Kansas Jayhawks Basketball

The Kansas Jayhawks of the Big 12 Conference in Division 1 NCAA basketball are one of the most successful college basketball programs of all time, ranking second in all-time wins (2370) and third in terms of win percentage (.733). The Jayhawks have qualified for the NCAA postseason March Madness tournament on 50 occasions, cracking the Final Four 16 times and bringing 4 NCAA championships (1952, 1988, 2008, 2022) home to Kansas. The very first coach of the Jayhawks was the legendary James Naismith, who, despite being the actual inventor of the game of basketball, is the only Jayhawks coach in history to post a losing record (the irony!). Bob Dole, who would run for president in 1996 (unsuccessfully) against Bill Clinton, also suited up for the Jayhawks as a young man. Through the decades, the Jayhawks have produced some truly remarkable players who would go on to make their mark in the NBA, with none coming anywhere close to the legendary Wilt “the Stilt” Chamberlain, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, though Paul Pierce, Andrew Wiggins, and Joel Embiid have been great NBA ballers as well. In recent seasons, the Jayhawks have absolutely dominated the Big 12 Conference, finishing first in 14 straight seasons between 2005-2018, as well as 2020, 2022, and 2023. This success has transferred to the national stage as well, with the team appearing in the Final Four on 6 occasions since 2002, emerging twice as runners-up (2003, 2012) and twice as NCAA champions (2008, 2022). The 2022 victory was particularly sweet as it came at the cost of longtime rivals the North Carolina Tar Heels in a pulsating match that the Jayhawks won by a razor’s edge at 72-69, coming from behind after being 16 points down at halftime. After a shock 72-71 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second round of the 2023 NCAA March Madness tournament, however, the Jayhawks and their fans will be expecting much more in the seasons ahead. 

How can I get cheap tickets to Kansas Jayhawks games?

It is a testament to the popularity of college basketball, and the Jayhawks, in Kansas that the small college town of Lawrence, home to fewer than 100,000 people, has no problem packing the Allen Fieldhouse with over 16,000 basketball fans for each home game. The Jayhawks consistent successes, both historically and in recent decades, at both conference and national level, have given the team a huge profile that draws in fans from across the state and even around the country. Jayhawks players like Wilt “the Stilt” Chamberlain, Paul Pierce, Andrew Wiggins, and Joel Embiid who have gone on to superstardom in the NBA inspire fans to come watch the team, hoping to spot the next player who will make it big. Jayhawks fans are extremely devoted, often driving many miles to away games or even the NCAA March Madness tournament. While this makes for an incredible atmosphere, it can render tickets hard to find, especially for postseason tournament games, key conference deciders or rivalry matchups (see below). To get your hands on the cheapest tickets to Kansas Jayhawks games, check the TicketX listings on this page and use our handy TicketX seating chart to compare prices and locations. Tickets can be purchased from TicketX with just one click for the lowest commission fees! 

Kansas Jayhawks Basketball Rivalries

Any basketball team with the incredible winning record of the Kansas Jayhawks is going to inspire envy and enmity in many rival teams. While the Jayhawks’ longest rivalry is with their state rivals the Kansas State Wildcats (which the Jayhawks lead all-time 203–94 and 86-12 since 1984), their most heated rivals are probably the Missouri Tigers. This rivalry, which the Jayhawks lead all-time at 174–94, is known as the Border War, and has roots that go deeper than just basketball or even sport, extending back to actual guerrilla battles that occurred between the two states during the American Civil War. The Jayhawks other rivals include the Wichita State Shockers, Iowa State Cyclones, Kentucky Wildcats, and Texas Longhorns.

Are Kansas Jayhawks basketball games exciting?

The atmosphere at Allen Fieldhouse during basketball games is famed far and wide, with home crowds often claimed to be among the loudest in all of American college basketball. Students and alumni belt out their alma mater “Crimson and the Blue” prior to the national anthem, swaying side to side with arms around one another; repeat their signature Rock Chalk Chant throughout the game; and stand up to sing “Home on the Range” at the conclusion of each game. Opposing players do not get an easy ride at Allen Fieldhouse, with Jayhawks fans pulling out newspapers and pretending to read while opposition player names are announced (the fans then tear the papers into confetti to celebrate the names of the Jayhawks starting lineup). The fans also sing a special sarcastic song (involving not eating enough Wheaties breakfast cereal) to any opposition player who fouls out.