kansascity
Kansas will face Middle Tennessee, a Conference USA member, at 8 p.m. Friday inside Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence. The matchup is part of the Jayhawks' Salute to Service game, with Folds of Honor as the sponsor and recognition events planned throughout the evening.
How to Watch and Listen
The game will be televised on ESPNU. Radio coverage is available on WHB (810 AM) in Kansas City and ESPN Wichita (92.3 FM).
Probable Starters
Middle Tennessee (1-0): C Kaleb Siler (No. 0, 6-10, Sr.), F Ofri Naveh (No. 9, 6-7, Sr.), G Jahvin Carter (No. 2, 6-3, Jr.), G Marcus Whitlock Jr. (No. 22, 6-3, Sr.), G Quintero Barnett (No. 1, 6-4, Jr.).
Kansas (1-0): F Trey Kaufman-Renn (No. 9, 6-9, Sr.), G Melvin Council Jr. (No. 14, 6-4, Sr.), G Tre White (No. 3, 6-7, Sr.), G Taylen Kinney (No. 0, 6-3, Fr.), G Tyran Stokes (No. 4, 6-8, Fr.).
Scouting Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee was picked fifth in the 10-team Conference USA preseason poll, behind Western Kentucky, Kennesaw State, Liberty, and Sam Houston. The Blue Raiders are coached by Nick McDevitt, who holds a 122-133 record in nine seasons. MTSU opened its season with a 117-73 win over Fisk on Monday. Junior guard Quintero Barnett, a Walsh College transfer, led the team with 24 points in his Division I debut. Preseason all-conference guard Jahvin Carter posted a plus-minus of 39 with 16 points, seven assists, and four rebounds. Penn State transfer Eli Rice added 18 points, and freshman Landyn Colyer grabbed eight rebounds.
Carter, a 6-3 junior, was named to the 10-player preseason all-league team after averaging 10.8 points per game last season with 20 double-figure scoring games and a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio. The Blue Raiders roster features nine newcomers for the second consecutive year, including four freshmen (Colyer, Aiden Bolden, Garrison White, and Braylin Davis) and five transfers (Barnett, Siler, Rice, Kevin de Kovachich, and Naveh). Siler was an NJCAA All-American at Gaston College in 2025-26, averaging 18.7 points and 9.9 rebounds. The team also includes three international players: Serbian big man Luka Jovanovic, Israeli forward Naveh (11.2 points, 6.0 rebounds at Oral Roberts last year), and Canadian guard de Kovachich (11.8 points at North Alabama last year).
Scouting Kansas
No. 17 Kansas is 3-0 all-time against Middle Tennessee, with wins in 1997 (103-68), 1999 (97-77), and 2000 (92-66). The Jayhawks are 1-0 at Allen Fieldhouse this season and hold an all-time record of 883-123 in the venue, including 345-23 under head coach Bill Self. Self is 634-167 at Kansas and 841-272 overall. KU opened the season with a 95-65 win over Fordham on Monday, marking the seventh straight year scoring 80+ points in a season opener. The 95 points were the most in a non-conference game since Nov. 6, 2023, against North Carolina Central (99). Senior Keanu Dawes grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, his 63rd game with five or more rebounds. Senior Dennis Parker Jr. scored his 800th career point, finishing with four points on 2-of-2 shooting. Junior guard Will Thengvall scored his first career points, hitting his only field goal attempt for two points and one rebound in two minutes.
Originally reported by kansascity.