The K-Staters really thought they had it this time. They could practically taste victory, could already see themselves flooding the court in Bramlage Coliseum with a sea of purple and silver pride. No more streak, a year’s reprieve from the snide jokes about Allen Fieldhouse West, the end of 21 years of home court futility.

Of course, Kansas State fans think that every year when their men’s basketball team plays Kansas at home. It’s the fan’s delusion. But this year, in particular, was supposed to be different. Kansas had ended its own 11-game losing streak against its Manhattan rivals last fall when the Kansas football team beat the Wildcats 31-28. Wednesday night was going to be comeuppance time.

But then, the game started and with senior forward Wayne Simien’s 23 points, senior guard Keith Langford’s 24 and sophomore guard J.R. Giddens’ 18, the Jayhawks never trailed in the tight contest and were victorious once more. Long live the streak.

Actually, Kansas’ so-called rivalries haven’t really looked much like rivalries as of late. The men’s basketball victory over K-State is nothing new, but even Missouri, which traditionally plays better on the court against Kansas, has only beaten Kansas one time in its last nine attempts. Granted, many of those games have been close, including the most recent nail-biter that saw Kansas climb back from an 11-point second-half deficit, but 1-9 is still 1-9. And Missouri seems to be getting worse, not better from four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 1999-2002 to the NIT Tournament last year and a 10-13 record so far this year.

Then there’s football. It seems like only yesterday that former Kansas football coach Terry Allen was roaming the sidelines, and the only drama the season promised was the battle between Kansas and Baylor for worst team in the Big 12. But this year, Kansas swept both its rivals, Missouri and Kansas State. The Missouri game, played in Columbia, wasn’t even close. Kansas got out to a 28-0 lead before Missouri was even able to score.

While Kansas definitely appears to be a team on the upswing, it’s not exactly clear what direction Missouri and Kansas State are headed in. Neither team lacked talent last season. The Wildcats had a true preseason Heisman candidate in senior running back Darren Sproles. The Tigers had their own highly touted star in junior quarterback Brad Smith. Both teams were picked to finish high in the standings: The Associated Press ranked K-State 12th in the country to start the season and Missouri 18th. Yet both teams ended in losing seasons.

Obviously football and men’s basketball are the glamour sports of the NCAA, but the Jayhawks’ recent success against their rivals doesn’t end there. The Wildcats rate among the best in the Big 12 in women’s basketball and have, at least so far, proven a little too tough for coach Bonnie Henrickson’s Jayhawks. But the Jayhawks have already swept the Tigers this season, accomplishing that feat in convincing fashion with its 60-42 victory last Saturday at Mizzou Arena. The win marked the Jayhawks’ first regular-season win against the Tigers since 1999.

For the moment, Kansas holds a 12-5.5 lead over Missouri in the Border Skirmish standings, recording victories in the sports already mentioned as well as in men’s cross country and soccer. With the spring season for many sports just now starting, there’s still plenty of time for Missouri to make up ground. But if the games keep ending the way they have been, Kansas is heading for more victories over its rivals.