Kansas and North Carolina: A Rivalry in Basketball

The basketball rivalry between Kansas and North Carolina is one of the most storied in the sport. The two programs have been among the best in the country for decades, and the games between them are always hotly contested.

The history of the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry

Kansas and North Carolina are two of the most successful college basketball programs in history. They have combined for 11 National Championships and have produced some of the game’s greatest players

The rivalry between the two schools dates back to the early days of college basketball The first meeting between Kansas and North Carolina was in 1922, when the Jayhawks defeated the Tar Heels 21-13.

Since then, the two teams have met a total of 32 times, with Kansas holding a 18-14 lead in the series. The Jayhawks have won the last four meetings, including a 71- 65 victory in the 2018 NCAA tournament

Despite their success on the court, Kansas and North Carolina have had very different approaches to basketball. The Jayhawks are known for their defense-oriented style of play, while the Tar Heels favor a more up-tempo offense.

The two teams will meet again in 2020 as part of the ACC/Big 12 Challenge.

The biggest moments in the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry

One of the fiercest rivalries in all of College Basketball the Kansas Jayhawks and North Carolina Tar Heels have met a total of 27 times on the hardwood, with UNC holding a slight 14-13 advantage in the all-time series.

The two storied programs have played each other in some of the biggest moments in NCAA Tournament history, including three Elite Eight matchups and, most recently, a thrilling battle in the 2016 NCAA tournament’s round of 32.

Here are some of the biggest moments in the Kansas-UNC Basketball rivalry:

1) 1971 NCAA tournament – Kansas 103, North Carolina 96 (OT)

In what is widely considered one of the greatest games in College Basketball history, Kansas and North Carolina met in an epic battle in the 1971 Elite Eight. The Jayhawks emerged victorious in triple overtime, 103-96, thanks to a stellar performance from Future Hall of Famer Jo Jo White, who finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.

2) 1993 NCAA tournament – North Carolina 77, Kansas 71 (OT)

In another thriller between these two rivals, North Carolina outlasted Kansas in overtime to advance to the Final Four. The Tar Heels were sparked by freshman forward Jerry Stackhouse who had 19 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
stack house also had some help from senior point guard Derrick Phelps, who had 17 points and eight assists. This was one of four meetings between these two teams during Phelps’ career at UNC.

Phelps would go on to have a very successful NBA career, playing for six different teams over 12 seasons.

3) 2005 NCAA tournament – North Carolina 70, Kansas 63 In what was one of the most lopsided games in the rivalry’s history, North Carolina cruised to a 70-63 victory over Kansas in the 2005 Elite Eight. The Tar Heels were led by sophomore point guard Raymond Felton , who had 17 points and eight assists en route to a spot in the Final Four. Felton would go on to have a very successful NBA Career as well , playing for nine different teams over 11 seasons .

The players who have shaped the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry

Since the 1950s, the Kansas Jayhawks and the North Carolina Tar Heels have been two of the most successful basketball programs in the country. In that time, they have met 31 times on the court, with Kansas holding a slight lead in the series at 16-15.

While there have been many Great players and teams on both sides over the years, there are a few that have shaped this rivalry more than others. Here are some of the most notable players and teams from Kansas and North Carolina

Kansas:
--Wilt Chamberlain Arguably the greatest player in Basketball History Chamberlain led Kansas to a National Championship in 1957. He went on to have a stellar NBA career becoming one of only six players to be named MVP of the league three times.
-Danny Manning: One of the best players in Kansas history, Manning led the Jayhawks to a National Championship in 1988. He was named tournament MVP after averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds per game Manning went on to have a successful NBA career playing for 15 seasons.
--Joel Embiid One of the best players in college basketball today, Embiid has led Kansas to four straight Big 12 titles. He is widely expected to be one of the Top Picks in this year’s NBA draft

North Carolina:
--Michael Jordan The greatest player of all time, Jordan helped lead North Carolina to a National Championship in 1982. He went on to have an iconic NBA career winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls
--James Worthy One of North Carolina’s all-time greats, Worthy was named tournament MVP after leading the Tar Heels to a National Championship in 1982. He went on to have a successful NBA career winning three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.
-Tyler Hansbrough: One of North Carolina’s most popular players ever, Hansbrough helped lead the Tar Heels to four straight ACC titles from 2005 to 2009.

The coaches who have shaped the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry

In the beginning, there was Phog Allen. He created the rivalry when he left Kansas to become North Carolina’s first head basketball coach in 1917.

For nearly 50 years, the Jayhawks and the Tar Heels met only sporadically on the court. But in the 1960s, things changed. Dean Smith who took over as North Carolina’s Head Coach in 1961, made a point of scheduling Kansas every year. And in 1964, he hired an Assistant Coach named Roy Williams

Williams had grown up in North Carolina but he was a Jayhawk through and through. He’d been born in Topeka, Kansas, and he’d played his college basketball at Kansas under Phog Allen’s successor, Glen Ed wards. Williams had even been offered the job of head coach at Kansas in 1974, but he’d turned it down.

