The all-time series with Michigan State is tied, 3-3. The Spartans won the last meeting, 66-54, Dec. 7, 1999, at the Great Eight in Chicago.
KU won the only game between the teams at Allen Fieldhouse — 74-56, Dec. 5, 1986.
Kansas is 132-144 all-time and 46-40 at home versus ranked opponents.
KU is 60-88 all-time against top-10 foes, with a 20-29 mark at home in those games.
MSU is KU’s highest-ranked opponent since the Jayhawks beat No. 2 Arizona March 29 in the NCAA Elite Eight in Anaheim, Calif.
The last time Kansas played host to a top-three team was Jan. 27, 2003, when the Jayhawks beat No. 3 Texas, 90-87
KU lost its last game to a ranked foe (No. 13 Syracuse in the NCAA title game), but the Jayhawks have won six of their last eight games versus ranked opponents.
KU is 32-35 against Big Ten opponents.
KU is 90-32 all-time and 39-7 in Allen Fieldhouse when playing on ESPN.
During his head-coaching stint at Illinois, KU coach Bill Self had a 3-3 record against Tom Izzo and the Spartans.
Former MSU phenom Magic Johnson is the only player to record a triple-double during a KU basketball game. He had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists against the Jayhawks Feb. 4, 1979, in an 85-61 Spartan win in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won the NCAA national title that season over Larry Bird and Indiana State.
First-year MSU assistant coach Dwayne Stephens was part of the Marquette coaching staff that lost to Kansas, 94-61, in last season’s NCAA Final Four semifinal game.
Spartan assistant coach Doug Wojick was an assistant at North Carolina for former KU assistant Matt Doherty from 2000-03. Last season, KU lost to UNC, 67-56, in the Preseason NIT at Madison Square Garden.
Third-ranked Michigan State is 1-0 after a 64-52 win over Bucknell Friday in East Lansing. Paul Davis led the Spartans with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Chris Hill added 12 points and seven assists.
Keith Langford needs 79 points to reach 1,000.
Aaron Miles needs 65 assists to pass Adonis Jordan for fifth place on KU’s all-time career assist list. He needs three steals to pass Cedric Hunter for 13th place on KU’s career steals chart.
Ex-Jayhawk Nick Collison will have his jersey officially retired at halftime.
