Cincinnati shocks Kansas with historic win at Phog Allen

Unranked Bearcats hand No. 8 Jayhawks their first double-digit home loss to an unranked opponent since 1993

Feb. 21, 2026 at 11:34pm

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In a stunning upset, the unranked Cincinnati Bearcats defeated the No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks 84-68 at Phog Allen Fieldhouse, handing Kansas its first double-digit home loss to an unranked opponent since 1993. Kansas star player Darryn Peterson played a full 32 minutes, but the Jayhawks still struggled on both ends of the floor, with their big men failing to contain Cincinnati's frontcourt.

Why it matters

This loss raises questions about Kansas' national championship aspirations, as the Jayhawks have yet to find a consistent identity and rhythm this season. The defeat at home to an unranked opponent also highlights vulnerabilities in Kansas' defense and offense that will need to be addressed before March Madness.

The details

Cincinnati forward Baba Miller scored 8 of his 12 first-half points when Kansas' Flory Bidunga was not guarding him, and Moustapha Thiam had a 28-point, 8-rebound performance on his 20th birthday. Kansas' offense was stagnant for long stretches, managing just 1.04 points per possession, and the Jayhawks only recorded 2 assists over a 15-minute span in the second half.

  • The game took place on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Darryn Peterson

A star player for the Kansas Jayhawks who played a full 32 minutes in the loss.

Flory Bidunga

A Kansas big man who was unable to contain Cincinnati's frontcourt players.

Baba Miller

A Cincinnati forward who scored 8 of his 12 first-half points when Bidunga was not guarding him.

Moustapha Thiam

A Cincinnati forward who scored 28 points and grabbed 8 rebounds on his 20th birthday.

Bryson Tiller

A redshirt freshman for Kansas who was outmatched by Thiam.

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What they’re saying

“We played soft.”

— Bill Self, Kansas Head Coach

“That's one heck of a birthday present. We all got to feel like it was our birthday tonight. I mean, I didn't know he had 28. I knew he was playing great, but I thought he was terrific.”

— Wes Miller, Cincinnati Head Coach

“Bad, brutal and it sucks. We are supposed to defend homecourt always. Losing to UConn, now Cincinnati. We can't do it no more.”

— Melvin Council, Kansas Player

What’s next

No. 2 Houston will visit Lawrence on Monday, and the Cougars will look to exploit the same weaknesses that Cincinnati exposed in Kansas' defense and rebounding.

The takeaway

This loss at home to an unranked opponent raises serious questions about Kansas' ability to contend for a national championship this season. The Jayhawks must quickly address their defensive and offensive deficiencies before facing another top-tier opponent in Houston on Monday.