Kansas Hosts Middle Tennessee State Friday
No. 17 Kansas, 1-0 after a 95-65 win over Fordham, welcomes Middle Tennessee to Allen Fieldhouse on Friday.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Basketball
No. 17 Kansas hosts Middle Tennessee State at Allen Fieldhouse on Friday, Nov. 6. Kansas opened its season with a 95-65 win over Fordham on Monday, while Middle Tennessee opened with a 117-73 victory over Fisk.
Why it matters
The matchup gives Kansas an early test against a Middle Tennessee team that went 17-15 last season and is projected fifth out of 10 in the Conference USA preseason poll. It also offers an early look at transfer forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, who is expected to start.
In its opener, Kansas outscored Fordham 43-19 in the closing run, and Tre White scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Middle Tennessee recorded 25 assists on 42 made baskets in its 117-73 win over Fisk, but how those numbers hold up against Kansas remains untested.
The players
Trey Kaufman-Renn
A transfer forward from Purdue who was drafted in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in June and is expected to start for Kansas this season.
Tre White
A Kansas guard who scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting in the season-opening win over Fordham.
Quintero Barnett
A Middle Tennessee guard who scored 24 points in his team's season opener against Fisk.
The details
Kansas pulled away from Fordham with a fast-break and alley-oop-heavy closing run. Middle Tennessee, led by Quintero Barnett's 24 points in its opener, visits Lawrence for a Friday night game at Allen Fieldhouse.
Timeline
Monday: Kansas defeated Fordham 95-65 in its season opener.
Friday: Kansas hosts Middle Tennessee State at Allen Fieldhouse.
Season Trajectory
The Friday game is the first meeting between Kansas and Middle Tennessee since 2000, a long gap for the series. For Kansas, an early win over a conference-level opponent sets the tone for a season that begins with a ranking of No. 17.
Fantasy managers tracking Kansas starters should note Kaufman-Renn's expected starting role on Friday. Fans planning to attend should expect the game at Allen Fieldhouse on Friday evening.
The takeaway
Kansas's Friday matchup is an early look at how a transfer-heavy rotation handles a Conference USA opponent. Watch whether the closing-run pace from the opener carries over.
What happens next
Kansas hosts Middle Tennessee State at Allen Fieldhouse on Friday, Nov. 6.
Further reading
For more on the Jayhawks' schedule, see Basketball coverage from Lawrence.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KQSM-FM.
