Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball
2024–25 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team
University	University of Kansas
First season	1898–99; 127 years ago
All-time record	2,393–896 (.728)
Athletic director	Travis Goff
Head coach	Bill Self (22nd season)
Conference	Big 12
Location	Lawrence, Kansas
Arena	Allen Fieldhouse (Capacity: 15,300)
Nickname	Jayhawks
Colors	Crimson and Blue
Uniforms
Home Away Alternate
Pre-tournament Helms Champions
1922, 1923
NCAA Tournament Champions
1952, 1988, 2008, 2022
NCAA Tournament Runner-up
1940, 1953, 1957, 1991, 2003, 2012
NCAA Tournament Final Four
1940, 1952, 1953, 1957, 1971, 1974, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2018*, 2022
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
1952, 1953, 1957, 1960, 1966, 1971, 1974, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018*, 2022
NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
1953, 1957, 1960, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1974, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018*, 2022
NCAA Tournament Round of 32
1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018*, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
NCAA Tournament Appearances
1940, 1942, 1952, 1953, 1957, 1960, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018*, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Conference Tournament Champions
1981, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018*, 2022
Conference Regular Season Champions
1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1915, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1960, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018*, 2020, 2022, 2023
Conference Division Season Champions
1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915
*Vacated by NCAA

The Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team is the college basketball team for the University of Kansas. They play in the top division of college basketball, NCAA Division I, and are part of the Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks are known as one of the best college basketball teams in the country. They have won six national championships (four NCAA Tournament titles and two older Helms titles). They have also been runners-up six times.

The Jayhawks hold the NCAA record for the most consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament, with 28 in a row. Since 1984, they have only missed the tournament twice due to rules violations. They haven't missed it because of their playing record since 1983. Kansas was also one of the first teams to play in multiple NCAA Tournaments. They have been ranked in the top 25 for a very long time, holding the record for the longest streak in AP poll history.

The first coach for the Jayhawks was James Naismith, who invented basketball! He is the only coach in Kansas history with more losses than wins. Many famous players have come from Kansas, including Wilt Chamberlain and Paul Pierce. Several former players have also become successful coaches, like Dean Smith and Bill Self.

In 2008, ESPN ranked Kansas as the second most famous college basketball program. Kansas holds many records, such as the most consecutive winning seasons (41) and the most conference championships (63). They also have the most First-Team All-Americans in Division I history. The team ranks second in all-time wins in Division I.

Since Allen Fieldhouse opened in 1955, the Jayhawks have had a strong home court advantage. It's often called one of the best places to play college basketball. As of 2024, the Jayhawks have won over 87% of their games there. Under coach Bill Self, they have had several long winning streaks at home. They also play some games at the nearby T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

History of the Jayhawks Basketball Team

Kansas is second in all-time wins in NCAA Division I basketball. They have won 2,357 games and lost 877. At their home arena, Allen Fieldhouse, they have an amazing record of 765 wins and only 110 losses. The Jayhawks lead the NCAA with 98 winning seasons. They are also tied for the most seasons with a record of .500 or better (101).

Kansas has had only eight head coaches since the 1800s. This is the fewest for any program that has played for so long. Yet, they have reached the Final Four with more coaches (six) than any other team. Every head coach at Kansas since the NCAA Tournament started has led the team to the Final Four. Four Kansas head coaches are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Kansas has won the most regular season conference titles in Division I history, with 62. They have also won a record 20 conference titles in the Big 12. In 2009–2010, Kansas won its 2,000th game. They were only the third school to do this at the time.

The James Naismith Years (1898–1907)

The men's basketball program started in 1898. This was after James Naismith, who invented basketball, came to the school. Naismith had written the sport's first official rules just six years before. He was hired as a chapel director and physical education teacher. He also became the head basketball coach.

The Jayhawks played their first game on February 3, 1899. They lost 5–16 to the Kansas City YMCA. A week later, on February 10, they won their first game 31–6 against the Topeka YMCA. Their first game against another college was on March 23 against Haskell. They finished their first season with 7 wins and 4 losses.

In these early years, most games were against local YMCA teams. Other common opponents were Haskell and William Jewell. Under Naismith, the team started rivalries with Kansas State and Missouri. Naismith was the only coach in the program's history to have a losing record (55 wins, 60 losses).

