Kansas Exhibition Win, BYU, Illinois, Polls

Kansas unofficially opened its season with a 90-82 exhibition win over Louisville, paced by Darryn Peterson’s 24 first-half points and an efficient 6-of-9 three-point night. Coach Bill Self praised the fast start but criticized defensive back-cut coverage and second-half rebounding, noted Peterson’s limited mobility late and Flory Bidunga’s foul trouble, and revealed a projected starting five of Peterson, Flory Bidunga, Tre White, transfer Council Jr. and freshman Rosario. North Carolina is scheduled to open its preseason slate with an exhibition at No. 9 BYU on Oct. 24, where freshman AJ Dybantsa is a focal point and BYU is regarded as a multi‑threat team. In preseason polls, Kansas State’s women sit at No. 25 in the USA TODAY poll, Tennessee’s women were picked fifth in the SEC and are No. 8 in the AP preseason poll, and Illinois men are No. 14 in the USA TODAY coaches poll. Early-season notes also include Northern Colorado being picked third in the Big Sky men despite no players on preseason teams and other media/broadcast updates around Colten Ellis and a Kansas State–Kansas football preview.