Hogs get another marquee matchup to kick off preseason

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For the second straight year, Arkansas will host a charity exhibition game versus a team that many pundits are putting atop their preseason polls as the Razorbacks will welcome Kansas to Bud Walton Arena on Oct. 25 (Friday).

The game, sponsored by CareSource, will not be part of the 2024-25 Arkansas men’s basketball season ticket package. Broadcast information and tipoff time will be announced at a later time.

Arkansas will donate proceeds from the charity exhibition game to Arkansas Children’s Hospitals. Also, Kansas will donate to Fore The Kids Foundation, a partner of Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

CareSource is sponsoring a series of charity exhibition matchups that benefit adolescent and young adult mental health and suicide prevention initiatives, including Jay’s Light and other mental health organizations. Other games in the series this year include Ohio State at Cincinnati on Oct. 18 and Dayton hosting Xavier on Oct. 20.

“We are ecstatic to be hosting Kansas to raise money and awareness for some great charities,” head coach John Calipari said. “Kansas is near and dear to my heart. Not only is it where I got my start in the coaching profession but, more importantly, it is where I met my wife, Ellen.

“This game will be a tremendous opportunity for us to see where we stand before the regular season begins. Also, our fans — and really the college basketball world — will be tuned in to this game.

“It is great for our program to be able to play these high-profile charity games. Not only is it an entertaining and valuable tool for the teams and fans but it also raises a lot of money for great causes. We are proud to be affiliated with CareSource and help Arkansas Children’s Hospitals.”

Arkansas and Kansas have met on 14 previous occasions with the Jayhawks owning an 8-6 advantage. The Razorbacks have won the last two meetings, including a 72-71 victory in the 2023 NCAA Tournament to advance to the Sweet 16 and a 65-64 decision in the 2005 Maui Invitational.

The last time Kansas came to Fayetteville was Dec. 6, 1986, when the sixth-ranked Jayhawks won, 103-86.

This will be the third year in a row that both Arkansas and its opponent in a charity exhibition game will enter the season among the nation’s top 25. ESPN has this year’s Razorbacks at No. 14 in its “way-to-early” ranking while Kansas is at No. 1.

Last year, Arkansas, a top 20 team, hosted Purdue, which was #1 in several polls and a consensus top three team, in a charity exhibition contest. Arkansas won 81-77 in overtime. Prior to the 2022-23 campaign, Arkansas, preseason #10, traveled to Austin prior to the season to christen the Longhorns’ new Moody Center versus #12 Texas in a charity exhibition. Texas won 90-60.

Arkansas also played a charity exhibition prior to the 2019-20 season when it hosted Little Rock to commemorate the naming of Nolan Richardson Court in Bud Walton Arena. The Razorbacks won 79-64.

Arkansas is 73-10 all-time in exhibition games, including a 64-9 mark at home. The Razorbacks have won 37 straight home exhibition contests.

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.