Kansas' Bill Self Calls Team 'Soft' After Stunning Loss to Cincinnati

Jayhawks coach issues stern message ahead of crucial matchup with No. 2 Houston

Feb. 22, 2026 at 4:55pm

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Kansas basketball coach Bill Self criticized his team's effort and physicality after a surprising 84-68 loss to unranked Cincinnati. Self said the Jayhawks "played soft" and failed to make Cincinnati "play poorly," vowing that the team must improve ahead of a crucial home game against No. 2 Houston.

Why it matters

The loss was a major upset and a setback for Kansas, which was looking ahead to the high-profile matchup with Houston. Self's blunt assessment of his team's performance suggests he sees significant room for improvement if the Jayhawks are to bounce back and defeat the Cougars, who have one of the best defenses in the country.

The details

Kansas struggled mightily against Cincinnati, shooting just 44% from the field and losing the rebounding battle by 11. The Jayhawks also had 10 turnovers. Self said Cincinnati was "more aggressive" and "more physical" than Kansas, which he described as "soft." The coach acknowledged that Houston's defensive numbers are even better than Cincinnati's, meaning the Jayhawks have a major challenge ahead of them.

  • The loss to Cincinnati occurred on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
  • Kansas is scheduled to host No. 2 Houston on Monday, February 24, 2026.
  • After the Houston game, Kansas will travel to face No. 8 Arizona on Saturday, March 1, 2026.

The players

Bill Self

The head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“We'll meet tomorrow at two, and go over. Things happen, and we got to stay together. I think that we will, without question, they're great kids. But we weren't competitive today. And the message is, 'If you can't make other people play poorly, no matter where you're playing, it could be a long afternoon or evening,' and that's exactly what happened. We didn't do anything to get them out of rhythm.”

— Bill Self, Head Coach (247 Sports)

“I'd say they were more aggressive. They were more physical, and we played soft.”

— Bill Self, Head Coach (247 Sports)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the need for Kansas to regain its physicality and defensive intensity if it hopes to bounce back against a formidable Houston squad and remain in contention for a high NCAA Tournament seed. Self's blunt assessment suggests he believes his team has the talent to compete at a high level, but must rediscover its competitive edge.