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Opinion: Yes, KU/K-State Is a True Rivalry

Ryan Landreth

It’s a debate that we hear every year. Each time Kansas and Kansas State square off on a basketball floor, some of the Jayhawk fans deny that the matchup is a true “rivalry” game.

Some Kansas fans say that in order for two teams to have a rivalry, the results must be much closer than the all-time series, which KU now leads 190-93 after Saturday’s win in Manhattan, suggests. However, if you look at the 108-year history of the “Sunflower Showdown,” you’ll find that the matchups are more competitive now than they’ve ever been.

Through 1921, Kansas State took 23 of the first 43 meetings between the two schools. It was right after this when Kansas surged into one of the best teams year-in and year-out in the country, and by 1947, the Jayhawks capped a 22-game winning streak in the series to go up 77-31 overall.

Over the next five years, the Wildcats fought back by taking 12 of the next 16 games. Kansas State actually won the series, 51-41, from 1947 through 1983. But you don’t hear about that 36-year spurt from the Kansas fans who insist that “it’s not a rivalry,” do you?

When Roy Williams was hired as coach in 1988, the Jayhawks really hit their stride in this overall rivalry. In his 15 seasons with Kansas, Williams was a remarkable 37-6 against K-State, with three of the five losses occurring in postseason tournament play. Roy Williams-led Kansas teams even went 15-0 in Manhattan! K-State didn’t beat KU in Bramlage Coliseum, constructed in 1988, until 20 years after it had opened.

In 2008, Frank Martin was hired as Kansas State coach. Since then, the rivalry has had even more spark to it. When the Wildcats finally took down KU at Bramlage Coliseum in their 21st opportunity, the celebration was tremendous, and rightfully so. Kansas State has only beaten Kansas three times since that day, but the matchups, particularly in Manhattan, are being played to slimmer margins than ever before.

Kansas has won 10 straight home games against Kansas State by double digits, but KU hasn’t won in Manhattan by more than nine since 2006. The Wildcats are 4-5 at home against the Jayhawks since 2008. None of KU’s last four wins in Manhattan are by more than six points.

Contrary to what some people may believe, scoring margin is not the only factor in producing a true rivalry. Kansas dominated Missouri for a similar time period in the same way, yet no Jayhawk fan would ever tell you that the Border War wasn’t a rivalry. Since the Tigers left the Big 12, the rivalry between KU and K-State has really taken off. The hatred hit an all-time high after K-State scored a second straight home win over Kansas last season, and KU forward Jamari Traylor was bumped by a fan in the middle of a hectic court storm.

Kansas fans say that “Bramlage Coliseum is only loud for one game every year.” Not only is that statement untrue, it’s irrelevant. Jayhawk fans looking to compare the environment at road venues to Allen Fieldhouse is completely unfair. No arena is Allen Fieldhouse. If that’s your standard for creating a “worthy” environment for a rivalry game, you’re going to be disappointed almost everywhere you go.

Also, I’d like to add that Bramlage is one of the best home courts in the country. I’ve been to the last two KU/K-State games in Manhattan. It’s not a huge venue from a capacity or a total volume perspective, which makes it louder than most arenas. It’s dark, the student section is enormous, and even though Kansas State fell behind by as many as 17 yesterday, the fans never checked out of the game. When the Wildcats had cut it all the way down to four with 3:58 left, the return of “Sandstorm” made the entire arena explode with a decibel count of more than 100. And yes, I know that Allen Fieldhouse gets louder by a few decibels on a regular basis, but really, who cares? The environment at either venue creates the best rivalry in the Big 12.

It’s well-known that everybody associated with Kansas State hates Kansas. The K-State student body erupts into chants of “F KU” a dozen times every time the two schools play in Manhattan. It’s definitely more of an angry atmosphere than it is in Lawrence when the two teams play, but I enjoy it. Each game feels truly different. No matter what the Wildcats’ record is, I always fear the Jayhawks’ trip to Manhattan because of how tough they’ve played Kansas recently. No game means more to them, and if you asked KU fans which matchups they get the most satisfaction in winning, I’d bet the K-State games would be a high priority.

Isn’t that exactly what the basis for a rivalry is?

It’s no secret that year-in and year-out, it’s a surprise if the Jayhawks don’t beat the Wildcats. They have truly dominated a rivalry that dates back more than a century. However, the gap has closed between the two teams recently, and they’ve provided us with some memorable games in the last few years. Even Bill Self says every year that K-State is KU’s top rival.

Admit it, Kansas fans, you have a rivalry. Instead of trying to pick it apart with 100 years of head-to-head data, enjoy two of the best atmospheres in college basketball annually when Kansas and Kansas State take the floor.

Ryan Landreth

I’m a recent graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University. In addition to writing for Rock Chalk Blog, I host the Inside the Paint podcast that covers KU basketball, and I write for Royals Review in the summer. My grandma has had season tickets to Jayhawk basketball for 30 years, and I have the privilege of going to most games with her.

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