The No. 21 ranked Kansas Jayhawks will host the No. 5 ranked UConn Huskies on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse, marking a significant matchup in college basketball. This game is a part of a growing rivalry between two storied programs, as it will be their third meeting since March 2016 and the fifth overall since their first encounter in January 1995.
The history between these teams began with a notable double-header at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, featuring both men’s and women’s teams from each institution. The UConn women’s team, led by Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma, claimed victory in the first game. However, the men’s team, ranked No. 7 at the time, rebounded with an emphatic 88-59 win over the No. 2 ranked Huskies, coached by Jim Calhoun.
Their next clash took place in January 1997. The Jayhawks, ranked No. 1, faced the Huskies in Hartford, securing a 73-65 victory thanks to standout performances from future Kansas legends Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz. The two teams did not meet again until March 2016, where Kansas triumphed 73-61 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16.
In December 2023, Kansas faced UConn again, winning 69-65 in Lawrence, propelled by a stellar 21-point performance from guard Kevin McCullar Jr.. This victory extended Kansas’s winning streak against UConn to four games, setting the stage for Tuesday’s highly anticipated contest.
UConn enters this game with a record of 6-1, having secured victories over No. 7 BYU and No. 13 Illinois. Their only loss came against No. 4 Arizona nearly two weeks ago. The Huskies are buoyed by a strong group of upperclassmen, including senior center Tarris Reed Jr. averaging 15.5 points per game, junior guard Solo Ball at 14.3 points, senior forward Alex Karaban at 14.0 points, and junior Silas Demary Jr. contributing 12.0 points per game.
Meanwhile, the Jayhawks hold a record of 6-2, with losses to North Carolina and Duke earlier this season. In the absence of Darryn Peterson, sophomore center Flory Bidunga has stepped up, averaging 15.8 points per game, closely followed by senior guard Tre White, who averages 14.4 points.
The game is set to tip off at 20:00 CT and will be broadcast live on ESPN. As both teams vie for supremacy, the stakes are high in what promises to be an exhilarating encounter in college basketball history.
