‘Reasonably even in many ways.’ UK, Kansas alike in present and in past, analyst says.

As the initials the schools go by would suggest, UK and KU are mirror images of each other.

That’s how Fran Fraschilla sizes up Saturday’s Kentucky-Kansas game.

“Both teams, to me, are reasonably even in many ways,” said Fraschilla, a basketball analyst for ESPN who works the Big 12 Conference.

Both teams have Hall of Fame coaches: John Calipari for UK and Bill Self for KU.

Both teams have transitioned in the makeup of their rosters.

“In the recent past, we usually saw two very young, talented teams of future NBA stars on the rosters,” Fraschilla said. For example, he cited players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Davis of UK. And Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid of KU.

Now, Kentucky and Kansas have used the transfer portal to add greater experience to the mix.

“They are kind of emblematic of power conference teams in the top 25,” Fraschilla said of Kentucky and Kansas. “Basically, some good young players mixed in with a lot of older veterans, often-times transfers. Like the right mix of upperclassmen that you’ve nurtured and transferred who’ve just kind of, you know, been welcomed to the party.”

Of course, Kentucky’s transfers include rebound machine Oscar Tshiebwe, sharp-shooter Kellan Grady and point guard Sahvir Wheeler. Grady and Calipari cited experience as a factor in beating Mississippi State 82-74 in overtime Tuesday.

The transfers for Kansas include point guard Remy Martin, a two-time All-Pac 12 player for Arizona State, and Jalen Coleman-Lands, a shooter from Iowa State. Martin averages 8.4 points and has made 35.7 percent of his three-point shots. Coleman-Lands has made 40.5 percent of his three-point shots (17 of 42).

Kentucky and Kansas also share an exalted place in basketball history.

As Fraschilla noted, Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, worked as coach and then athletic director at Kansas. One of his players was Adolph Rupp, who later became the founding father of Kentucky basketball.

“I jokingly said (on the air) the other night, there would be no Kentucky basketball without a Kansas alum,” Fraschilla said in reference to Rupp.

Coincidentally, Rupp died at age 76 on Dec. 10, 1977. Kentucky won at Kansas 73-66 on that date.

Incidentally, Calipari and Self began their coaching careers as graduate assistants for Larry Brown at Kansas. As Fraschilla recalled, Self replaced Calipari in that position.

“It’s always a fascinating matchup because of the history involved with the programs on many levels,” the ESPN analyst said. “You’ve got possibly the two most iconic programs in basketball history.”

Many — if not all — Kentucky fans are aware that the two programs rank first and second in all-time victories: UK first at 2,343; KU second at 2,340.

When asked if Kansas places importance on overtaking Kentucky for most all-time victories, Fraschilla said, “Nah. I don’t think so. I know Bill (Self) doesn’t think that way.

“I think what you’re looking at is this is a great mid-season barometer for both teams against an opponent that has a good chance to get to the Final Four.”

Another UK-KU similarity is a complete dominance in home games. As Kentucky rules in Rupp Arena, Kansas does likewise in Allen Fieldhouse.

Self’s win-loss record in home games as Kansas coach is 285-15. That’s a winning percentage of .950. The Jayhawks are 10-0 in home games this season. Kentucky is 13-0.

Fraschilla cited similar reasons for UK and KU to win almost always in home games.

“Usually a well-coached team of very talented players,” he said, “and fans support that is virtually second to none. . . . To win at Allen Fieldhouse takes not just a good team, but a team with poise, a team that is well-coached and a team that has veteran players.”

Fraschilla had suggested earlier in the telephone conversation that Kentucky fit that description.

So, how did the ESPN analyst see the game’s outcome?

“It’s possible on a neutral court these teams would split 10 games,” he said before noting that stats savant Ken Pomeroy is giving Kansas a 60-percent chance of winning.

“I think that’s based almost entirely on having the home court this year,” Fraschilla said.

Saturday

No. 12 Kentucky at No. 5 Kansas

What: SEC/Big 12 Challenge

When: 6 p.m. EST

TV: ESPN

Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1

Records: UK 16-4 (6-2 SEC); Kansas 17-2 (6-1 Big 12)

Series: UK leads 23-10.

Last meeting: Kansas won 65-62 on Dec. 1, 2020, at the Champions Classic in Indianapolis.

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