Naismith worked at Kansas for almost 40 years before retiring in 1937. He died in 1939. The basketball court in Allen Fieldhouse is named James Naismith Court. In 2010, Naismith's original 13 rules of basketball were bought for $4.3 million. They are now kept at the DeBruce Center on the KU campus.

The Phog Allen and William O. Hamilton Years (1907–1956)

In 1907, Kansas hired one of Naismith's former players, Phog Allen. Naismith famously told Allen, "You can't coach basketball; you just play it." Allen proved him wrong and became known as the "Father of Basketball Coaching." He taught many future Hall of Fame coaches.

Allen coached the team from 1907 to 1909. Then, William O. Hamilton coached from 1909 to 1919. Hamilton's teams won 125 games and five conference championships. Allen returned to coach again in 1919.

Allen coached KU for 39 seasons. He had a record of 590 wins and 219 losses. His teams won two national titles (awarded later by the Helms Foundation) and one NCAA Tournament championship in 1952. Many great players played for Kansas during Allen's time. These included future Hall of Fame coaches like Dean Smith and Adolph Rupp. Famous players like Clyde Lovellette also played for him. Even former US politician Bob Dole played basketball at Kansas.

In 1952, the Jayhawks won the national title. They beat St. John's 80–63 in the final game. Clyde Lovellette was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. He is still the only player to lead the nation in scoring and win a national title in the same year. Seven players from this championship team won a gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics. Allen had worked hard to get basketball added to the Olympics in 1936.

Allen had to retire in 1956 because of a university rule. He was 70 years old. Allen had recruited the legendary player Wilt Chamberlain to Kansas. However, he could not coach him because freshmen were not allowed to play varsity basketball in 1956.

The Dick Harp Years (1956–1964)

After Allen retired, Kansas hired Dick Harp, a former KU player and assistant coach. Under Harp, the Jayhawks won 121 games and two conference titles. They also made two NCAA tournament appearances.

Wilt Chamberlain played for Harp during his college years. In his first game, Chamberlain scored 52 points and grabbed 31 rebounds. These were college records at the time. In 1957, he led the Jayhawks to the championship game against North Carolina. North Carolina used three players to guard Chamberlain. Kansas lost a very close game, 54–53, in triple overtime. This game is considered one of the greatest in NCAA history. Chamberlain continued to score over 30 points per game. He left KU early to play professionally.

The Ted Owens Years (1964–1983)

Ted Owens took over as coach in 1964. He led the team to 348 wins and six Big Eight Conference titles.

His teams went to the NCAA postseason seven times. The 1971 team won 27 games and reached the Final Four. In 1974, the team won 23 games and also reached the Final Four.

During this time, players like Jo Jo White and Darnell Valentine became All-Americans.

After 19 years, Owens was fired in 1983. This happened after the Jayhawks had two losing seasons in a row.

The Larry Brown Years (1983–1988)

In 1983, Larry Brown became the head coach at Kansas. He had coached in the NBA before this. Under Brown, Kansas won the Big Eight in 1986.

In 1988, Kansas started the season with a 12–8 record. They lost their 55-game home winning streak. But led by Danny Manning, KU finished the season 21–11. They entered the NCAA tournament as a #6 seed. They gained momentum by beating lower-seeded teams. The Jayhawks then faced the three teams that had beaten them at home that season. They defeated Kansas State, then Duke, and finally Oklahoma in the championship game. Kansas won 83–79. The 1988 team was nicknamed "Danny and the Miracles" because they won the championship despite having 11 losses.

Brown's teams made five NCAA Tournament appearances. They reached the Final Four twice and won the national championship once. Brown left Kansas for the NBA. After he left, the NCAA placed sanctions on Kansas for some recruiting rule violations that happened during his time.

The Roy Williams Years (1988–2003)

After Brown left, Kansas hired Roy Williams, who was an assistant coach at North Carolina.

From 1988 to 2003, Williams led the Jayhawks to 418 wins and 101 losses. His teams won an average of 27.8 games per season. All of Williams's teams made the NCAA tournament, except for his first season when the team was on probation. From 1990 to 1999, Kansas had the most wins and best winning percentage of any team in college basketball. From 1994 to 1998, the Jayhawks won 62 home games in a row at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas won nine regular-season conference championships under Williams. In the Big 12 Conference, his teams won the regular-season title four times. They also won the postseason tournament three times. In 2001–02, KU was the only team to go undefeated in Big 12 play (16–0).

