KU fans share superstitions ahead of Final Four matchup with Villanova

photo by: Contributed

Left: Photo contributed by Lane Stanberry, Middle: Photo contributed by Jackson Schneider, Right: Photo contributed by Brad Roosa, Bottom: Photo contributed by Ryan Miller.

Ahead of Kansas’ Final Four appearance on Saturday against the Villanova Wildcats, we asked you to share your gameday quirks as the Jayhawks gear up for their biggest matchup of the season.

Nearly 100 readers reached out via social media — and while we can’t share every response, these were some of the superstitions that stood out:


Andrew, 29

“If I watch KU in the tournament and they lose I won’t ever watch them again at that location. Lots of places crossed off…”



Blake Savage, 34

” [I wear a] Tyshawn Taylor jersey from the ’52 Champs [throwback] game. Long sleeve KU shirt underneath. KU socks and shoes. It’s the combination I found for this year. Once KU loses whatever I’m wearing is never worn on GameDay again.”


Lane Stanberry, 20

“I wear the same three jerseys, same undershirt, same KU SnapBack (snapped 4 notches) with same jeans, same socks and same shoes for every game successively since the Big 12 Tournament. The first being an 06-07 Darnell Jackson, followed by 06-07 [Mario] Chalmers, followed by 06-07 [Julian] Wright with dark blue jeans, two semi-ripped Nike socks, and black Converse.”



Jackson Schneider, 22

“I wear a pink bow tie to broadcast every game on KJHK. KU has never lost when I wear that bow tie.”


Daniel O’Neil, 20

“My buddy and I are in the band and we lost a bet on the bus ride to the first game of the Big XII tournament so we had to bite into a banana sideways and eat it like that. We proceeded to beat OSU without [Udoka Azuibuike]. We jokingly continued the ritual before K-State only to win again. By the WVU final it was our thing. We’ve bitten into bananas sideways on the road to the arena before every game of postseason and plan on TWO MORE BANANAS and a Natty.”



Brad Roosa, 48

“This is the TV I watched the 2008 run on. It came out of the attic before the Penn game and so far so good. Nearly killed myself getting it out of the attic and am almost positive I ruptured a hernia, but, WORTH IT. This weekend, I’ll be wearing the same red KU shorts I wore watching the last run. Also, I live in Houston and had tickets to the San Antonio Final Four run in 2008, but couldn’t make it. After we beat Duke, the same friend offered me tickets this year and I declined again because I’m too superstitious and MUST watch the game on this TV in my red shorts. Can’t disrupt the ‘mojo’.”