In a heart-wrenching conclusion to their season, the Kansas Jayhawks, ranked preseason No. 1, faced a stunning first-round exit from the 2025 NCAA Tournament, falling 79-72 to the Arkansas Razorbacks. The match, held on Thursday, highlighted a disappointing trajectory for Hall of Fame coach Bill Self’s squad as they encountered their 13th loss of the season—a record not seen since 1982-83.

The Razorbacks, despite entering the game as 4.5-point underdogs, showcased a formidable performance, ignited by standout performances from Jonas Aidoo and Johnell Davis, who scored 22 and 18 points, respectively. The upset was bolstered by an exceptional defensive strategy that effectively neutralized Kansas star Hunter Dickinson, rendering him to zero points during the second half. Dickinson did manage to finish the game with 11 points and nine rebounds, but his struggle was decisive.

This loss marks a peculiar pattern in the storied rivalry between Self and Arkansas' coach John Calipari. With this defeat, Calipari has now surpassed Self in terms of season-ending victories against him—two to one—making it the first time their encounters didn’t culminate in a national championship showdown. Notably, Calipari achieved his 58th tournament win, moving him past Self in historical standings.

For Kansas, this marks the fifth occasion under Bill Self that the team began the season ranked No. 1 and subsequently failed to advance to the Sweet 16. Historical data on their performances reveals a disheartening trend:

| Year | Final AP Rank | NCAA Tournament Seed | NCAA Tournament Finish |

|------------|---------------|----------------------|-----------------------------------------|

| 2004-05 | 1 | 1 | 1st round loss to No. 14 seed Bucknell |

| 2009-10 | 1 | 2 | 2nd round loss to No. 9 seed Northern Iowa |

| 2018-19 | 1 | 1 | 2nd round loss to No. 5 seed Auburn |

| 2023-24 | 1 | 1 | 2nd round loss to No. 5 seed Gonzaga |

| 2024-25 | TBD | 10 | 1st round loss to No. 10 seed Arkansas |

In terms of performance, Kansas shot an acceptable 43% from the field (25 of 58) and hit 47% of their three-point attempts (8 of 17). However, 16 turnovers proved crippling, highlighting a recurring issue throughout the season. Coach Self remarked post-game, "We beat ourselves as much as Arkansas did."

The Jayhawks couldn't effectively counter Arkansas' defensive length; forced passes resulted in turnovers that translated into 16 points for the Razorbacks. Despite shifting to a zone defense, Kansas was unable to stifle their opponents, who managed key baskets and crucial free throws down the stretch.

Sadly, this disappointing exit marks a third consecutive first-weekend exit for Coach Self's squad, with the latest Sweet 16 drought stretching back to 1998-2000. Over the last six NCAA tournaments, they have suffered five first-round departures, with only a national championship win in 2021 offering a glimmer of hope.

The past two seasons have offered a tumultuous journey for Kansas, which began as the top-ranked team last year but fell victim to injuries in the second round. This season, they faced their worst NCAA Tournament seed under Self due to missed opportunities in the transfer portal.

Coach Self acknowledged the challenges this season brought: "We haven’t had many downs—these last two years defined that. This year, we had a good enough roster to compete, but it didn’t measure up against the best in the nation."

Kansas made significant efforts to bolster their backcourt depth via the transfer portal, recruiting six new players, yet only two finished the season as starters. The much-anticipated addition of AJ Storr did not pan out, alongside others who struggled to make a significant impact.

Looking forward, help is on the way: five-star recruit Darryn Peterson from Prolific Prep is expected to bring star power to the Jayhawks. As Kansas faces an impending roster overhaul with significant departures, they are poised to make strategic moves in the offseason to construct a balanced team surrounding Peterson.

Given Kansas' rich basketball heritage and resources, expect them back in the hunt for the Big 12 and national titles—if the right adjustments are made. What does the future hold for Bill Self’s program? Only time will tell, but the pressure to shake off this historic curse is mounting!