Williams's teams had great success in the NCAA Tournament. They reached four Final Fours. They played in the national championship game in 1991 and 2003, but lost both times. The 1996–97 team was considered one of the best ever. It had future NBA players like Paul Pierce. However, they were upset in the Sweet Sixteen by Arizona.

After losing the national championship in 2003, Williams left Kansas. He went to coach at his old school, North Carolina.

The Bill Self Years (2003–present)

Bill Self became the new head coach for the 2003–04 season. In his first year, Self led Kansas to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.

The 2004–05 team started strong but then struggled. They lost to Bucknell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The 2005–06 team was young. They started 10–6 but then won 15 of their last 17 games. They won the Big 12 Tournament. However, they lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Bradley.

In the 2006–07 season, Self led Kansas to the Big 12 regular-season championship. They were ranked #2 in the nation. Kansas earned a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Their run ended in the Elite Eight with a loss to UCLA.

In the 2007–08 season, Self's team started 20–0. They won the Big 12 regular-season title and the Big 12 tournament. They received a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. On March 30, 2008, Kansas won a close Elite Eight game against Davidson. The Jayhawks then played North Carolina, coached by former KU coach Roy Williams, in the semifinals. Kansas started with a huge lead and won 84–66. On April 7, 2008, the Jayhawks beat Memphis to win the national title. With seconds left, Mario Chalmers made a three-pointer to force overtime. This shot is known as "Mario's Miracle." Kansas won 75–68 in overtime. They finished the season with a school-record 37 wins.

In the 2008–09 season, Kansas lost many top players. But they still earned their 20th straight NCAA tournament bid. They won the conference regular season title. Their home winning streak reached 41 games. Their season ended in the Sweet 16 with a loss to Michigan State. Self was named National Coach of the Year.

In the 2009–10 season, Kansas was the #1 ranked team before the season started. They finished the regular season with a 29–2 record. They extended their home winning streak to 59 games. Kansas passed 2,000 all-time wins, becoming only the third school to do so. They won the Big 12 tournament. However, as the overall #1 seed in the NCAA tournament, they lost in the second round to Northern Iowa.

For the 2010–11 season, Kansas was again a top-ranked team. They won their 7th straight Big 12 regular-season title. Bill Self was named Big 12 Coach of the Year. They reached the Elite Eight before losing to Virginia Commonwealth University. During this season, Kansas became the second winningest basketball program in history.

In the 2011–12 season, Kansas had to rebuild. They lost many top scorers. Despite this, they won their 8th straight Big 12 title. They advanced to their 14th Final Four. They beat Ohio State in the semifinals. In the championship game, they lost to Kentucky.

Kansas won its 9th straight Big 12 title in the 2012–13 season. They also won the Big 12 tournament. They were a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. They lost in overtime to Michigan in the Sweet 16.

With star freshmen Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid, Kansas started the 2013–14 season ranked #5. They won their 10th straight Big 12 title. However, an injury to Joel Embiid hurt their defense. They lost in the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. This was their first season with ten losses since 2000.

After Wiggins and Embiid left for the NBA, the Jayhawks added new freshmen. They won their 11th straight Big 12 title in the 2014–15 season. They lost in the Big 12 Championship game. In the NCAA Tournament, they were a #2 seed but lost early to Wichita State.

The 2015–16 team won a 12th straight Big 12 title and the Big 12 Tournament. They reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. They lost to Villanova, who went on to win the national championship.

In 2016–17, led by player of the year Frank Mason III, Kansas won a 13th straight Big 12 title. This tied UCLA's record for most consecutive conference titles. They reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament but lost to Oregon.

The 2017–18 team faced some challenges. A star freshman was sidelined due to an NCAA inquiry. Kansas won its 14th straight Big 12 title, breaking UCLA's record. They also won the Big 12 Tournament. They reached the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament, but lost to Villanova again. Later, the NCAA ruled that 15 wins from this season were vacated due to rules violations.

In July 2015, Kansas played in the World University Games in South Korea. They won the championship, earning the United States its first gold medal in men's basketball since 2005. In August 2017, the Jayhawks played exhibition games in Italy.

Before the 2019–20 season, the NCAA announced major rules violations. This put their streak of consecutive tournament appearances at risk.

