The season began with such high hopes for Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks, only to end in a heartbreaking fashion. In the dying minutes of their opening NCAA Tournament game against Arkansas, they crumbled under pressure. This marks their first first-round exit since 2006, a bitter pill for fans to swallow.
Taking the top spot in the preseason AP poll, Kansas had moments early on when they showed why they were so highly ranked, especially with standout victories against Michigan State and Duke on neutral grounds. However, those instances were mere glimpses of potential, as consistency eluded them throughout the season. The synergy just wasn’t there.
Still, the season wasn’t devoid of achievements. The Jayhawks managed to extend their NCAA Tournament streak to an impressive 35 consecutive years. Alongside this, they secured at least 20 wins for the 36th straight season and celebrated senior night with a win for an astounding 42nd year in a row.
As the dust settles on this challenging season, the focus shifts to the future. What strategies will Self deploy to reconstruct the team? Who will remain, and who will step in to strengthen the roster? The key question is what it’ll take to catapult the Jayhawks back to the top of the Big 12 after unexpectedly finishing in sixth place.
