National reports of Indianapolis as the site for KU’s Champions Classic game with Kentucky, slated for Dec. 1 on KU’s official schedule, surfaced Thursday, but there still has been no official announcement confirming that.
“I do believe that the game is going to happen,” Kansas coach Bill Self said Thursday. “I do believe it’ll be a neutral site. But I don’t think anything’s been settled yet.”
That makes sense given the fact that the KU-UK game has appeared on KU’s official schedule — with a TBD for time and place — for the past couple of weeks.
Self said preserving the high-profile event that has typically opened the season in recent years was an important part of KU’s focus while rebuilding its schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our goal was to play at least at least three to four (non-league games) that would be considered top-15, top-10-type teams in America,” Self said Thursday. “And then the rest of it was just try to get a schedule.”
Self said the Jayhawks were still unsure whether they would schedule a 27th game for the fast-approaching 2020-21 season or move forward with the 26 they currently have scheduled or are working to finalize.
Although nothing official has been announced, the expectation is that Kansas will open the season Nov. 25 against Gonzaga in Fort Myers, Fla.
Jossell practices
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Freshman guard Latrell Jossell, who has missed the past several weeks because of an ankle injury, was able to participate in practice for the first time on Wednesday in a half-court setting.
“He actually looked very good,” Self said. “Super competitive kid. I don’t know if he’ll be allowed to go up and down (the court) in the next couple of days, but just having him out there and getting back into a little bit of rhythm, I’m hopeful that by the first the next week he can be close to 100%.”
Jossell, a 5-foo-11 guard from Keller Central High in Texas is known for his speed and 3-point shooting. Earlier this fall, several of Jossell’s teammates listed his name first when asked who had shot the ball best in open-gym settings throughout the offseason.
Sources: The game between Kentucky and Kansas as part of the Champions Classic is expected to be held in Indianapolis on December 1st. The location of the game between Duke and Michigan State is currently TBD.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 5, 2020
