No. 1 vs. No. 2 – if new poll cooperates

LAWRENCE, Kan. – There is a nice bit of symmetry to the fact that Kansas and Oklahoma could be meeting Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse as the top two teams in the country.

That's because they were also 1-2 the last time their league had such a matchup.

This time, Kansas will likely be No. 1 and Oklahoma will be No. 2, assuming voters move both up a notch when the AP poll is released Monday. Top-ranked Michigan State lost to Iowa this past week.

"It's going to be fun," Sooners star Buddy Hield said.

The matchup comes just three days into the conference schedule. The Jayhawks blew out No. 23 Baylor 102-74 on Saturday while the Sooners rallied past No. 11 Iowa State 87-83.

Kansas (12-1) has not lost since blowing a lead against Michigan State in the Champions Classic in Chicago in mid-November. The Sooners (12-0) are off to their best start in 28 years.

The two teams couldn't be more similar, starting with their experience.

Oklahoma has four players — Hield, Isaiah Cousins, Jordan Woodard and Ryan Spangler — who have each started the past 80 games. Khadeem Lattin gives the Sooners's top five 332 combined starts.

Then there's their composition.

The Jayhawks have become a backcourt-oriented team that starts two point guards in Frank Mason III and Devonte Graham. The team is shooting 46 percent from the three-point line, second best in the NCAA, and is averaging 88.3 points, trailing only The Citadel and Duke.