College basketball heavyweights announce home-and-home series

In the new world of NIL and the transfer portal in college sports, these two historically linked teams agreeing to play each other in their own gyms as opposed to a neutral site is a treat for all college basketball fans. 

Their rivalry features some of the greatest players and coaches ever to take the floor, and connects all generations of fans. They've played in two national title games (1957, 2022) with split results. Iconic UNC head coach Dean Smith played his college ball at Kansas, and his successor Roy Williams spent 15 seasons leading the Jayhawks, culminating with a trip to the 2003 national title game before taking over in Chapel Hill ahead of the 2003-04 campaign. 

Meanwhile, UNC alum Larry Brown coached KU to the 1988 championship behind Danny Manning, and Bill Self has compiled a 580-132 record in 712 games since Williams departed for Chapel Hill. 

Previous matchups have featured Wilt Chamberlain vs. Lennie Rosenbluth and a clash in the historically loaded 1993 Final Four. 

Most recently, the Blue Bloods met in the 2022 NCAA Championship game for their 12th all-time meeting, with Kansas rallying from a 16-point deficit spoil Hubert Davis' miracle run in his first season succeeding Williams. 

All told, UNC and KU have totaled 10 National Titles, produced 30 inductees to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and 22 National Player-of-the-Year award winners per, goheels.com

UNC and Kansas had starkly different 2023 seasons. 

North Carolina became the first preseason No. 1 team not to make the NCAA Tournament, and caught some flak for turning down a bid to the National Invitational Tournament. KU meanwhile looked prime to defend their crown and earned a top seed, but were upset by Arkansas in the second round of the Big Dance.