Kansas basketball will open a home‑and‑home series against Villanova, beginning with a game at Allen Fieldhouse on November 27, 2024, and concluding with a return match in 2027 that has yet to receive a specific date.
A renewed rivalry
The upcoming meeting marks the 11th encounter between the two programs, a series that during the Bill Self era has been evenly split, with each team claiming five victories in their first ten games.
Villanova’s coaching staff has seen a turnover since the last meeting in 2022; Jay Wright stepped down after that season, Kyle Neptune was hired but was dismissed after three years without an NCAA Tournament appearance, and Kevin Willard was appointed last offseason, guiding the Wildcats to a 24‑9 record and a tournament berth in his first year.
The Wildcats’ offseason moves include a highly ranked transfer class, highlighted by top‑60 recruits Devin Royal from Ohio State and Kwame Evans Jr. from Oregon, bolstering the roster ahead of the new campaign.
Kansas, meanwhile, will field a largely new lineup, returning only two scholarship players from the previous season while welcoming seven high school recruits and four senior transfers as it looks to maintain its traditional competitiveness.
The series underscores a pivotal period for both programs as they navigate roster transitions and aim to make an early impact in the next season’s schedule.