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The UNC Tar Heels and the Kansas Jayhawks are two of the most storied programs in college basketball history. They’ve faced off against each other numerous times, with UNC holding a slight edge in the all-time series.
The two teams will meet again this season on February 8th, 2020. UNC is currently ranked #1 in the country, while Kansas is ranked #3. This should be a great game between two of the best teams in the country.
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The Rivalry
The Universities of North Carolina and Kansas have a long-standing basketball rivalry. The two schools have played each other nearly every year since 1907, making it one of the oldest and most storied rivalries in the sport. The two teams have met a total of 187 times, with Kansas leading the series 103-84.
A brief history of the rivalry
UNC and Kansas have been two of the most successful basketball programs over the last few decades. They have combined for 14 Final Four appearances and four national championships since 1991. The two schools have also produced some of the greatest players in college hoops history, including Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Danny Manning and Paul Pierce.
The rivalry between UNC and Kansas really began to heat up in the early 1990s when the two schools started facing each other more often in the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels beat the Jayhawks in the 1991 Final Four on their way to winning the national championship, and then again in the 1993 Midwest Regional Final. Kansas got revenge by winning back-to-back national titles in 1988 and 1989, but UNC regained the upper hand with a win in the 1997 NCAA championship game.
The two teams have met four times since then, with UNC winning three of those matchups. The most recent meeting came in this year’s Maui Invitational, where UNC won 72-65. That victory gave UNC a 16-15 edge in the all-time series against Kansas.
The teams’ recent performances
The match-up will pit two of the most storied programs in college basketball history against each other. The Jayhawks are currently ranked No. 3 in the AP poll with a 12-3 record, while the Tar Heels are unranked with a 10-5 mark.
Kansas is coming off a road loss to Texas Tech, while UNC is fresh off a close win over Louisville. The Tar Heels have lost four of their last six games, but they did win two of those contests by double digits.
This will be the first time these two teams have faced each other since last season’s Elite Eight, when Kansas won 79-77 in overtime. The Jayhawks went on to lose to Villanova in the national championship game.
The Game
The date is set and the game is ready to go. So when do UNC and Kansas play? The answer may surprise you. The game is actually set to take place on December 4th, 2023. Who knows, maybe by then we will have a better idea of who will be the better team.
When and where the game will be played
The game will be played on December 5th at 7pm in Allen Fieldhouse.
How to watch the game
The game will be broadcast on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4th. If you have an
If you have an ESPN channel as part of your cable or satellite subscription, you can also watch the game online at ESPN3.com or through the WatchESPN app.
What to Expect
The two storied programs will meet for the first time since 2012, and only the third time in history. The Jayhawks are coming off a disappointing loss to Texas, while the Tar Heels are coming off a big win over Duke. This should be a great game, and here’s what to expect.
What the experts are saying
When do UNC and Kansas play? The two teams are scheduled to meet on December 12th in Lawrence, KS. However, there is a very real possibility that the game will be postponed or canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Both UNC and Kansas have had their share of COVID-19 problems this season. The Jayhawks have had to postpone or cancel three games due to positive tests within their program, while the Tar Heels have had four games affected by the virus.
Given the current state of affairs, it would not be at all surprising if this game was postponed or canceled. However, as of right now, it is still scheduled to be played on December 12th in Lawrence, KS.
How the teams match up
UNC is currently ranked #5 in the nation, while Kansas is unranked. However, this does not mean that the Jayhawks will be an easy out for the Tar Heels. Kansas has a lot of talent on their roster, and they are more than capable of upsetting UNC if the Tar Heels are not careful.
In terms of how the two teams match up, UNC has a significant advantage in the frontcourt. Their big men, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks, are both averaging over 10 points per game, and they will present a significant challenge for Kansas’ thin frontline. In the backcourt, UNC’s Joel Berry II and Justin Jackson are both averaging over 16 points per game, and they will be tough to stop for Kansas’ guards.
Overall, UNC should be considered the favorite in this matchup. However, Kansas is a dangerous team that cannot be taken lightly. If UNC comes out flat or does not play up to their potential, they could easily find themselves on the wrong end of an upset.
