After twelve days without Kansas basketball, the winter hiatus will end as the Jayhawks (10–3) travel to Orlando on Saturday to take on the UCF Knights (11–1) to open Big 12 play.
Heading into 2025, Kansas had won 33 straight conference openers, dating all the way back to the 1991–92 season (older than the Big 12 itself). Last season, KU's loss to West Virginia ended an incredible streak of dominance that will likely never be replicated.
Entering 2026, the Jayhawks hope to restart that streak when they face a UCF team that has multiple ties to Bill Self and Kansas.