Kentucky, Arkansas, Kansas State basketball open seasons with home games

Kentucky Wildcats start their basketball season with an exhibition game against Manhattan Jaspers, marking the first meeting between the two teams. Kentucky finished the previous season with a 22-14 record and reached the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, while Manhattan ended 12-20. Kentucky had a 3-0 preseason record including wins over Little Rock, Texas Tech, and Central Florida, whereas Manhattan did not play preseason exhibitions, Yahoo Sports reported.

Arkansas Razorbacks, ranked No. 13, open their season at home against Arkansas Pine-Bluff (UAPB). The Razorbacks are led by coach John Calipari in his third season and feature four 5-star freshmen and key players like Jordan Smith Jr. and Billy Richmond III. Arkansas won two preseason games against Memphis and Gonzaga. The game at Bud Walton Arena is a tune-up before a challenging schedule, including a neutral-site game against Virginia, according to Yahoo Sports.

Kansas State Wildcats begin their 2026-27 season against South Dakota State at Bramlage Coliseum. Despite modest expectations, the team aims to make a run to the NCAA tournament. The game starts at 7 p.m. CT, Yahoo Sports noted.

All three games provide early season opportunities for these college basketball programs to set the tone for their upcoming campaigns. Fans can follow the games via various TV and streaming options as detailed by Yahoo Sports.