Kansas Coach Bill Self Ejected After Heated Dispute Over Foul Call

Self was tossed for just the third time in his 33-year coaching career after arguing a questionable foul on star freshman Darryn Peterson.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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In a heated moment during Tuesday's game between No. 14 Kansas and unranked Arizona State, Jayhawks head coach Bill Self was ejected after vehemently disagreeing with a foul call on star freshman Darryn Peterson. Self was slapped with a double technical and the quick hook, ending his coaching night early as Kansas trailed by 20 points at halftime.

Why it matters

Self's ejection is a rare occurrence, with the veteran coach having only been tossed from a game three times in his 33-year coaching career dating back to 1993. The incident highlights the intense emotions and high stakes of college basketball, where even legendary coaches can lose their composure over questionable officiating calls.

The details

With 6:07 remaining in the first half and Kansas trailing, Jayhawks guard Melvin Council Jr. had the ball at the top of the key as Peterson, with Arizona State guard Bryce Ford practically giving him a bear hug, headed to the paint. Peterson simply couldn't get free to move off of Ford's grasp, but it was Peterson who was whistled for the foul, much to the dismay of Self.

  • The incident occurred with 6:07 remaining in the first half of Tuesday's game.
  • Self's last ejection was in a February 2024 game against Texas Tech.
  • Before that, his previous ejection was on Feb. 4, 1999 when he was the coach at Tulsa.

The players

Bill Self

The head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team, who has been ejected from a game just three times in his 33-year coaching career.

Darryn Peterson

A star freshman for the Kansas Jayhawks who was called for a questionable foul that led to Self's ejection.

Bryce Ford

An Arizona State guard who was guarding Darryn Peterson when the foul was called.

Melvin Council Jr.

A Kansas guard who had the ball at the top of the key when the foul was called on Peterson.

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What’s next

The Jayhawks will look to bounce back from the lopsided first-half deficit and the loss of their head coach when they take the court for the second half against Arizona State.

The takeaway

Bill Self's rare ejection underscores the intense emotions and high stakes of college basketball, where even legendary coaches can lose their composure over questionable officiating calls. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by both players and coaches in the heat of competition.