The Jayhawks finished the 2019–20 regular season 28–3. They were ranked #1 in the final AP poll. They were a favorite to win the NCAA Tournament. However, the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The next season, the Jayhawks struggled early. They had a rare three-game losing streak. But they finished strong, winning seven of their last eight games. Kansas withdrew from the Big 12 tournament due to a player testing positive for COVID-19. They still qualified for the NCAA tournament, extending their record streak. They lost in the second round to USC, their worst NCAA Tournament loss ever.

On April 2, 2021, Kansas signed Bill Self to a lifetime contract. This contract adds an extra year for every year he coaches.

The 2021–22 team earned a #1 seed in the 2022 NCAA tournament. They became the winningest program in the nation. They defeated Villanova in the Final Four. Then, they beat North Carolina 72–69 in the national championship game. This was Self's second championship and the team's fourth NCAA title. In the championship game, they came back from a 16-point deficit, the largest comeback in NCAA championship history.

Conference History

Kansas has been part of several conferences over the years:

Conference	Years	Reason left
Independent	1898–1907	Joined MVIAA
Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association*	1907–1928	Conference dissolved
Big Six/Seven/Eight Conference	1929–1995	Conference dissolved
Big 12 Conference	1996–present	N/A

*While there is an active conference with the name Missouri Valley, it is officially and legally a separate entity from the MVIAA.

Kansas Basketball Achievements

Kansas ranks very high in many important college basketball categories:

Category	Rank	Stat
All-Time Wins	2nd	2,370
All-Time Win %	3rd	.729
Regular Season Conference championships	1st	63
Consecutive Reg. season Conf. Championships	T-1st	13
NCAA Tournament Titles	7th	4
NCAA Title Game Appearances	5th	10
NCAA Final Four Appearances	5th	15
NCAA Elite Eight Appearances	3rd	24
NCAA Sweet 16 Appearances	4th	31
NCAA Tournament Appearances	3rd	50
Consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances	1st	28
NCAA Tournament No. 1 Seeds	2nd	16
NCAA Tournament Games played	3rd	165
NCAA Tournament Wins	4th	116
NCAA Tournament Win %	T-6th	.662
Weeks Ranked as AP No. 1	5th	65
Weeks Ranked as AP No. 2	2nd	102
Weeks Ranked in AP Top 5	4th	359
Weeks Ranked in AP Top 10	4th	558
Weeks Ranked in AP Poll	4th	764
Appearances in Final AP Poll	4th	44
Consecutive Weeks Ranked in AP Poll	1st	231
Seasons with 35 Wins or More	3rd	4
Seasons with 30 Wins or More	T–2nd	14
Seasons with 25 Wins or More	3rd	34
Seasons with 20 Wins or More	5th	49
Seasons with a Winning Record	1st	99
Seasons with a Non-Losing Record	1st	102
Consecutive seasons with 30 Wins	1st	4
Consecutive seasons with 25 Wins	1st	13
Consecutive seasons with 20 Wins	1st	27
Consensus First Team All-American Selections	1st	30
Consensus First Team All-American Players	1st	23
Academic All-American Selections	2nd	15
Academic All-American Players	1st	11

Ranks and records listed in table do not include wins, championships, and appearances vacated by the NCAA in 2023.
Current Official NCAA Records and Awards data.

