With the 32nd annual Late Night in the Phog tonight, the anticipation of the beginning of another Kansas basketball season is at an all-time high.
Led by 14th-year head coach Bill Self, the Jayhawks will open the season, as they always do, with high hopes and lofty goals. A likely Top 3 team heading into the season — which officially begins in Honolulu on Nov. 11 — the Jayhawks will be gunning both for a national title and a record-tying 13th consecutive Big 12 regular season title.
While the quest for both will hold the interest — and nerves — of KU fans for the next several months, few things get the fan base as fired up as Late Night, which offers both an opportunity to see the players in action and be entertained by their personas away from basketball.
“There’s nothing like it,” said junior guard Devonte’ Graham. “The fans know what recruits are coming from high school. They get all the privileges just to be around here and experience Late Night. Seeing Allen packed is different from just walking in and seeing it empty. You can’t really imagine it but it definitely is a huge impact on recruits.”
With that in mind, here’s some of the sights and sounds from Late Night — the unofficial beginning of the KU basketball season…
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Students waiting for entry at #KUbball Late Night 2016… pic.twitter.com/PpAMdn68jb
— Matt Tait (@mctait) October 1, 2016
The beginning (and end) of the line for Late Night 2016 at the main entrance to AFH… #KUbball pic.twitter.com/ittxXHOL8f
— Matt Tait (@mctait) October 1, 2016
The new Rally House fan shop in the northwest corner of AFH… It’s pretty sharp looking. #KUbball pic.twitter.com/8y3BvrKJO0
— Matt Tait (@mctait) October 1, 2016
KU students piling into Allen Fieldhouse for Late Night. #kubball pic.twitter.com/G6sZv7ZbLo
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) October 1, 2016
The student section behind the north goal filled up in less than a minute once they opened the doors for Late Night… #KUbball pic.twitter.com/hhfiXo45ZP
— Matt Tait (@mctait) October 1, 2016
And it’s still filling… #KUbball #LateNight2016 pic.twitter.com/clsz6tnY7I
— Matt Tait (@mctait) October 1, 2016
The cover of this year’s #KUbball media guide. Wonder how difficult it was to photograph Bragg not smiling… pic.twitter.com/yldaIxlg01
— Matt Tait (@mctait) October 1, 2016
The 3-on-3 women’s final, no doubt a thrill for all these girls. Calling own fouls, running clock, most points at the buzzer wins. #KUbball pic.twitter.com/Qo5GKoFYAb
— Matt Tait (@mctait) October 1, 2016
Brennan Bechard. Professional half-court shot maker. #KUbball #KULateNight pic.twitter.com/EzBqQKxMaI
— Benton Smith (@BentonASmith) October 2, 2016
-Check back to KUSports.com and this blog for much more coverage of Late Night