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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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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 10: Coach Roy Williams (C) of the the North Carolina Tar Heels speaks with Paul Pierce
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 10: Coach Roy Williams (C) of the the North Carolina Tar Heels speaks with Paul Pierce /

Best Kansas basketball seasons all-time:

  • ‘96-’97 Kansas Jayhawks
  • Head coach: Roy Williams
  • Results: 34-2, Sweet Sixteen

Roy Williams took the winning tradition of Kansas to another level. He was by far the best recruiter Kansas had seen. There was never more talent on the court than in ’97. The Jayhawks went 29-1 during the regular season with the lone loss being to Missouri by two points in double overtime.

The Jayhawks were no question head over heels the best team in basketball. The team was led by Senior guard Jacque Vaughn, Junior forward Raef Lafrentz, Seniors Scot Pollard and Jerrod Haase and youngster Paul Pierce.

Kansas spent 31 weeks as the number one team in the nation and never found themselves below second. They played outstanding together on both sides of the court.Scoring in large doses and playing stingy defense all season. They were one of the few teams that opponents truly feared.

Despite all the success, the sweet sixteen match against Arizona was the final game for all those players named above, including the dangerous Billy Thomas.

Each of these guys saw NBA action, with Paul Pierce being the clear standout among them. Haase is the current head coach at Stanford, Vaughn is an assistant for the Brooklyn Nets, and Pierce is a future Hall of Famer in the NBA.

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