“Worst back-to-back stretch of basketball”: NCAA analyst sounds off on Bill Self and Kansas’ disappointments
It was a tough 2024-25 season for Kansas, and analysts aren't taking it easy on Bill Self's team in the offseason. CBS Sports analyst Jon Rothstein took shots at Kansas and Self in a segment of the network's College Basketball podcast on Tuesday.
Criticizing the Jayhawks' trend of March Madness struggles, Rothstein zeroed in on Self's struggles:
"The last two years are the first time at Kansas that Bill Self has lost double-digit games in a season. And the last two years at Kansas, Bill Self finished sixth in the Big 12 last year, and the year before, he was tied for fifth. Those are the two worst conference finishes in the history of Bill Self's Hall of Fame career.
"But the three places he's coached... Tulsa, Illinois and now Kansas... this is the worst back-to-back stretch of basketball that Bill Self's teams have had since his first two years at Oral Roberts. Kansas now is in the scenario ... where Kansas would not be in the top five of the Big 12."
Indeed, Rothstein's point is demonstrably true. In 2023-24, Kansas was 23-11 with a 10-8 Big 12 mark. That was followed by a 2024-25 season where the Jayhawks finished 21-13 and 11-9 in the Big 12. It's certainly notable that the two seasons featured a combined total of one NCAA Tournament victory.
The No. 7 NCAA Tournament seed that the Jayhawks were awarded was the worst in the Bill Self era. Only once, in his second and third seasons at KU in 2005 and 2006, has Self failed to top one NCAA Tournament win in a pair of consecutive seasons.
Portal Woes Continue for Kansas
Following the worst season in recent memory for Kansas, the transfer portal hasn't done much to help. Second-leading scorer Zeke Mayo (14.6 ppg) has entered the transfer portal. Once-promising transfers Rylan Griffen (11.2 ppg at Alabama, followed by just 6.3 ppg at Kansas) and AJ Storr (16.8 ppg at Wisconsin, followed by 6.1 ppg at Kansas) have also chosen to move on.
Likewise, perimeter shooter David Coit is headed out after tumbling from 20.8 ppg at Northern Illinois to 5.1 ppg at Kansas. Two more Kansas players have headed off. Given the normal matriculation of seniors (Hunter Dickinson, Dajuan Harris, KJ Adams), Kansas has some roster holes.
Unlike past years, where Kansas used the portal like a buffet, at the moment, Self and KU have added only three players. The three additions, Loyola guard Jayden Dawson, Illinois guard Tre White and St. Bonaventure wing Melvin Council, will all help. But without the withdrawal of Flory Bidunga and Shakeel Moore from the portal, Self and Kansas might have struggled to field a team with real depth.
What do you think of Kansas's struggles and situation moving ahead? Share your take below in our comments section!