Kansas vs. No. 1: A History of Home-Court Heartbreak at Allen Fieldhouse
Allen Fieldhouse has been a cathedral of college basketball since it opened its doors in 1955. The banners hanging from its rafters tell the story of Kansas basketball dominance. But there’s one stat that sticks out like a sore thumb: in five tries, the Jayhawks have never beaten a No. 1-ranked team inside Allen.
That streak will be tested again Monday night when Kansas (18-5, 8-2 Big 12) welcomes top-ranked Arizona to Lawrence. The Wildcats, riding high at 23-0 and 10-0 in the Big 12 after dismantling Oklahoma State 84-47 over the weekend, are no strangers to this building-or to spoiling the party.
Let’s take a walk through the history of KU’s showdowns with No. 1 teams at home, including one that technically doesn’t count in Allen’s ledger but still looms large in Jayhawk lore.
The Five Allen Fieldhouse Showdowns vs. No. 1
Arizona 91, Kansas 74 - Jan. 25, 2003
The last time a No. 1 team came into Allen? It was Arizona, and they walked out with a win that still stings in Lawrence.
Kansas came out swinging, building a 20-point lead early. But Arizona, led by Salim Stoudamire’s career-high 32 points (20 in the second half), stormed back with a 67-30 run over the final 25:41. That collapse remains the biggest blown lead in KU history at Allen Fieldhouse.
Jason Gardner chipped in 23 points, seven rebounds, and six assists for the Wildcats, who were coached by the legendary Lute Olson. KU, then ranked No. 6, saw its 25-game home win streak snapped despite a 27-point effort from Keith Langford.
Oklahoma 94, Kansas 89 (OT) - Feb. 15, 1989
This one had drama written all over it. Unranked Kansas, under first-year head coach Roy Williams, took No.
1 Oklahoma to the brink. Kevin Pritchard’s layup forced overtime, but the Sooners had just enough firepower to survive.
Stacey King’s late three-point burst gave OU the edge, and Mike Bell’s dunk sealed the deal. Mookie Blaylock and Tyrone Jones added 15 and 16 points, respectively, for Billy Tubbs’ squad.
On the KU side, Mark Randall dropped 29, Milt Newton added 23, and Pritchard finished with 19. It was a gutsy effort, but ultimately KU’s sixth straight loss during a challenging season marred by NCAA probation.
Kentucky 73, Kansas 66 - Dec. 10, 1977
On the night Adolph Rupp-Kentucky legend and former KU player-passed away, the Wildcats honored him with a gritty win in Allen.
Joe B. Hall’s Kentucky team, which would go on to win the national title that season, leaned on Kyle Macy (15 points), Mike Phillips (14), and Jack Givens (10 points, nine rebounds) to get it done. KU, led by Darnell Valentine’s 17 points and double-digit efforts from Paul Mokeski and Donnie Von Moore, kept it close but couldn’t close the gap.
Notre Dame 76, Kansas 74 - Jan. 22, 1974
Three days after snapping UCLA’s record 88-game win streak, Notre Dame came into Lawrence and escaped with another nail-biter.
John Shumate (23 points) and freshman Adrian Dantley (17 points) powered the Irish, who held off a furious second-half KU rally. Rick Suttle was a force for Kansas with 27 points, but foul trouble and a late Dantley layup sealed the Jayhawks’ fate. Despite the loss, KU went on to reach the Final Four that season under Ted Owens.
Cincinnati 64, Kansas 49 - Dec. 15, 1962
This one wasn’t particularly close. Cincinnati, fresh off back-to-back national titles, came in rolling and left with a 15-point win.
Coached by Ed Jucker, the Bearcats featured a balanced attack led by Ron Bonham, Tom Thacker, and George Wilson. KU, under Dick Harp, was in a rebuilding phase and couldn’t keep pace. The Jayhawks finished 12-13 that season.
The Hoch Auditorium Outlier: KU’s Lone Home Win vs. No. 1
Before Allen Fieldhouse became the program’s home, Kansas hosted a No. 1 team in Hoch Auditorium-and came out on top.
On Jan. 17, 1953, Phog Allen’s Jayhawks took down top-ranked Kansas State 80-66.
B.H. Born led the charge for a team that would eventually fall just short in the national title game, losing to Indiana by a single point.
That win over K-State remains KU’s only home victory over a No. 1 team, albeit in a different building.
The Bill Self Era vs. No. 1: Mixed Results, No Home Games
Since Bill Self took the reins in 2003, KU has gone 4-4 against No. 1 teams-all on neutral courts or on the road. The Jayhawks have had some memorable wins, including:
- 2020: No. 3 KU beat Baylor 64-61 in Waco
- 2016: No. 7 KU edged Duke 77-75 at Madison Square Garden
- 2008: No. 4 KU blew out North Carolina 84-66 in the Final Four
- 2006: No. 10 KU topped Florida 82-80 in OT in Las Vegas
But they’ve also taken their lumps, including a 76-46 loss to Houston in 2024 and a 102-90 defeat to Gonzaga in 2020. Most notably, KU fell to Kentucky 67-59 in the 2012 national championship game.
A Chance to Rewrite the Script
Kansas is 9-18 all-time against No. 1-ranked teams, and 0-5 in such games at Allen Fieldhouse. Monday night against Arizona isn’t just another marquee matchup-it’s a shot at history.
The Wildcats have been the most consistent team in the country all season. But Allen Fieldhouse has a way of leveling the playing field, even when the numbers say otherwise. If the Jayhawks can finally break through, they won’t just be shaking up the rankings-they’ll be rewriting one of the few blemishes in their storied home-court legacy.