Kansas Basketball Faces Rare Struggles

Jayhawks on pace for third straight 11-loss season, a first in over 30 years

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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After losing three of its past four games, the Kansas basketball program is in the midst of one of its worst stretches in the modern era. Barring a deep run in the Big 12 or NCAA tournaments, KU is on track to finish the season with 11 losses, which would mark the third consecutive year the team has reached that mark - something that hasn't happened since the late 1980s.

Why it matters

Kansas has been one of college basketball's premier programs for decades, winning 14 straight Big 12 regular season titles prior to its recent downturn. This prolonged period of mediocrity is unfamiliar territory for the Jayhawks and their passionate fanbase, who have grown accustomed to the team being an annual national title contender.

The details

The Jayhawks now sit at 21-9 overall and 11-6 in Big 12 play, which will likely make them the No. 5 seed in the Big 12 Tournament. This means they will have to compete on the second day of the event instead of receiving a bye to the quarterfinals. Kansas' struggles over the past three seasons are a far cry from their usual standard, as the program had only lost double-digit games twice in the 2000s prior to this current stretch.

  • On March 3, 2026, Kansas lost to Arizona State.
  • The Jayhawks' regular season finale is against Kansas State.

The players

Bill Self

The longtime head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, who is nearing the end of his tenure in Lawrence.

Darryn Peterson

A guard for the Kansas Jayhawks.

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What they’re saying

“Kansas is now 299-93 in conference play in the Bill Self era. 23 of those losses have been in the last 3 seasons.”

— Adam Sullivan (Twitter)

What’s next

Assuming the Jayhawks are not able to win either the Big 12 Tournament or March Madness outright, the team will finish with 11 losses, unless it suffers an unexpected defeat to Kansas State in the regular-season finale.

The takeaway

Kansas' recent struggles represent a significant shift for a program that has long been considered one of college basketball's blue bloods. While the Jayhawks may still carry that status due to their rich history, it's clear they are no longer viewed as the dominant force they once were, as programs around the country no longer feel the need to rush the floor after beating them.