Kansas vs. Syracuse: Game notes and more
What: Kansas vs. Syracuse
Where: Las Vegas, Nev. • MGM Grand Garden Arena (9,994)
When: Tuesday, November 25, 2025 • 2:30 p.m. (CT)
Players Era
Television: TNT
Play-by-Play: Brandon Gaudin
Analyst: Robbie Hummel
Sideline: Nabil Karim
Producer: Bert Bondi
Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network
Webcast: KUAthletics.com/Radio
Play-by-Play: Brian Hanni
Analyst: Greg Gurley
Producer/Engineer: Steve Kincaid
TIPOFF
Kansas (4-2) will face Syracuse (4-1) in the second round of the Players Era, Tuesday, Nov. 25. Tip from MGM Grand Garden Arena is set for 2:30 p.m. (Central), and the game will be televised on TNT.
Kansas is coming off a 71-61 win against Notre Dame in the opening round of the Players Era on Nov. 24 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Syracuse lost to No. 3 Houston, 78-74 in overtime, in its opening round game of the event.
The six-game Kansas-Syracuse series dates back to 1968 with the series tied at 3-3. This will be the sixth time the two teams meet on a neutral court. Kansas won the last matchup, 76-60, Dec. 12, 2017, in the Hoophall Miami Invitational.
After its win against Notre Dame, Kansas is 134-24 (84.8%) following a loss in the Bill Self era (2003-04 to present), including 2-0 this season.
Kansas leads the Big 12 and ranks in the top 15 nationally in blocked shots per game at 6.7. The Jayhawks are second in the league in three-point field goal percentage defense at 24.2 percent.
Sophomore Flory Bidunga leads the Big 12 with 16 blocked shots this season and his 2.7 blocks per game rank in the top five in the Big 12 and in the top 35 nationally. Bidunga leads Kansas with a
69.8 field goal percentage which ranks in the top five in the Big 12 and in the top 10 nationally.
Kansas head coach Bill Self is 613-157 in his 23rd season at KU. Last season, Self became Kansas’ all-time winningest coach, surpassing Phog Allen, who was 590-129 in 36 seasons on the KU sidelines. Self is in his 33rd season overall with an 820-262 record. He is one of only four active coaches with 800 or career wins – Rick Barnes, John Calipari, and Kelvin Sampson
ABOUT KANSAS
Kansas (4-2) is coming off a 71-61 win against Notre Dame in the opening round of the Players Era on Nov. 24 in Las Vegas. Through six games, Kansas is averaging 76.3 points per game and has a plus-13.0 scoring margin. The Jayhawks pull down 38.7 rebounds per contest with a plus-5.8 rebound margin. KU averages 15.8 assists, 5.5 steals, and 6.7 blocked shots per contest.
Freshman guard Darryn Peterson leads Kansas with a 21.5 ppg. He has missed the last four contests. Sophomore center Flory Bidunga scores 16.7 points per game and leads KU with 7.7 rebounds per outing. He also leads the team with a 69.8 field goal percentage and 16 blocked shots after his five blocks against Notre Dame (11/24) to go along with his team-high
18 points.
Senior guard Tre White is scoring 14.3 points per contest and his 5.8 rebounds per game are tied for second on the team. White has 26 rebounds in his last three games. Redshirt-freshman forward Bryson Tiller (9.8 ppg) scored a season-high 17 points against Notre Dame (11/24). He is tied for second on the team with a 5.8 rebound average. Senior Melvin Council Jr. (9.2 ppg) leads KU with 33 assists, while
freshman Kohl Rasario (6.5 ppg) has started every game this season.
Other KU regulars include graduate guard Gee Ngala (5.3 ppg, 4-6 3FGs), senior guard Jayden Dawson (5.2 ppg, five threes), redshirt-sophomore guard Elmarko Jackson (one start, 2.4 ppg), redshirt sophomore guard Jamari McDowell (1.2 ppg, 8.2 minutes per game), and freshman guard Samis Calderon (6.8 minutes per game).
THE KANSAS – SYRACUSE SERIES
The six-game Kansas-Syracuse series dates back to 1968, with the series tied at 3-3. This will be the sixth time the two teams meet on a neutral court. Kansas and Syracuse have met three times in the NCAA Tournament with the most recent being the 2003 NCAA National Championship game, a Syracuse 81-78 win in New Orleans. In the last matchup on Dec. 2, 2017, Devonte’ Graham matched his career-high with 35 points, while Lagerald Vick added 20 as No. 2 Kansas remained unbeaten by topping Syracuse 76- 60 in the HoopHall Miami Invitational in Miami, Florida.
A KANSAS WIN WOULD…
Make Kansas 5-2 or better for the 20th consecutive season and the 22nd time in Bill Self’s 23 seasons at KU … Make the Kansas-Syracuse 4-3 in favor of KU … Make Kansas 2-1 in neutral site games this season … Make Bill Self 614-158 while at Kansas, 821-263 all-time and 2-1 versus Syracuse, all while at Kansas … Make Kansas 2,419-911 all time.
A KANSAS LOSS WOULD…
Make Kansas 4-3 for the first time since the 2005-06 season when the Jayhawks were 3-4 … Make the Kansas-Syracuse series 4-3 in favor of Syracuse … Make Kansas 1-2 in neutral site games this season … Make Bill Self 613-159 while at KU, 820-264 all-time and 1-2 all-time versus Syracuse, all while at Kansas … Make KU 2,418-912 all time.