Memorable Games

• First Game (1899): On February 3, 1899, the Jayhawks played their first game. They lost 5–16 to the Kansas City YMCA.
• First Win (1899): On February 10, 1899, Kansas got its first victory. They beat the Topeka YMCA 31–6.
• Starting the Sunflower Showdown (1907): On January 25, 1907, Kansas played Kansas State for the first time. This started their rivalry, the Sunflower Showdown. Kansas won 54–49.
• Starting the Border War (1907): The rivalry with Missouri began on March 11, 1907. Kansas lost that game 31–34. This rivalry became known as the Border War.
• First NCAA Tournament Game (1940): On March 22, 1940, Kansas played its first NCAA Tournament game. They beat Rice 50–44. They reached the championship game but lost to Indiana.
• First NCAA Championship (1952): On March 26, 1952, the Jayhawks won their first NCAA Tournament National Championship. They defeated St. John's 80–63.
• First Game at Allen Fieldhouse (1955): On March 1, 1955, Kansas played its first game at Allen Fieldhouse. They beat rival Kansas State 77–67.
• Triple Overtime Thriller (1957): In the 1957 NCAA title game, Wilt Chamberlain and Kansas lost to North Carolina 54–53 in triple overtime. Many call it the greatest NCAA Championship game ever.
• "Danny and the Miracles" Win (1988): On April 4, 1988, Kansas won its second NCAA Men's Basketball championship. They beat favored Oklahoma 83–79. Led by Danny Manning, the team was nicknamed "The Miracles."
• Record-Setting Win (1989): On December 9, 1989, #2 Kansas beat Kentucky 150–95. This set a school record for most points in a game.
• Nick Collison's Big Game (2003): On January 27, 2003, Kansas beat Texas 90–87. Nick Collison had 24 points and 23 rebounds.
• "Mario's Miracle" (2008): On April 7, 2008, Kansas won its third NCAA Tournament Championship. They beat Memphis 75–68 in overtime. Mario Chalmers hit a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to force overtime.
• Longest Home Winning Streak (2011): On January 15, 2011, Kansas won its 69th consecutive home game. This was the longest streak in NCAA Division I since 1992.
• Border War Comeback (2012): On February 25, 2012, Kansas came back from 19 points down to beat rival Missouri 87–86 in overtime. The arena was incredibly loud during this game.
• Triple Overtime Thriller (2016): On January 4, 2016, #1 Kansas beat #2 Oklahoma 109–106 in three overtimes. This was the first time the top two teams in the Big 12 played each other.
• Record-Breaking Big 12 Title (2016): On February 27, 2016, the Jayhawks won their 12th straight Big 12 regular season championship.
• Elite Eight Overtime Win (2018): On March 25, 2018, Kansas beat Duke 85–81 in overtime in the Elite Eight. This sent them to the Final Four. However, this win was later vacated by the NCAA.
• Largest Championship Comeback (2022): When Kansas defeated North Carolina in the 2022 National Championship game, they came back from being down 16 points. This was the largest comeback in championship game history.

Coaches of the Jayhawks

Kansas has had only eight head coaches in over 120 years. Four of their coaches are in the Hall of Fame. Phog Allen coached the longest (39 seasons). Larry Brown coached the shortest (5 seasons). Current coach Bill Self has the most wins in team history (591).

Every coach since the NCAA Tournament began in 1939 has led Kansas to the Final Four. Phog Allen, Larry Brown, and Bill Self have all won NCAA Championships. Phog Allen also won two older Helms National Championships. Bill Self is the only coach to win multiple NCAA Tournament National Championships.

Kansas has also had interim coaches who filled in temporarily. Their wins are usually counted in the main coach's record.

Years	Duration of head coaching career at Kansas
Record	Number of career games won-lost at Kansas
Percent	Percentage of games won at Kansas
	Inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach

Number	Years	Coach	Record	Percent	Reason left	Notes
1	1898–1907	James Naismith†	55–60	.478	Retired	• Inventor of Basketball • Only Coach in Kansas Basketball history with a losing record
2	1907–1909, 1919–1956	Phog Allen	590–219	.729	Retired*	• Known as the "Father Of Basketball Coaching" • Helped create the NABC and modern NCAA tournament • 1 NCAA Championship, 2 Helms Championships • 24 Conference regular season Championships
3	1909–1919	W. O. Hamilton	125–59	.679	Resigned	• 5 Conference regular season Championships
4	1956–1964	Dick Harp	121–82	.596	Resigned	• 1 National Championship game appearance • 1 Final Four • 2 Conference regular season Championships
5	1964–1983	Ted Owens	348–182	.657	Fired	• 2 Final Fours • 6 Conference regular season Championships
6	1983–1988	Larry Brown	135–44	.754	Accepted position with the San Antonio Spurs	• 1 NCAA Championship • 2 Final Fours • 1 Conference regular season Championship
7	1988–2003	Roy Williams	418–101	.805	Accepted position at North Carolina	• 2 National Championship game appearances • 4 Final Fours • 9 Conference regular season Championships
8	2003–present	Bill Self	565–132‡	.806‡	Still active	• 2 NCAA Championships • 3 National Championship game appearances • 3 Final Fours‡ • 16 Conference regular season Championships‡ • 8 Conference tournament Championships‡

*Allen was forced to retire prior to the 1956–57 season due to a University of Kansas policy that required university employees to retire at the age of 70; he turned 70 in November of 1955.
†Naismith is inducted in the Hall of Fame as the inventor of the game, not as a coach.
‡Does not include 15 wins, 1 regular season Conference Championship, 1 Conference Tournament Championship, and 1 Final Four appearance vacated by the NCAA.

