The Kansas Jayhawks are set to host the UConn Huskies in a highly anticipated college basketball matchup on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse. The game will feature the No. 21 ranked Jayhawks against the No. 5 ranked Huskies, promising an exciting clash between two storied programs.
This encounter marks the third meeting between these teams since March 2016 and the fifth overall in a series that dates back to January 1995. Their initial matchup occurred during a double-header at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, where the UConn women’s team triumphed under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma, while the Kansas men’s team, then ranked No. 7, avenged the women’s loss with an impressive 88-59 victory over UConn’s No. 2 ranked squad.
A Series of Historic Encounters
Following that first clash, Kansas and UConn faced off again in January 1997, when the No. 1 ranked Jayhawks defeated the Huskies 73-65 in Hartford, thanks to standout performances by future Kansas legends Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz. The teams did not meet again until March 2016, when Kansas emerged victorious in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, winning 73-61 and advancing to the Sweet 16.
The last encounter took place in December 2023, where Kansas again asserted its dominance, defeating UConn 69-65. The Jayhawks’ guard Kevin McCullar Jr. played a pivotal role in that victory, scoring 21 points.
Current Season Performance
As the teams prepare to meet again, Kansas will look to extend its winning streak against UConn to five games. The Jayhawks enter this matchup with a record of 6-2, having faced setbacks against North Carolina and Duke. In the absence of Darryn Peterson, sophomore center Flory Bidunga has stepped up as the leading scorer, averaging 15.8 points per game, closely followed by senior guard Tre White, who contributes 14.4 points per game.
On the other side, UConn boasts a 6-1 record, with notable victories over No. 7 BYU and No. 13 Illinois. Their only loss came against No. 4 Arizona nearly two weeks ago. The Huskies feature a strong lineup, highlighted by senior center Tarris Reed Jr. averaging 15.5 points per game, junior guard Solo Ball at 14.3 points, senior preseason All-American forward Alex Karaban contributing 14.0 points, and junior Silas Demary Jr. adding 12.0 points per game.
The highly anticipated tip-off is scheduled for 20:00 CT, and fans can catch the action live on ESPN. With both teams in strong form, this matchup promises to be a thrilling encounter in the world of college basketball.
