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7 hours ago
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The Kansas Jayhawks are coming off a lackluster season in which they failed to meet expectations. Kansas was ranked No. 1 in the country at one point, but that high quickly gave way to one of the worst stretches ever under Bill Self. In fact, the team suffered its worst loss by margin during Self’s tenure.
Unfortunately for Kansas, the offseason has mirrored the disappointments of the regular season. Their recruiting efforts have struggled, showing little sign of positive momentum. At one point during the season, Self felt that the team chemistry had deteriorated so badly that the players needed a break from one another.
“I’m talked out. We need to get away from each other, I’ll tell you that point blank. I thought this would be a great opportunity to do some team bonding. But it hasn’t been,” Self said.
The team’s poor performance even sparked speculation about Self’s possible retirement, though he was quick to shut those rumors down. Still, the struggles have continued, with Kansas missing out on not just one but two key transfer targets on Thursday.
“Top transfer target Darrion Williams picked NC State and head coach Will Wade over Kansas. Williams – who averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists last season at Texas Tech – was the Jayhawks’ priority transfer target, and a seemingly perfect fit in the Kansas lineup,” Jackson Langendorf wrote.
Williams was widely viewed as an ideal addition for the Jayhawks, making the miss even more painful. Kansas now faces increased pressure to land a high-impact player to remain competitive next season.
“Bill Self still needs one more impact guy,” Jeff Goodman posted.
Transfer options are quickly drying up, and time is running short. Still, the chance to play under Bill Self and join a storied program remains a powerful draw. Self and his staff are expected to exhaust every option in their search for the right player—especially after missing out on two highly coveted names.
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