Updated March 20, 2023

Basketball Facilities

Kansas has had three main home arenas. They also sometimes play regular season games at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

Early Playing Spots (1898–1907)

Before 1907, the Jayhawks played in different places. This included the basement of the old Snow Hall, which had a very low ceiling. They also played at the local YMCA's skating rink.

Robinson Gymnasium (1907–1927)

Robinson Gym was the first building on campus just for sports. It had a 2,500-seat area for basketball. The building was torn down in 1967.

Hoch Auditorium (1927–1955)

Hoch Auditorium was a 3,500-seat arena in Lawrence, Kansas. It opened in 1927. It was the home of the Jayhawks until Allen Fieldhouse opened in 1955.

People sometimes called Hoch "Horrible Hoch" or "The House of Horrors." This was because it was hard for visiting teams to play there. The curved walls behind the baskets made it seem like the backboards were moving. This made opponents miss free throws.

In 1991, lightning struck Hoch Auditorium. The main part of the building was destroyed. Only the front and lobby were saved. The rebuilt part is now called Budig Hall.

Allen Fieldhouse (1955–present)

Allen Fieldhouse opened on March 1, 1955. The Jayhawks beat Kansas State 77–67 in the first game there.

Since 1994, the Jayhawks have lost only 14 regular season games at Allen Fieldhouse. This is an amazing home record. Since 2007, they have won 96.2% of their games there.

Allen Fieldhouse is also famous for how loud it gets. In 2010, ESPN The Magazine called it the loudest college basketball arena. It can reach over 120 decibels. In 2017, fans broke a Guinness World Record for the loudest crowd roar at an indoor sporting event, reaching 130.4 decibels.

Inside the DeBruce Center at the Fieldhouse, you can see Dr. Naismith's Original 13 Rules Of Basketball. This important document was bought by the Booth family in 2010.

Kansas won 69 games in a row at the Fieldhouse between 2007 and 2011. This was the longest streak in NCAA Division I since 1992.

Home Game Traditions

Before every home game, after the national anthem, fans sing the Kansas alma mater, "Crimson and the Blue." Students link arms and sway. The song ends with the famous Rock Chalk Chant.

After the game, the band plays the Kansas state song, "Home on the Range." The crowd stands for it.

When the opposing team is introduced, students wave copies of the student newspaper, University Daily Kansan. They pretend to read it to show they don't care about the other team. When the Jayhawks are introduced, students rip up their newspapers and throw the pieces in the air like confetti.

If an opposing player fouls out, fans "wave the wheat." They wave their arms back and forth as a sarcastic goodbye. This is done to the tune of an old cereal commercial jingle. The same waving motion happens after a Jayhawk victory.

If Kansas is winning easily near the end of a game, the crowd starts a slow version of the Rock Chalk Chant. This is a special tradition at Allen Fieldhouse. You can also hear this chant at other games, like NCAA tournament games.

Fans also line up early for "Late Night In The Phog." This is the first practice of the season that is open to the public. It includes fun skits with former players.

Rivalries

Kansas State

The Jayhawks' longest rivalry is with cross-state rival Kansas State. This is called the Sunflower Showdown. Kansas leads the series 203–94. Kansas has won most of the games since 1984. The two schools have played every year since 1912.

Missouri

The Jayhawks' main rival for many years has been Missouri. This rivalry is known as the Border War. They played every year until Missouri left the Big 12 conference. The rivalry started again in the 2021–22 season. Kansas won the first game of the renewed rivalry 102–65. Kansas leads the all-time series 174–94.

Wichita State

While not an official rivalry, Kansas has played cross-state opponent Wichita State 16 times. Kansas leads the series 13–3. Wichita State has never won two games in a row against Kansas.

National Championships

The Jayhawks have won six national championships. Two were awarded later by the Helms Athletic Foundation (1922, 1923). Four are NCAA Tournament National Championships (1952, 1988, 2008, 2022). Kansas proudly displays banners for all six in Allen Fieldhouse.

1952 NCAA Tournament National Championship

The 1951–52 team won Kansas's first NCAA Tournament Championship. They were coached by Phog Allen and finished with a 28–3 record.

