Kansas vs Rhode Island: Open Game Thread

KU looks to continue to build momentum coming off a big win versus an overmatched Rider team last time out as the 'Hawks face Rhode Island in the first round of the Orlando Classic. The Jayhawks will play three games in four days (Thursday, Friday, Sunday) and, if they both win out, could meet up with Michigan State on Sunday.

Kansas is 2-1 on the year after defeating Rider their last time out. Kansas currently resides at #11 in the AP Poll. Rhode Island comes in unranked at 3-0. The Rams last game was an OT win over previously ranked Nebraska.

KU is 2-1 versus Rhode Island all-time with victories in 1993 (Kemper Arena) and 2006 (Allen Fieldhouse). Rhode Island's one win was a doozy - in Oklahoma City 1998, the Rams knocked off what many people considered to be one of the best Kansas teams ever in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Nowadays, the Rams are coached by Dan Hurley who is 25-33 in his third season at URI and 63-62 in his fifth year overall. They are members of the Atlantic-10 Conference and were picked to finish sixth in the preseason coaches poll.

The game will be televised on ESPN2 and will start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Santa Clara/Tennessee.