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

By Chris Taylor

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)
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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(Original Caption) Pontiac, Mich.: Kansas Coach Larry Brown hugs Danny Menning after Kansas defeated Kansas State 71-58, to advance to the ‘Final Four’. Manning was named Most Outstanding Player of NCAA regional final series.
(Original Caption) Pontiac, Mich.: Kansas Coach Larry Brown hugs Danny Menning after Kansas defeated Kansas State 71-58, to advance to the ‘Final Four’. Manning was named Most Outstanding Player of NCAA regional final series. /

Best Kansas basketball seasons all-time:

  • ’87-’88 Kansas Jayhawks
  • Head coach: Larry Brown
  • Results: 27-11 National Champions

Larry Brown pulled off the improbable in 1988. With his least talented team he had while at Kansas, in his final year, miracles happened.

The Jayhawks struggled throughout the season. At one point they were barely hanging on with a 12-8 record, losing multiple games at home to the likes of Duke, Kansas State, and Oklahoma. The Jayhawks finished the season with a record of 21-11 before tournament play began. The Jayhawks finished third in the Big Eight conference.

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Their tournament run started with an impressive win against #18 Xavier. A close game with Murray State was followed by a blowout victory against Vanderbilt. What happened next is a fine example of sports destiny.

They faced the Kansas State Wildcats, a team that beat them in Lawrence and knocked them out of the conference tournament. The Jayhawks won by 13, 71-58. Up next was Duke, who beat them earlier, again in Lawrence, by four points in overtime. This time it was the Jayhawks winning by seven.

The lowly Jayhawks faced the Big Eight champs in the national title game as heavy underdogs, much like the rest of the tournament. Kansas was the Cinderella story. Never before had a team with so many losses won a championship, let alone make it to one.

Danny Manning seemingly took over the game, scoring 31 points, 18 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 blocked shots. Nicknamed “Danny and the Miracles”, the 1988 Jayhawks won the schools second National Championship.

Manning and Brown both left for the NBA after the season. Manning left as the schools leading scorer and rebounder. Second place still isn’t close. He won every Player of the Year award in 1988 and is still considered one of the best college basketball players ever. His NBA career was riddled with injury, but he has enjoyed a successful coaching career. Winning the 2008 championship as an assistant and now leads Wake Forest.

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