1952 NCAA Tournament Results

Round	Opponent	Score
First Round	TCU	68–64
Second Round	St. Louis	74–55
Final Four	Santa Clara	74–55
Championship	St. John's	80–63

1988 NCAA Tournament National Championship

The 1987–88 team won Kansas's second NCAA Tournament championship. They were coached by Larry Brown. They finished 27–11, which is the lowest winning percentage for any national champion. This team was the only Kansas championship team not to win its regular season or conference tournament title.

1988 NCAA Tournament Results

Round	Opponent	Score
First Round	No. 11 Xavier	85–72
Second Round	No. 14 Murray State	61–58
Sweet Sixteen	No. 7 Vanderbilt	77–64
Elite Eight	No. 4 Kansas State	71–58
Final Four	No. 2 Duke	66–59
Championship	No. 1 Oklahoma	83–79

2008 NCAA Tournament National Championship

The 2007–08 team won Kansas's third NCAA Tournament Championship. They were coached by Bill Self. They finished with a school-record 37 wins and 3 losses.

2008 NCAA Tournament Results

Round	Opponent	Score
First Round	No. 16 Portland State	85–61
Second Round	No. 8 UNLV	75–56
Sweet Sixteen	No. 12 Villanova	72–57
Elite Eight	No. 10 Davidson	59–57
Final Four	No. 1 North Carolina	84–66
Championship	No. 1 Memphis	75–68OT

2022 NCAA Tournament National Championship

The 2021–22 team won Kansas's fourth NCAA Tournament Championship. This is their most recent title. They were coached by Bill Self and finished with a 34–6 record.

2022 NCAA Tournament Results

Round	Opponent	Score
First Round	No. 16 Texas Southern	83–56
Second Round	No. 9 Creighton	79–72
Sweet Sixteen	Providence	66–61
Elite Eight	Miami (FL)	76–50
Final Four	Villanova	81–65
Championship	North Carolina	72–69

Notable Jayhawks Players

All-Time Leaders

Here are some of the top players in Kansas history for scoring, rebounds, and assists.

Scoring

Rank	Player	Points	Per game	Years
1	Danny Manning	2,951	20.1	1985–88
2	Nick Collison	2,097	14.8	2000–03
3	Raef LaFrentz	2,066	15.8	1995–98
4	Clyde Lovellette	1,979	24.7	1950–52
5	Sherron Collins	1,888	13.2	2007–10

Rebounds

Rank	Player	Rebounds	Per game	Years
1	Danny Manning	1,187	8.1	1985–88
2	Raef LaFrentz	1,186	9.1	1995–98
3	Nick Collison	1,143	8.0	2000–03
4	Bill Bridges	1,081	13.9	1959–61
5	Eric Chenowith	933	6.7	1998–2001

Assists

Rank	Player	Assists	Per game	Years
1	Aaron Miles	954	6.9	2002–05
2	Jacque Vaughn	804	6.4	1994–97
3	Dajuan Harris Jr.	700	4.9	2020–present
4	Cedric Hunter	684	5.8	1984–87
5	Kirk Hinrich	668	4.7	2000–03

All-Americans

Kansas leads all NCAA teams with 32 players chosen as Consensus First Team All-Americans.

‡ indicates player has made at least 2000 points and 1000 rebounds in his college career.

Retired Jerseys

Kansas honors its great players by retiring their jerseys, not their numbers. Thirty-three players have had their jerseys retired. Eight of these players were on one of KU's championship teams. Former announcer Max Falkenstien also has his jersey (number 60) retired, representing his 60 years as the Jayhawks' radio announcer.

Kansas Jayhawks retired jerseys
No.	Player	Position	Career
0	Drew Gooden	F	2000–02
	Thomas Robinson	F	2009–12
4	Nick Collison	F	2000–03
	Sherron Collins 5	G	2006–10
5	Fred Pralle	G	1936–38
	Howard Engleman	F	1939–41
7	Tusten Ackerman 2	C	1923–25
8	Charlie T. Black 1 2	G	1922–24
10	Charles B. Black	F	1942–43, 1946–47
	Kirk Hinrich	G	2000–03
11	Jacque Vaughn	G	1994–97
12	Paul Endacott 1 2	G	1921–23
13	Wilt Chamberlain	C	1957–58
	Walt Wesley	C	1964–66
14	Darnell Valentine	G	1978–81
15	Ray Evans	G	1942–43, 1946–47
	Jo Jo White	G	1966–69
	Bud Stallworth	F	1970–72
	Mario Chalmers 5	G	2006–08
16	Clyde Lovellette 3	C	1950–52
22	Marcus Morris	F	2008–11
23	B.H. Born 3	C	1952–54
	Wayne Simien	F	2002–05
25	Danny Manning 4	F	1985–88
	Brandon Rush 5	F	2005–08
26	Gale Gordon	G	1925–27
32	Bill Bridges	F	1959–61
33	Bill "Skinny" Johnson	C	1930–33
34	Paul Pierce	F	1995–98
36	Al Peterson	C	1925–27
40	Dave Robisch	F	1969–71
45	Raef LaFrentz	F	1994–98
	Cole Aldrich 5	C	2007–2010
60	Max Falkenstien	Announcer	1945–2006

