LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Big 12 built in a buffer week for make-up games between the regular season and the Big 12 Tournament. Sure enough, nine of the league's 10 teams will take advantage of those seven days to play games that were originally postponed.
Not the Kansas Jayhawks.
Once KU plays its game against Baylor on Saturday, the 'Hawks will have completed their conference schedule in its entirety.
So, instead of sitting around for 12 days waiting for Kansas City and the Big 12 Tournament, Kansas has added a non-conference game against UTEP for 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 4, at Allen Fieldhouse.
The opportunity for the game was made possible by another non-conference game being canceled: the Jayhawks' matchup with Tarleton State from Dec. 13.
UTEP is 10-10 on the season and tied for fifth place in the Conference USA West standings. One of the Miners leading scorers is Jamal Bieniemy, a former Oklahoma guard and the nephew of Chiefs' offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
KU leads the all-time series with UTEP, 3-1.
Tickets for the game go on sale Friday. The game will be televised on one of ESPN's platforms.