In 1986, though, Williams finally made his way back to Lawrence, Kansas, when he was hired as the Jayhawks’ Head Coach And so began one of the greatest rivalries in college basketball

The fans who have made the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry what it is today

While the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry might not be as old as some of the other big rivalries in college basketball it is definitely one of the most intense.

The fans who have made the Kansas-North Carolina Basketball Rivalry what it is today are some of the most passionate in all of college basketball When these two teams meet, the atmosphere is electric and the fans are truly invested in the outcome of the game.

There are few things that can match the excitement of a Kansas-North Carolina game, and the fans who make up this rivalry are a big part of why that is.

The media coverage of the Kansas-North Carolina Basketball rivalry

In recent years the media coverage of the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry has been intense. Every year, when the two teams meet in the NCAA Tournament it is one of the most anticipated games of the season. This year is no different, as the two teams are once again set to face off in the tournament.

The rivalry between Kansas and North Carolina is one of the most storied in college basketball history. It dates back to 1957, when North Carolina beat Kansas in the NCAA championship game. Since then, the two teams have met a total of 24 times, with North Carolina holding a slight lead in the all-time series (13-11).

Over the years, there have been some truly great games between Kansas and North Carolina In 1982, North Carolina beat Kansas in a thrilling overtime game that is considered one of the greatest college basketball games ever played. In 1991, Kansas exacted revenge on North Carolina with a come-from-behind victory in the NCAA Championship game And in 2005, North Carolina again beat Kansas in an overtime thriller.

This year’s meeting will be just the latest chapter in this great rivalry. It is sure to be a great game and one that will be talked about for years to come.

The impact of the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry on the college game

The impact of the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry on the college game is well documented. The two schools have met in the NCAA Tournament a total of 18 times, with Kansas winning 11 of those matchups. The most recent meeting came in the 2016 Elite Eight, when North Carolina narrowly escaped with a 79-73 victory.

While the majority of these meetings have been competitive and hard-fought, there is no doubt that Kansas has had the upper hand in recent years Since Roy Williams took over as Head coach of North Carolina in 2003, the Tar Heels have only beaten Kansas twice in 14 tries.

The two programs are not only distinguished by their on-court success, but also by their tradition and history. Kansas is one of the most successful programs in College Basketball history, with five national championships and 28 conference titles to its name. North Carolina meanwhile, can boast six national championships and 31 conference titles.

The rivalry between Kansas and North Carolina is one of the most storied and heated in College Basketball It has produced some unforgettable moments and provided fans with many thrilling games over the years.

The future of the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry

The future of the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry is unclear. The two schools have not played each other since 2012, and there is no clear indication that they will play each other in the near future. The rivalry was one of the most heated in college basketball and it produced some of the most memorable games in recent history. However, with both programs in a bit of a down period, it remains to be seen if the rivalry will be renewed.

10 things you didn’t know about the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry

1. The two teams have met a total of four times, with North Carolina winning three of those matchups.
2. The most recent meeting between the two teams was in the 2016 NCAA tournament when Kansas won 79-73.
3. Kansas and North Carolina are two of the winningest programs in college basketball history.
4. The two programs have produced a number of NBA players including Michael Jordan Vince Carter and James Worthy
5. The rivalry is often considered to be one of the best in college basketball
6. The two teams have met in the NCAA Tournament three times, with Kansas winning twice.
7. In their first meeting in 1957, North Carolina won handily by a score of 80-54.
8. In their second meeting in 1971, North Carolina again prevailed, this time by a score of 68-63.
9. The third meeting between the two teams was in the 1993 NCAA Tournament when Kansas won 78-68 en route to the program’s fifth National Championship
10. The rivalry is often referenced in popular culture, including in the film “He Got Game” where Denzel Washington’s character compares his hatred for Duke to his love for North Carolina

Why the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry is the best in college basketball

The Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry is the best in college basketball for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the two teams are two of the most successful programs in the history of the sport. Kansas has won five national championships, while North Carolina has won six. The two programs have also produced some of the greatest players in college basketball history, including Michael Jordan Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter

Secondly, the two schools are located in adjacent states, which makes for a natural rivalry. The fans of both teams are very passionate about their team and the rivalry, and there is a great deal of mutual respect between the two fan bases.

Finally, the two teams have met each other in some unforgettable games over the years. In 1998, they met in the NCAA Championship game with North Carolina winning 77-74 in overtime. In 2005, they met again in the NCAA tournament with Kansas winning 75-73 on a last-second shot by guard Mario Chalmers These are just two examples of why the Kansas-North Carolina basketball rivalry is the best in college basketball