STONY BROOK, N.Y. — For the first time since the 2017-18 campaign and fifth time overall, the Stony Brook men's basketball program (0-1) will take on a top five opponent when it heads to Allen Fieldhouse on Thursday night to face the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks at 8 p.m.

Geno Ford's club last played a ranked opponent in his first year at the helm, leading No. 12 Seton Hall 33-31 at halftime before falling to the Pirates in the second game of the season. Kansas is one of two currently ranked squads on Stony Brook's schedule, with Florida (December 22) recently joining the rankings at No. 24 in the nation. Here's what you need to know ahead of Thursday night's contest.

THE GRITTY
Time: 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST)
Location: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence, Kan.)
Streaming: Big 12 on ESPN+
Radio: WUSB Sports
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats

SCOUTING THE JAYHAWKS

• The Jayhawks enter the contest 2-0 on the young season, with wins over Michigan State in the Champions Classic and Tarleton State on Friday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
• Ochai Agbaji dominated offensively in Kansas' first two contests, scoring 29 against the Spartans and 25 against Tarleton State to open his campaign. He is currently one of three scorers in double figures for Kansas.
• The 27 points per game are tied for fifth nationally with four other players and leads the Big 12.

TOP 5 COMPETITION
Thursday will mark the fifth time a Seawolves squad has opposed a Top 5 team and Stony Brook is looking for its first victory against such a team. Stony Brook was knocked off by No. 2 Michigan State in 2017 in its last game against a Top 5 opponent. The Seawolves faced No. 12 Seton Hall in its last game against a ranked program. Stony Brook led at half 33-31 before the host Pirates pulled away in the second half. Elijah Olaniyi had 14 points and six boards in that contest.

STARTING FROM THE TOP
For the first time since the 2015-16 campaign, the Seawolves were selected Number 1 in the America East preseason poll. Holding five of the 10 first place votes, head coach Geno Ford's club finished ahead of Vermont by three points heading into the year. New Hampshire and defending champions Hartford round out the top four in a poll selected by the league's ten head coaches. The Seawolves have made three semifinal appearances since that 15-16 campaign and are looking to get back to the final for the first time since that championship season.

RECORD-BREAKING HOME COOKIN'
After the Seawolves played just 10 of its 23 games at home last season, Stony Brook will break a program record in that department this season, hosting 17 games at Island Federal Arena. This will include hosting the Battle of Long Island on December 8, against Hofstra, part of a six-game homestand and seven home games in the last month of the calendar year. Fans will also see a new team on a regular basis, with NJIT making its rounds to each arena for the first time as a member of the America East.

OLDER AND WISER
With an average age of 21.13, the Seawolves enter the 2021-22 campaign as one of 17 teams in the country with an average age above 21. Just four players on the roster are below 21 entering the campaign. Eastern Kentucky is atop the age chart coming into the season with an average age of 22.02, the only school in the country toutting a mark above 22. The Seawolves are the only school inside the top 20 and the squad boasts a deep roster that contains 10 different players who have started a game in their careers and 10 athletes with a double-figure scoring game in their collegiate tenures.

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