Kansas Jayhawks vs. Howard Bison

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is one of the most exciting sporting events in the world. Every year, the best college basketball teams from around the country compete for the national championship. This year, the tournament features a matchup between the No. 1-seed Kansas Jayhawks and the No. 16-seed Howard Bison. While the two teams have never met before, there is plenty of history and tradition surrounding both programs.

Kansas Jayhawks

The Kansas Jayhawks have a long and storied history in college basketball. The team has won three national championships and has appeared in the tournament 48 times. Kansas has a passionate fan base and plays its home games at the historic Allen Fieldhouse, one of the most iconic venues in college basketball.

The Jayhawks have had some legendary players over the years, including Wilt Chamberlain, Paul Pierce, and Danny Manning. The team is known for its tough, physical style of play and its ability to dominate opponents on the defensive end of the court. Kansas has a deep and talented roster this season, led by stars Jalen Wilson and David McCormack.

Howard Bison

The Howard Bison are a relatively young program in comparison to Kansas, having been founded in 1920. However, the team has had some success over the years, including three MEAC conference championships. Howard is known for its fast-paced and high-scoring offense, which is led by senior guard Charles Williams.

The Bison have had some notable players over the years, including NBA Hall of Famer Dave Bing and former Los Angeles Lakers player Trevor Ariza. While Howard is not considered one of the elite programs in college basketball, the team has a passionate fan base and plays with a lot of heart and energy on the court.

Historical Context

While Kansas and Howard have never met on the basketball court before, both programs have a rich history and tradition that adds to the excitement of this matchup. Kansas has a long-standing rivalry with in-state rival Kansas State, while Howard has a historic rivalry with cross-town opponent Georgetown.

Kansas has a storied rivalry with Missouri, which dates back to 1907. The two teams have played each other over 250 times, with Missouri holding a slight edge in the overall series. While the rivalry has been dormant in recent years due to conference realignment, there is still a lot of animosity between the two fan bases.

Howard’s historic rivalry with Georgetown dates back to 1976 when the two teams played in the first-ever game at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The rivalry has featured some memorable moments over the years, including a buzzer-beating shot by Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing in 1984. While the two teams don’t play each other every year, the rivalry is still alive and well among fans of both programs.

The matchup between Kansas and Howard is one of the most anticipated games of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. While the two teams have never met before, there is plenty of history and tradition surrounding both programs. Kansas is a perennial powerhouse in college basketball, while Howard is a scrappy underdog with a fast-paced offense.

No matter who comes out on top in this matchup, it will be a thrilling and exciting game that will be remembered for years to come. As the tournament progresses, both Kansas and Howard will look to continue their winning ways and advance to the later rounds. Whether they do so or not, they will have left their mark on college basketball and added to the rich history and tradition of the sport.