Bill Self and Kelvin Sampson expressed satisfaction that the Kansas-Houston game in Mexico is no longer on the schedule.

Kansas’ scheduled trip to Mexico City for a December 14 basketball game against Houston, a fellow Big 12 member, might have excited fans south of the border, but it presented headaches for coaches Bill Self of KU and Kelvin Sampson of Houston. They weren’t keen on the idea of a nonconference game disrupting their schedules during the heart of the season. Recent news of the game’s postponement until 2025 was met with relief from both coaches. Self remarked that their schedule was already packed, expressing gratitude for the change. Sampson echoed this sentiment, stating he was “ecstatic” about the game’s removal from the 2024-25 schedule.

Sampson expressed concerns about losing a nonconference matchup to play KU in a game that wouldn’t count in league standings. He praised Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark for his innovative marketing strategies but admitted he wasn’t a fan of the Mexico game concept. Meanwhile, Self outlined the challenges of balancing a tough nonconference schedule with league games and expressed a preference against expanding the league schedule to 20 games.

As for Kansas’ upcoming schedule, it includes matchups against North Carolina and Michigan State, among others, with details yet to be finalized.