The inter-class games were the earliest to be played.  Probably a hundred students took part in these, either as direct participants or as "scrubs" for the chosen men to practice against.  The Sophomores emerged from the contest as victors, but were so closely pressed by Juniors, Seniors and faculty that there were few points to spare.

Source:  Jayhawker, p.99

“KU should not feel discouraged, but encouraged over the showing they made in their initial game.  KU was handicapped by the fact that the baskets of the YMCA club were fastened to the wall while those which the KU boys were accustomed to play with were about twelve feet from the wall.  The game abounded in brilliant plays and from time to time plays brought forth tremendous applause from the audience.  After one minute of play, owing to a foul, (Will) Sutton threw a goal.  The playing from this time was exceedingly fast.  The YMCA after three minutes play threw down a field goal.  Sutton made one of most sensational plays of the game one minute later. The ball was thrown to him, and he rolled it for three yards.  He was viciously beset by two YMCA men, and bending backward he threw the ball fully twelve yards and got a goal..   The cheering at this good play was loud and long.”

And that wasn’t the only interesting tidbit about the first KU game.  The Weekly also wrote about a player for the YMCA identified as Jesse James: “the young man who has lately come into prominence by his alleged connection with recent train robberies in Missouri played a rough and at times a very ungentlemanly game.  He was cautioned and punished several times.”  The player in question is thought to have been the son of the infamous Jesse James.  

Source:The Crimson & Blue Handbook, pages 8-9.

 First Home Game Also Resulted In KU's 1st Win:
Kansas' first home game -- the second game in Jayhawk history on Feb. 10, 1899 -- resulted in a 31-6 win over the Topeka YMCA.  The following report of that first game was published in John Hendel's "History Making Basketball."  The Kansas Weekly reported that only 50 people were present at this first game, due to the fact that the gas line froze up.
The University's first home game resulted also in its first victory. The opposing team was the Topeka YMCA, defeated 31-6.  The Kansas Weekly felt that the Topeka club lacked teamwork, had inefficient training. The paper gave this account of the game:
'After two minutes of play [KU team member] Sutton threw a goal and the first applause was heard. This gingered the Varsity boys and they played so fast that the visitors could offer little interference. "In the second half Topeka warmed up for a little time and scored after three minutes of play."

Source: A Century of Kansas Basketball.

After the men had shown their ability in the class games, a picked team was chosen to represent the University against all comers.  The record that this team made is one of which it and the University may well be proud.  On the home grounds, not a game was lost: and on strange courts, but three.

Source:  Jayhawker, p. 99

There was no campus gymnasium.  The team was forced to use the basement of Snow Hall.  The floor was 36 feet wide and 84 feet long, and the ceiling was 11 feet from the ground.  Basketball was popular in athletic clubs and YMCAs, and those organizations provided most of the Jayhawks' early opponents.  

Source: 

The basket ball season just ended is one that affords considerable satisfaction to those who are interested in true athletics at the University.  For a first season, the record is one that is creditable in every way.  The credit for so excellent a showing is due to all those who interested themselves in the sport and aided it, either by participation therein or by assistance and encouragement; but more particularly it is due to Dr. Naismith, coach, and the Manager Emley and Captain Sutton of the Varsity team, who devoted their time and attention to the introduction and establishment of the game and to the care and training of the players.

A varsity team was chosen, trained, and entered against all the teams of neighboring cities with the result that ten games were played, and of these but three lost -- all on strange courts.

With regard to the work of the University team, much may be said in praise and little in criticism.  Devoid of experience, and without the inspiration of precedent, it met the seasoned teams of Kansas City, Topeka, Independence and Liberty and won seven of the ten games played and scored 190 points to its opponents 126. (Authors note:  For some reason, the first game of the season, against the Kansas City YMCA, which KU lost 5-16, was not taken into account in this article).  Unquestionably, this record would have been better had circumstances been favorable.  The two games lost at Independence were played upon a court of the winning team, and at a time when the KU team had practically disbanded owing to the destruction of the rink by fire and the consequent loss of costumes, apparatus and courts.  No apologies, however, need to be made, the record is a good one as it stands.

The management of the team on the field was entrusted to Will Sutton, while the financial care of the same devolved upon Emley.  Each of these men performed his work well.  In his position as forward, Sutton did excellent work, making a large percentage of the goals and playing a excellent all 'round game.  Emley at center put up a uniformly good and steady game.  He rarely failed to get the gall from the throw off, and many a point was scored by K.U. on account of the careful manner in which he landed the ball in the hands of his waiting forwards.  In a dribbling game, he was always particularly effiective.  Hess usually played forward with Sutton and in this position generally managed to make things interesting for his guard.

The men playing the defensive places on the team were less constant in their positions than these at the other end of the field.  At different times, Henderson, Walter Sutton, Yahn, Avery, H. Owens, Hoyt and Russell actied as guards on the team.  All these men played well, ordinarily, but in the future, a more settled composition of the back field would be more favorable to both players and score.

It is hoped that before long, better facilities for the playing of basket ball will be provided.  A movement to build a structure something like the old rink somewhere on the campus is being considered and if sufficient assistance could be secured from the alumni, a modest gymnasium might thus be constructed that would be vastly superior to the present athletic quarters.  This would provide a place for the playing of basket ball and other indoor games, and would make participation in the regular gymnasium exercises less of a "physical torture" than many of the students now consider it.

Source: Kansas University Weekly, April 29, 1899,  p.4.