Kentucky has compiled a lopsided 22-9 record against Kansas in head-to-head meetings between the two college basketball programs with the most NCAA victories.
With 2,264 victories to UK's 2,278, however, the Jayhawks have made up some ground of late by winning six of nine games versus the Wildcats during the 16-year Bill Self era.
Self is 3-0 against Wildcat teams coached by Tubby Smith and 3-3 versus UK squads led by current coach John Calipari.
Self's KU teams have fared much better than squads of his five predecessors. Roy Williams went 1-3 versus UK. Larry Brown was 1-2, Ted Owens 1-12, Dick Harp 0-1 and Phog Allen 0-1.
The bluebloods will meet for the fifth straight season Saturday, when KU _ 3-1 in the past four meetings _ plays UK in a SEC/Big 12 Challenge game at 5 p.m. Central time at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky.
The series _ which ran uninterrupted from 1971-85 but has had as long as six-, seven-, nine- and 10-year stretches between games _ figures to continue for at least two more seasons.
KU looks to be a lock to play host to Kentucky in the 2019-20 SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Such a game (pairings are announced in the summer) would effectively complete what would be a two-year home-and-home series between the squads, which are scheduled to meet in the Champions Classic in 2020-21.
"Our players live to play in these types of games. Kentucky players do as well. There is something very competitive when you get Kentucky and Kansas together," Self said of the highly anticipated matchups.
No. 9-ranked KU will enter Saturday's clash 16-3 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 Conference play. No. 8-ranked Kentucky, winner of five straight games, is 15-3 overall and 5-1 in the SEC.
"He (Calipari) has done an unbelievable job. I certainly have a lot of respect for everything they've done and accomplished," Self said of the Wildcats under Calipari, who has compiled a 290-67 record in 10 seasons. "I can't speak for him but I'd say the feeling is mutual."
Said Calipari, who has KU ties: "It's a great campus, great tradition, great coaches have been there. Bill has followed in that line."
Self was a graduate assistant at Kansas under Larry Brown in 1985-86. Calipari was an assistant coach at Kansas from 1982-85.
Here's a quick look at the eight head-to-head matchups between teams coached by Calipari and Self. This includes KU's victory over Calipari's Memphis Tigers in the 2008 NCAA championship contest and Memphis' victory over Self's Illinois Fighting Illini in 2002 in Memphis.
