Kansas HC Bill Self Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas HC Bill Self makes startling admission after loss to Gonzaga

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 3/25/24

The season ended with a thud for Kansas on Saturday and head coach Bill Self didn't hold back when sharing his feelings.

Following the Jayhawks monumental second-half collapse in an 89-68 loss to No. 5 Gonzaga, Self revealed that, in his mind, this season had been in the rearview for a while.

"For the last month, I've been thinking about next season to be honest," Self told reporters.

Self's words might shock an outsider, but anyone who paid attention to KU this season probably already knew how he felt. He clarified that he wasn't thinking these thoughts during games and even put the blame on him and his staff for the down year. It's probably not what fans or outgoing seniors wanted to hear moments after a loss, though.

“For the last month, I’ve been thinking about next season”

- Bill Self #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/YfGseyZkjK
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2024

Despite beginning the season ranked No. 1 in the preseason polls, Kansas had an up-and-down campaign, ending it with losses in three of its last four games to finish 22-9. Furthermore, after Cincinnati eliminated them from the Big 12 Championship Tournament in the second round, they needed all the breaks to sneak past Samford in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

On Saturday, the wheels fell off.

Following a tight first half that saw Kansas take a one-point lead, 44-43, into the halftime break, Gonzaga ran away with things in the second half. They took a 50-49 lead early and never looked back, outscoring Kansas 39-19 from that point onward on to walk away with a dominant 21-point victory.

Since winning the NCAA Championship only two years ago, the Jayhawks are out in the Round of 32 for the second straight season. Meanwhile, Kansas finishes with 11 losses overall, the most in the Self era.

It's no wonder he wants to look ahead to next season.

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