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Kansas loads up ’11-'12 schedule with Kentucky, Ohio St.

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Kansas stacked its 2011-12 non-conference schedule with the likes of Kentucky, Ohio State, USC and the loaded Maui Invitational field, which could include games against the likes of Duke, Georgetown, Memphis, Michigan, Tennessee or UCLA.

Exactly the kind of slate I wish the Jayhawks would’ve had the last two seasons. Games against the Wildcats and Buckeyes would’ve been a viewer’s delight.

Not that Kansas played chumps. UCLA, Memphis and Michigan all played KU the last two years. Arizona, USC, Temple and Tennessee also got in there. But adding Kentucky and Ohio State to the schedule is a fan’s dream.

Question is, will it be Kansas’ nightmare?

“It’s a tough schedule,” coach Bill Self said in a statement. “One that will give us a ton of exposure, and with the young team we will have playing for us next year, it will be a great challenge. We need to be preparing now for next year.”

No kidding. As Justin Young notes, the Jayhawks won’t have their usual size up front. The Morris twins are gone, leaving forward Thomas Robinson and underwhelming center Jeff Withey as the only experienced big men. Incoming freshman Braedon Anderson isn’t expected to make an instant impact.

That leaves Self’s squad to go small against some of the nation’s most promising forwards (Kentucky) and the best big man (Ohio State). But all for Self to figure out.

I’m mostly dreaming of how Kansas games against Ohio State and Kentucky the last two years would’ve played out …

You also can follow me on Twitter @MikeMillerNBC.