Bill Self and the No. 4 seed Kansas Jayhawks can only kick themselves for how their 2026 NCAA Tournament journey ended.
They exited the Big Dance following a painful 67-65 loss to the No. 5 seed St. John’s Red Storm on Sunday at Viejas Arena in San Diego, Calif. The decisive blow to Kansas’ season came when St. John’s junior guard Dylan Darling hit a game-winning lay-up as time expired in regulation.
Right after Darling’s shot, Self vented his frustration on the sideline screen. The Basketball Hall of Fame head coach kicked the screen and walked back to Kansas’ bench as Darling and his teammates celebrated his clutch basket. You can watch a clip of that moment here.
Meanwhile, fans noticed Self’s angry gesture.
Yikes!!😬 pic.twitter.com/xB7KmCCS5g
— Greg L. Simms / GLS (@GregSimmsGLS) March 23, 2026
Quarter zip coaching mentality. What a crybaby
— CBB Suit Watch (@CbbSuitWatch) March 23, 2026
Bad sportsmanship. He could’ve really hurt someone. Fine him @NCAA
— Coach Bob Diaco (@CliffMan696969) March 23, 2026
bill self was hot .
— HoopsIQ4k (@letstalkonsite) March 23, 2026
Kansas tried to stall St. John’s offense by repeatedly fouling down the stretch, but the Jayhawks apparently left too much time on the clock for the Red Storm to take one final shot.
The Jayhawks can’t undo it, and it will take time before they can fully move on from that ending.
The loss to St. John’s also marked the fourth time Kansas got jettisoned from the Big Dance in the second round or earlier after winning the national championship in 2022.
