Kansas basketball's season came to a dramatic close in a nail-biter against St. John's, with Dylan Darling's clutch basket sealing the deal for St.
John's. As the final buzzer sounded, Kansas State fans wasted no time in taking to social media, reveling in their rival's misfortune.
The rivalry between these two schools is as fierce as ever.
Despite Kansas's perennial high expectations, the Jayhawks haven't reached the Sweet 16 since 2022, a streak that's been a point of contention for their fans. This particular game was a tough one for Kansas.
Early on, they struggled with their shooting, committed sloppy turnovers, and had difficulty inbounding the ball, all of which contributed to their downfall. Tre White, one of their guards, managed only four points while committing three turnovers and three personal fouls.
Meanwhile, Darryn Peterson and Melvin Council Jr. put in a combined effort of 36 points, but it wasn't enough, especially with freshman forward Bryson Tiller failing to score.
Kansas coach Bill Self shared the emotional weight of such a heart-wrenching defeat. "The tournament is one of the things that makes it so great; it can be great, but it can also be cruel," Self reflected.
"We obviously put ourselves in a position to play from behind the whole game, then really competed and played great down the stretch, but just didn’t finish what we started. Certainly disappointed.
Sad for our guys because they tried so hard. Just a tough afternoon."
Adding another layer to the story is the looming question of Self's future. At 64, with some health concerns off the court, retirement is a possibility.
"I'll get back, get with family, and see what's going on," Self mentioned. "I love what I do.
I need to be able to do it where I'm feeling good and healthy to do it fairly well. I'll get back home, and it'll all be discussed.
I've had some issues off the court health-wise, but I love what I do. I wanna feel good while I'm doing it, though."
As the Jayhawks look to regroup and rebuild, the future holds many questions, both on and off the court.