Kansas Basketball vs. Arkansas live score updates: The show is on

Kansas Basketball will get its first look at how its team can perform against another Friday on the road during an exhibition game against Arkansas.

The Jayhawks enter the season as the No. 1 team in the nation. The Razorbacks enter the season ranked No. 16 in the nation. Each ranking is determined by the USA TODAY Preseason Poll, which coaches vote on.

Kansas head coach Bill Self has led his program for more than two decades. Arkansas head coach John Calipari is in his first year at the helm after a long stint as head coach at Kentucky. These two coaches are no strangers to each other, their last meeting coming last season at the Champions Classic in Chicago – a game the Jayhawks won against the Wildcats.

Within the likely format of the Kansas basketball away game against Arkansas

There is a bright spot for Kansas in Dajuan Harris Jr's play so far. Although the veteran guard has committed a few fouls, he also has a team-high 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the field and 2-for-2 shooting behind him the archway. He also has a few assists to go along with a turnover.

The imbalance in free throws continues to be a problem. The Jayhawks are playing better defensively, but aren't pursuing it as much on offense. Obviously they are missing center Hunter Dickinson, who is unavailable tonight due to injury, as well as guard Rylan Griffen.

Flory Bidunga had his moments early for Kansas. The freshman had several high-profile dunks in his first contest against a college-level opponent, starting with six points and three rebounds. However, it's important to keep in mind that he committed three fouls, and that will be a case this season if this foul trouble continues.

The Jayhawks' 3-point shooting has continued to decline since their quality start. Arkansas also does a much better job of getting to the free throw line. Team-wise, there is a lot to do for Kansas.

Towards the end of the first quarter, the Kansas offense was in deep trouble. The 3s have stopped falling in love with the Jayhawks, and it's not like they're making up for it elsewhere. Their offense seemed stagnant without Dajuan Harris Jr. taking charge at this point, and it's not like he was out of the game for all that long.

Arkansas surpasses Kansas in rebounding. The Razorbacks seem far more comfortable, probably in part because they're playing in front of their home crowd. Maybe the Jayhawks can gain some momentum if AJ Storr can knock down a 3-pointer.

Arkansas leads at the first timeout with 4:44 remaining in the first quarter. The Razorbacks don't miss often as they play 6-for-7 from the field, 2-for-3 from behind the arc and 2-for-2 at the free throw line. They are led by DJ Wagner, who has eight points and a perfect shooting performance so far.

Given the players Kansas doesn't have available, this won't be a complete look at how the Jayhawks will play this season and whether or not some of the early issues are because it didn't always look good. However, AJ Storr's athleticism is evident in the minutes he has played. The Jayhawks also hit a good portion of their 3s in a small sample size.

Before the game

Here is Kansas Basketball's starting lineup

Kansas basketball coach Bill Self previews the game

Kansas Basketball vs. Arkansas exhibition game time

Date: Friday, October 25th
Time: 8 p.m. (CT)
Location: Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas

What channel is the Kansas Basketball vs. Arkansas exhibition game on today?

Kansas basketball's exhibition game against Arkansas will be broadcast on SEC Network. John Schriffen will be on-site for play-by-play, Seth Greenberg will be an analyst and Jimmy Dykes will also be an analyst.

How did Kansas basketball play last season?

Last season, Kansas finished 23-11 overall. The Jayhawks were able to reach the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament before the end of the season. Injuries and depth issues caused problems that ultimately led to the team's elimination from the postseason.

How did Arkansas basketball play last season?

Last season, Arkansas finished 16-17 overall. The Razorbacks did not reach the NCAA Tournament. Their head coach this season, Eric Musselman, is now the head coach at USC.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the 2022 National Sports Media Association Sports Writer of the Year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

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