pts) and fast‑break (26 pts) but fell short, partly due to limited bench production (13 pts vs. Louisville’s 35). The game offered limited scout tape as both teams experimented, leaving fans curious about how these performances will translate to the regular season.
Louisville’s latest influx of talent dominates the headlines as Paul Biancardi ranks three Cardinals—Flory Bidunga (No. 3), Jackson Shelstad (No. 25) and Seth Trimble (No. 51)—among the most impactful college basketball newcomers. The Cards head to Kansas tonight for an exhibition against No. 1 Tyran Stokes, while freshman guard Seth Trimble touts his leadership experience. Elsewhere, Louisville lands multi‑sport star Jackson Burke (baseball shortstop, top QB) and 5‑star PG Cayden Daughtry is set to visit. The post also lists the week’s Cardinal game slate, from softball vs. Bellarmine to men’s soccer at Notre Dame, and highlights media appearances and local news partnerships.
College basketball exhibition schedule for Wednesday, October 21, 2026, including Louisville vs. Kansas, Oregon vs. Utah, UCLA vs. California Baptist, TV channels and tipoff times.
Awful Announcing’s Oct. 21 guide lists every live sports broadcast, highlighting where to watch WNBA Finals Game 3. The game streams on ESPN+, ESPN2 and the NBA TV app starting at 8 p.m. ET, with alternate TV coverage on ESPN. The schedule also includes college basketball, football, golf, MLS, NBA opening week, NHL, UFC and more, each with its channel and streaming platform. Readers can quickly see the exact networks and streaming services for the WNBA finale and the day’s full sports lineup.
Former Purdue standout Trey Kaufman‑Renn, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 2026 second‑round pick, has secured a court order against the NCAA and returned to college basketball, signing with Kansas for a fifth season. At 24, his move spotlights a deep‑rooted eligibility issue that threatens stability in the sport, as the NCAA wrestles with rules affecting players with professional experience. The article examines how Kaufman‑Renn’s case could reshape college‑basketball eligibility policies.
The AP Preseason Basketball Poll drops on Monday, slotting BYU at No. 25—the Cougars join five other Big 12 schools in the top 25 (Arizona 5, Houston 10, Kansas 17, Iowa State 18, Texas Tech 19). Voters’ handling of fifth‑year player eligibility could reshuffle rankings in future polls, as recent court rulings favor those athletes. BYU opens the season against Ohio State, ranked #29, on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. MT in Salt Lake City (FS1). The Cougars also beat Nebraska 72‑61 in a recent exhibition, with Nebraska sitting at #27.
Trey Kaufman-Renn has signed with Kansas after five seasons at Purdue. Here’s how the veteran forward could fit into the Jayhawks’ 2026-27 rotation.
Friday's college basketball exhibition schedule features Kentucky, Michigan, Kansas, BYU, Arizona and more. See October 16 tipoff times and streaming information.
Kansas was picked to finish third in the Big 12 men's basketball preseason coaches poll, trailing Arizona and Houston as the conference's coaches set...
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Kansas @ No. 12 Utah: Highlights and Postgame Interviews first seen on ESPN700 HIGHLIGHTS Utah beats Kansas 41-24 Utah closes out Kansas with a 14 point 4th Wayshawn Parker extends Utah’s lead to […]
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