Looking back at some recent KU-OU classics

By Matt Tait     Jan 4, 2016

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Kansas guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) pulls back for an attempted dunk as he attacks the basket against Oklahoma forward Ryan Spangler (00) during the second half on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse.

So, yeah. Tonight’s game between top-ranked Kansas and No. 2 Oklahoma is a pretty big game.

Like, one of the biggest Allen Fieldhouse games in a number of years. Yeah, the Missouri win was huge and, sure, there have been a few others along the way. But very few have been this big on the national stage.

No. 1 vs. No. 2. One-loss Kansas vs. unbeaten Oklahoma. KU’s balance vs. OU’s Buddy Hield.

Regardless of the outcome or how it all goes down, this one figures to soon be included in the chapter of classic showdowns between the two former Big Eight foes who have waged war against one another for nearly 100 years. KU won the opening game between the two schools, 33-28, back in 1920.

The Jayhawks lead the all-time series with the Sooners 142-66, including an a mark of 72-16 in games played in Lawrence and 45-7 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Here’s a quick look back at seven of the most recent memorable KU-OU meetings:

**1988 — National Title game -** Kansas 83, OU 79: I won’t insult you all by rehashing the details of a game I’m sure you’re very familiar with. Tied at 50 at halftime, KU, led by Danny Manning, knocks off Billy Tubbs and the Sooners, who easily beat KU twice during the regular season. It still stands as one of the most surprising upsets in NCAA Tournament history and is one of the most cherished games in KU basketball history.

**1998 — Senior Night at Allen Fieldhouse -** In late February of the 1997-98 season, junior Paul Pierce single-handedly took over the spotlight in what wound up being his final home game as a Jayhawk, as well. Pierce caught fire in the second half and turned a close battle into a KU run-away. Pierce’s performance included 31 points and a second-half stretch of 15 straight points that put the game away.

**2006 — February 5, 2006 -** Despite getting dominated — Bill Self’s words, not mine — for the game’s first 32 minutes, the Jayhawks dug deep and pulled out a one-point victory over No. 18 OU. Led by 14 points and 8 rebounds from Julian Wright, 12 points from Brandon Rush and 10 points from Mario Chalmers, the Jayhawks fought their way to a 59-58 way despite not taking their first lead of the second half until a bucket by Wright with 53 seconds remaining.

**2009 — February 24, 2009 -** In one of the most anticipated battles of the season, the Jayhawks and Sooners were robbed of a potentially epic showdown when OU star Blake Griffin missed the game because of injury. Even without the future NBA All-Star out of the lineup because of a concussion, OU built an early 22-8 lead. But Kansas responded with a monster run and eventually turned the 14-point deficit into a 20-point lead before winning 87-78 on Big Monday in Norman. Griffin also missed his match-up with Kansas a year earlier, going down with a spained MCL in the opening minutes of KU’s 85-55 blowout during the Jayhawks’ national title year.

**2014 — February 24, 2014 -** There were not many individual moments in this one that stood out, but the final result, an 83-75 KU victory, gave the Jayhawks a guaranteed share of Big 12 title number 10 in a row. Naadir Tharpe led KU’s effort with 19 points on 6-of-7 shooting and, according to KU coach Bill Self, “closed the game the way point guards are supposed to close.”

**2015 — January 19, 2015 -** Despite building a 19-point halftime lead behind the strength of a school-record nine three-pointers, the Jayhawks saw that lead completely disappear in the second half and had to come from behind to top OU, 85-78, on Big Monday. KU got surprisingly big games from freshmen Cliff Alexander (13 points, 13 boards) and Kelly Oubre (19 points, 9 boards) to help hold off the upset bid.

**2015 — March 7, 2015 -** With a share of Big 12 title No. 11 in a row already wrapped up, KU went down to Norman, Oklahoma, with nothing to lose and everything to gain. The Jayhawks, missing three regulars from their rotation, played very well at times and appeared to send the game to overtime on three made free throws by Frank Mason in the final five seconds. But a tip-in by OU’s Buddy Hield with two-tenths of a second remaining gave OU the victory.

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.