UConn men to play Kansas in 2023 Big East-Big 12 challenge

For many, UConn’s fifth national title since 1999 solidified the men’s program among few others with college basketball’s ‘Blue Blood’ distinction.

Forward Andre Jackson answered the question simply in the locker room after the game: “How could it not be? We’ve got the most championships of anybody (since 1999),” he said. “And we wear blue.”

North Carolina and Duke have three during that span, Kansas has a pair.

On Dec. 1, 2023, UConn will make the program’s first-ever trip to the storied Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. to face Bill Self and the Jayhawks in the fifth edition of the Big East-Big 12 Battle.

The Huskies are 0-3 all-time against Kansas, which finished the 2022-23 season with a 28-8 record and earned the No. 1 seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament bracket. The Jayhawks lost to No. 8 seed Arkansas in the second round of the tournament, 72-71. UConn then beat the Razorbacks by 23 points, 88-65, in the Sweet 16.

Kansas came away victorious when the programs first met in 1995 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City (88-59) and won again in Hartford, 73-65, at the Civic Center in 1997. The last time they met was in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament where Kansas won 73-61 in Iowa.

Since their run ended, Kansas has already had two stars declare for the NBA Draft in superstar freshman Gradey Dick and First Team All-American Jalen Wilson, the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year. UConn expects to have a core group returning, though Jordan Hawkins, Adama Sanogo and others could test NBA Draft waters. Hawkins is projected to be a high first-round pick.

Kansas’ recruiting class for next season is the 13th best in the country, according to ESPN, while UConn’s is No. 6.

UConn has competed in the conference Battle twice, losing to West Virginia, 26-53, in 2021 and beating Oklahoma State this season, 74-64, at Gampel Pavilion.

Times and TV Information are to be announced, and, because Kansas is the home team, UConn’s game is to be on ESPN’s family of networks.

Big East-Big 12 Battle Schedule:

November 30 – Texas Tech at Butler
November 30 – Creighton at Oklahoma State
December 1 – Iowa State at DePaul
December 1 – Houston at Xavier
December 1 – UConn at Kansas
December 1 – St John’s at…