Kansas’ history in No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups

Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse will feature the 40th matchup between the No.1 and No. 2 college basketball teams in the Associated Press poll. Kansas is first and Oklahoma second in Monday’s poll. It is a gift from the college basketball gods, a rare showdown that, in the last 70 years, has come around less than once per season.

The first No. 1 vs. No. 2 tilt came on March 26, 1949, when No. 1 Kentucky handled No. 2 Oklahoma State 46-36 in Seattle. The last time No. 1 met No. 2 came two seasons ago at the Champions Classic, when No. 2 Michigan State edged No. 1 Kentucky 78-74 in Chicago.

Kansas has its own history in No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups — and it’s not pretty. The Jayhawks are 0-4 in games featuring the two top-ranked teams in the country. Here is a look at those four games:

1. March 23, 1957 | No. 1 North Carolina 54, No. 2 Kansas 53 | Kansas City

Wilt Chamberlain had 23 points and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, but North Carolina survived in three overtimes, winning the NCAA title at Municipal Auditorium. The Tar Heels finished 32-0.

2. March 29, 1986 | No. 1 Duke 71, No. 2 Kansas 67 | Dallas

The Blue Devils featured Johnny Dawkins, Tommy Amaker, Danny Ferry and Jay Bilas. The Jayhawks were led by sophomore big man Danny Manning and Ron Kellogg. In a national semifinal at Reunion Arena, Dawkins finished with 24 points, Manning had four points before fouling out, and the Blue Devils advanced to the NCAA title game.

3. Feb. 13, 1990 | No. 2 Missouri 77, No. 1 Kansas 71 | Lawrence

In Roy Williams’ second season, the Jayhawks ascended to the top of the polls. But Mizzou came into Allen Fieldhouse, and, behind the play of Anthony Peeler and Doug Smith, scored a rare victory on Kansas’ home floor.

4. March 10, 1990 | No. 1 Oklahoma 95, No. 2 Kansas 77 | Kansas City

One month after losing to Missouri, No. 2 Kansas faced No. 1 Oklahoma in the semifinals of the Big Eight Tournament. In the words of then Mizzou coach Norm Stewart, "We keep crashing into one another like a demolition derby.” This time, Oklahoma took down Kansas at Kemper Arena. The Sooners earned a No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional; Missouri earned a three-seed in the Southeast Regional; and Kansas earned a No. 2 seed in the East. Shockingly, all three teams were bounced from the NCAA Tournament before the Sweet 16.

No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 12:30 PM with the headline "Kansas’ history in No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups."