The top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks opened their basketball season with a commanding 87-57 victory over Howard, with Zeke Mayo leading the team with 19 points in his debut. Kansas established dominance early, going on a 12-3 run after trailing briefly and ultimately leading by 27 points at halftime. Hunter Dickinson and Flory Bidunga contributed significantly, scoring 16 and 13 points, respectively, while the team demonstrated depth with 45 points from their bench. Howard struggled offensively, shooting only 24.1% in the first half and finishing the game at 37.9%. The win marks Kansas's 52nd consecutive home opener victory, and they will face No. 9 North Carolina in their next game on Friday. This matchup is expected to be a significant challenge for the Jayhawks as they aim to solidify their position at the top of the rankings.