NCAA Basketball: Top 10 historical rivalries up through 2018-19

By Zac Voynow | Jan 23, 2019

DURHAM, NC - MARCH 03: (L-R) Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils talks to head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels before their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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KANSAS CITY, MO – MARCH 09: Makol Mawien #14 of the Kansas State Wildcats controls the ball as Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks defends during the Big 12 Basketball Tournament semifinal game at Sprint Center on March 9, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

7. Kansas vs. Kansas State

This is the second time Kansas is included on this list, and for good reason. This is one of the oldest rivalries in the history of the game of basketball. The first meeting was on January 25th, 1907 in Lawrence Kansas, when the Jayhawks won 54-39. Now the league series is led by Kansas 196-93. When you think of NCAA basketball, Kansas is definitely one of the first teams that comes to mind. Kansas State is not, but they’ve held their own during time periods of this rivalry.

Kansas State had some players get drafted to the league back in the 1950s and 1980s. Recently Wes Iwundu got drafted early in the second round in 2017. Kansas State has always been relevant though. The only reason why this rivalry is ranked so high is because it’s the in-state rivalry in the state of Kansas. Kansas State actually is quietly relevant nationally. They have winning all-time series records against 6 of the other 9 teams in the Big 12.

Kansas State hasn’t beaten Kansas since 2015. They’ve only beaten Kansas five times since 1994. To put that in perspective, since 1994 Kansas has beaten Kansas State 57 times. That’s and unbelievable statistic that shows Kansas’ domination in the last couple decades. This rivalry was incredibly strong back in the 1970s and 1980s, but not many people remember that. From 1970-1984, Kansas State defeated Kansas 22 times and only lost to them 14 times. During those golden era years of Kansas State basketball, this was undoubtedly a top rivalry in the nation.

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