Kansas Faces Uphill Battle After Rare Ejection and Loss

Jayhawks now 2-4 in their last six games, raising concerns about reaching double-digit losses before March Madness

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Kansas Jayhawks suffered a tough loss against Arizona State, with head coach Bill Self being ejected in the first half. The team's inconsistent play this season has raised concerns, as teams with double-digit losses rarely win the national championship. Kansas still has talent and a path to the NCAA Tournament, but they need to steady themselves quickly to avoid the historical pitfalls of teams with 10 or more losses.

Why it matters

Kansas is a perennial powerhouse in college basketball, and their struggles this season are surprising. The Jayhawks' inconsistency and the potential of reaching double-digit losses before the NCAA Tournament could jeopardize their chances of winning a national title, as history shows that teams with 10 or more losses almost never cut down the nets in April.

The details

In the loss against Arizona State, the Jayhawks came out flat, fell behind early, and never really looked comfortable. Star guard Darryn Peterson struggled, shooting just 3-for-18. The frustration boiled over when Bill Self was ejected after receiving two technical fouls, and the team was unable to mount a comeback, ultimately losing 70-60.

  • On March 4, 2026, Kansas lost to Arizona State 70-60.
  • A few days earlier, on February 29, 2026, Kansas was handled by Arizona in Tucson.

The players

Bill Self

The Hall of Fame head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, who was ejected from the game against Arizona State after receiving two technical fouls.

Darryn Peterson

The star guard for the Kansas Jayhawks, who struggled in the loss against Arizona State, shooting 3-for-18.

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What they’re saying

“If you watched the first half against Arizona State, you know exactly how ugly it was.”

— Rodney Knuppel, Author (sportingnews.com)

“Just a few days after getting handled by Arizona in Tucson, Kansas walked out of the desert with another loss.”

— Rodney Knuppel, Author (sportingnews.com)

What’s next

The Jayhawks have one regular season game left against Kansas State, followed by the Big 12 Tournament, where they will have multiple chances to regain rhythm and confidence before the NCAA Tournament begins.

The takeaway

Kansas' inconsistent play and the potential of reaching double-digit losses before the NCAA Tournament raise concerns about their ability to win a national championship, as history shows that teams with 10 or more losses almost never cut down the nets in April. However, the Jayhawks still have time to steady themselves and prove they can be a dangerous team in March Madness.