Jayhawks in the Hall of Fame

Twenty people connected to Kansas men's basketball are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This includes players, coaches, and others.

Players in the Hall of Fame

• Wilt Chamberlain
• Paul Endacott
• Bill Johnson
• Allen Kelley (for being on the 1960 Olympic gold medal team)
• Clyde Lovellette
• Paul Pierce
• Jo Jo White

Kansas Coaches in the Hall of Fame

• Phog Allen (also a former player)
• Larry Brown
• Roy Williams
• Bill Self (also a former assistant coach)

Former Players Who Became Hall of Fame Coaches Elsewhere

• Adolph Rupp (coached at Kentucky)
• Dean Smith (coached at North Carolina)
• Ralph Miller (coached at Wichita State, Iowa, and Oregon State)
• Dutch Lonborg (coached at McPherson, Washburn, and Northwestern)

Other Hall of Fame Members

• James Naismith (inventor of basketball, former KU coach)
• John Calipari (former KU assistant coach, Hall of Fame college coach)
• Gregg Popovich (former KU assistant coach, Hall of Fame NBA coach)

Jayhawks in the Olympics

Thirteen Jayhawks have played or coached in the Olympic Games. Only Sasha Kaun played for a country other than the United States (Russia in 2012).

Year	Player	Medal
1952	Phog Allen (assistant coach)
1952	Charlie Hoag
1952	Bill Hougland
1952	John Keller
1952	Dean Kelley
1952	Bob Kenney
1952	Bill Lienhard
1952	Clyde Lovellette
1956	Bill Hougland
1960	Allen Kelley
1968	Jo Jo White
1976	Dean Smith (head coach)
1988	Danny Manning
2012	Sasha Kaun (Russia)
2024	Joel Embiid

Jayhawks in the NBA

Many former Jayhawks have played or coached in the NBA.

Current NBA Players

• Ochai Agbaji – Toronto Raptors
• Udoka Azubuike – Phoenix Suns
• Christian Braun – Denver Nuggets
• Gradey Dick – Toronto Raptors
• Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers
• Devonte' Graham – San Antonio Spurs
• Quentin Grimes – Dallas Mavericks
• Marcus Morris – San Antonio Spurs
• Markieff Morris – Dallas Mavericks
• Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk – Boston Celtics
• Kelly Oubre Jr. – Philadelphia 76ers
• Jalen Wilson – Brooklyn Nets
• Andrew Wiggins – Golden State Warriors

NBA Award Winners

Eleven times, a Jayhawk has won a major NBA award. Six different Jayhawks have won awards. Wilt Chamberlain won six awards, including four MVP Awards. Joel Embiid is the most recent Jayhawk to win MVP (2022–23).

Season	Player	Team	Award
1959–60	Wilt Chamberlain	Philadelphia Warriors	MVP Rookie of the Year
1965–66	Wilt Chamberlain	Philadelphia 76ers	MVP
1966–67	Wilt Chamberlain	Philadelphia 76ers	MVP
1967–68	Wilt Chamberlain	Philadelphia 76ers	MVP
1971–72	Wilt Chamberlain	Los Angeles Lakers	NBA Finals MVP
1975–76	Jo Jo White	Boston Celtics	NBA Finals MVP
1997–98	Danny Manning	Phoenix Suns	Sixth Man of the Year
2007–08	Paul Pierce	Boston Celtics	NBA Finals MVP
2014–15	Andrew Wiggins	Minnesota Timberwolves	Rookie of the Year
2022–23	Joel Embiid	Philadelphia 76ers	MVP

Images for kids

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  Snow Hall

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  Robinson Gymnasium

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  The remaining facade of what was Hoch Auditorium