# US college basketball preseason events

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-college-basketball-preseason-events
> Updated: 2026-10-21T15:55:42.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

The early October period featured preseason showcases and exhibition matchups for major college basketball programs. Kentucky hosted its annual Big Blue Madness event at Rupp Arena, which included player competitions and an appearance by former player Karl-Anthony Towns. 

Later in the month, Louisville and Kansas were scheduled for an exhibition game at Allen Fieldhouse. The matchup highlighted Louisville’s preseason ranking and Kansas’s efforts to rebuild momentum under head coach Bill Self.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-21: Louisville and Kansas face off in basketball exhibition

The Louisville Cardinals and Kansas Jayhawks meet in an exhibition basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse, featuring highly-ranked Louisville and standout freshman Tyran Stokes for Kansas.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/louisville-and-kansas-face-off-in-basketball-exhibition

### 2026-10-01: Kentucky basketball hosts annual Big Blue Madness showcase

Kentucky basketball hosted its annual Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena, featuring a surprise appearance by NBA champion Karl-Anthony Towns and various player competitions.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kentucky-and-louisville-basketball-updates

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Cite as: US college basketball preseason events. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-college-basketball-preseason-events