Kansas Basketball: Best seasons of All-Time for the Jayhawks

LAWRENCE, KS - FEBRUARY 02: A view of the Forrest Clare 'Phog' Allen statue outside Allen Fieldhouse prior to a game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Kansas Jayhawks on February 2, 2013 in Lawrence, Kansas. The Cowboys defeated the Jayhawks 85-80. (Photo by Denny Medley/Replay Photos via Getty Images) /

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Caption: Kansas head coach Phog Allen gives MVP Clyde Lovellette a hand shake for a job well done in the 1952 Championship game at Seattle,WA. Kansas beat St. John’s (N.Y.) for the title 80-63. Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photo Photographer: Rich ClarksonTitle: M1K52BF.jpgCity: SeattleState: WACountry: USADate: 19520326Caption Writer: bg /

Best Kansas basketball seasons all-time:

’51-’52 Kansas Jayhawks
Head coach: Phog Allen
Results: 28-3 National Champions

Phog Allen got the Jayhawks their first NCAA championship behind the outstanding play of Clyde Lovellette. Kansas beat St. Johns 80-63 in the title game. Lovellette scored 33 points and snagged 17 rebounds in that game.

Olympic Gold medalist Charlie Hoag was also a member of that team. He won that gold medal with the U.S. mens national basketball team during the 1952 games in Helsinki. Bill Hougland also won the Gold medal that year, as well as in 1956. John Keller, Dean Kelley, Bob Kenney and Bill Lienhard also won Gold medals in 1952.

Dean Smith became a Hall of Fame coach for North Carolina eight years after he graduated. Smith would go on to win two championships and was named National Coach of the Year four times.

Lovellette became the only player to lead the nation in scoring and win the National Championship that season. He later won three NBA Championships, twice with the Celtics.

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