Kansas men’s basketball loss on the road to Baylor on Monday meant the Jayhawks suffered a third straight loss for only the fourth time with head coach Bill Self at the helm.
This losing streak also includes losses to TCU at home and Kansas State on the road. Previous three-game skids under Self occurred during the 2020-21, 2012-13, and 2004-05 seasons. Self took over the Kansas program prior to the 2003-04 season and never lost four straight games with the Jayhawks.
Before the Jayhawks No. 9 (16-4, 5-3 in the Big 12 Conference) take on Kentucky on Saturday and look to avoid that four-game losing streak, here’s a look at previous three-game droughts under Self.
2020-21 Season: at Oklahoma State 75-70, at Baylor 77-69, at Oklahoma 75-68
This three-game losing streak also came in January during Big 12 play. He even included a trip to Baylor. And it came with its share of close losses.
This Self team was still able to finish second in the Big 12 regular season standings before withdrawing from the conference tournament due to a positive COVID-19 test. Kansas’ season, which saw the Jayhawks go 11-4 in their last 15 games, ended in the NCAA Tournament with a Round of 32 exit as the 3rd seed at the hands of 6th seed USC.
2012-13 Season: vs. Oklahoma State 85-80, TCU 62-55, Oklahoma 72-66
This three-game skid also came during Big 12 play, but in February. And as during the 2020-21 season, all losses have come in single digits.
This Self’s team went on to capture a share of the Big 12 regular season title and win the conference tournament. Kansas then advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament before the 1-seeded Jayhawks lost to 4-seeded Michigan. In the 14 games following their losing streak, Kansas went 12-2.
2004-05 Season: at Texas Tech 80-79, vs. Iowa State 63-61, at Oklahoma 71-63
This three-hit drought came during Big 12 play in February. All losses were single digits.
This Self’s team went on to earn a tie atop the Big 12 regular season standings before an exit in the conference tournament semifinals, losing to Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks were upset in the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament, as 3-seeded Kansas lost to 14-seeded Bucknell. The Jayhawks went 3-3 in the six games that followed their losing streak.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas athletics at the Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association Sportswriter of the Year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
