LAWRENCE, Kan. — It’s a showdown of ranked teams, but catching the most attention: A showdown between the consensus top two picks in the 2026 NBA Draft at Allen Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon.
Certainly, the students are all-in for KU hosting BYU. They’re already camping out ahead of ESPN’s College GameDay and the 3:30 tip off.
It’s a big game for many reasons and these fans are not going to miss it. Students have been camping out here at Allen fieldhouse since 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Pillows, blanks and lawn chairs — some essential items KU students bring to Allen Fieldhouse ahead of Saturday’s basketball game showcasing of two of the top 15 teams in the country.
“This is Allen Fieldhouse, this is college basketball,” Kash Koslowski said. “We didn’t create this atmosphere 50 years ago in this building just to throw it all away. It’s students, it’s tradition. We love just to keep it going, make it happen for our players.”
Koslowski is part of a 30-person group. They scored group number 33.
“We’re hoping that we still get really good seats, and I think we will,” Koslowski said.
These fans are here every day from 6 a.m.-10 p.m., reserving their spot in line to get a good seat on gameday. At last check on Wednesday, 109 groups were signed up in line.
“We do an hour shift,” Sophomore Grace Ford said. “But… I signed up for two hours.”
Ford is done with classes for the day. So, she’s taking one for the team. She was Koslowski’s relief at Allen Fieldhouse.
“I usually do homework; I honestly like it because it’s super quiet, so, it’s almost like I can lock in. I love camping because I can get more work done here because I’m by myself,” Ford said. “I’ve brought a pillow and blanket, and camped out for two hours and ended up sleeping.”
If at least one person is not there for roll call, your spot gets crossed out, according to Koslowski.
“There’s no excuse if you miss it. It’s heartbreaking if you do move down.”
Kash’s crew isn’t taking any chances.
Saturday marks the 1,000th game in Allen Fieldhouse.
“We truly think this is the mecca of college basketball and the greatest home court advantage,” Voice of the Jayhawks Brian Hanni said. “Bill Self has won nearly 95% of his home games here. When 15,300 get rockin’ in these hallowed halls and the sound reverberates down from the steel beams that were built in the 1950s, there’s no place louder than Allen Fieldhouse.”
Hanni expects this to be a big-time game – a showcase of two of the most heralded freshmen in the country that are projected to be the top two draft picks.
He also said Legendary Jayhawk Paul Pierce plans to be in the crowd. Pierce’s number 34 jersey still hangs in the rafters.
“Paul Pierce returning, a 10-time NBA All Star, an NBA Hall of Famer, a guy that was an NBA Finals MVP,” Hanni said. “That’s pretty cool to get him back for the first time in more than a decade.”
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Hanni notes that these walls have witnessed several big basketball moments over the years.
“I think back to Jacque Vaughn days, the UCLA game, the Indiana game, when he hit the game winner,” Hanni said. “You fast forward to the Bill Self-era, whether it was the Mizzou game of 2012 or the triple overtime game versus Oklahoma in 2016. We’ve had some legendary, iconic games, but the 1,000th game in these hallowed halls, could be every bit as good.”
Hanni said it’s their 13th time hosting ESPN College Gameday.
The one-hour College Gameday show starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Student doors open at 8:30 a.m. The public can enter at 8:45a.m.
