LAWRENCE — Kansas basketball will face off against UNC on Friday inside Allen Fieldhouse, with tip-off set for 6 p.m. CT.
The teams look much different than when they last met, in the 2022 national championship game. The Jayhawks won that matchup, earning head coach Bill Self his second national title with the program. But both head coaches remain the same, with Hubert Davis still leading the way for North Carolina.
Here are a few things to think about, plus a prediction, ahead of the game between No. 1 Kansas (1-0) and No. 10 UNC (1-0):
Reviewing Kansas basketball’s season-opening win vs Howard, as UNC matchup approaches
Bill Self could tie Phog Allen as Kansas’ all-time winningest coach
Should Kansas win, Self will tie Phog Allen for all-time wins in program history. Self is at 589, and Allen is at 590. But while Self acknowledged Thursday what could potentially happen, and mentioned he’s sure it’s significant to some, he also used most of his time discussing the topic to praise Allen.
Self described Allen as the most innovative and best to coach the Jayhawks and added that, no matter what happens moving forward, his opinion won’t change. So many of the advantages Self has enjoyed, from his perspective, come from what Allen built.
Self also highlighted the roles of the players and coaches on his teams over the more than two decades he’s led Kansas, deferring praise as he noted the number of games he’s won has come from the sheer time he’s coached the Jayhawks.
Bill Self previews UNC
Self doesn’t think either team has shown much yet this season, and mentioned Kansas has looked back to some games UNC played late last season during the scouting process. He praised North Carolina’s personnel, and talent on the perimeter. He highlighted UNC’s top three guards, who he said are quick and pressure opponents by getting downhill, as part of a loaded backcourt.
Based on Self’s comments, odds are it wouldn’t surprise him at season’s end if North Carolina graduate guard RJ Davis is a first team All-American. It’ll be a challenge to defend Davis. Self didn’t outline how that will happen, but did note Jayhawks graduate guard Shakeel Moore likely won’t be available against UNC due to injury.
2 Kansas players preview UNC
Kansas junior guard Rylan Griffen played against UNC last season, when Griffen was at Alabama. Griffen remembers that victory in the NCAA Tournament and described North Carolina as a team that played fast. Even though Griffen considers UNC a bit smaller this year, he added North Carolina is even faster and that trio of guards will present a challenge.
Griffen said Davis is an elite scorer who can do so at all three levels. Sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau, Griffen explained, has worked on 3-point shooting. Junior guard Seth Trimble, Griffen added, has also improved as a shooter.
Kansas senior guard David Coit highlighted he probably hasn’t played in a game or environment like this before. Coit, who transferred from Northern Illinois, is looking forward to enjoying each moment. He anticipates a fun, competitive and high-level game.
Kansas-UNC prediction
UNC has the potential to present Kansas with problems, especially on the perimeter. The Jayhawks could very well struggle to manage that early on in the first half. However, led by graduate center Hunter Dickinson and more, Kansas should end up prevailing in an 81-71 victory.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas-UNC basketball in Lawrence: 3 things to know, plus prediction
