Mandy
Bill Self, who is in his 23rd season as head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team, has always appreciated the passion of the student section at Allen Fieldhouse. Over the years, he has even surprised students camping out before games with donuts and pizza as a small thank-you for their dedication.
On Sunday morning, Self addressed nearly 2,500 KU students gathered in the lower-level north bleachers for the ticket lottery ahead of Monday night’s highly anticipated matchup against No. 5-ranked Houston. During his short speech, he encouraged the students to bring maximum intensity to the game.
They answered the call.
The No. 14-ranked Jayhawks secured a 69-56 victory over the Cougars, who entered the contest with three returning starters from last season’s national runner-up squad. The atmosphere inside Allen Fieldhouse was electric from the opening moments.
Speaking on Tuesday’s Hawk Talk radio show, Self praised the crowd’s enthusiasm.
“They were so good last night. The energy right before tipoff and throughout the game,” Self said.
No Court Storming — A KU Tradition
Despite the significant win, KU students stayed true to tradition. At a historic program like Kansas — often referred to as a college basketball blue blood — court storming after home victories is not the norm.
Instead, following the handshake line between the Jayhawks and Cougars, students gathered for selfies with KU senior Melvin Council Jr., celebrating the win in a more composed but equally enthusiastic manner.
Self emphasized how impressed he has been with student engagement throughout the season.
“I don’t know that we’ve had a better season from an opponent standpoint where our student body has been more engaged than what they’ve been this year. I think our student body has just been great,” he said.
One of the Toughest Home Schedules in KU History
The Jayhawks (21-7 overall, 11-4 in the Big 12) have faced what many consider one of the most challenging home schedules in program history.
Major Home Results This Season
At Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas has:
- Defeated then-No. 1 Arizona
- Beaten No. 2 Iowa State
- Taken down No. 5 Houston
- Lost to No. 5 UConn
- Defeated No. 13 BYU
With three home victories over Associated Press top-5 teams, KU has tied five other programs for the most such wins in a single season since the 1989-90 campaign.
Programs With Three Home Wins Over AP Top-5 Teams (Since 1989-90)
- Oklahoma (1989-90)
- USC (1991-92)
- Indiana (2011-12)
- Kansas (2011-12)
- Villanova (2012-13)
- Michigan State (2000-2021)
Self acknowledged the caliber of opponents that have visited Lawrence this season.
“We’ve had some good teams roll through there, no question,” he said on Hawk Talk.
A Lighthearted Moment With Students
Reflecting on his Sunday interaction with students, Self joked that the crowd even responded well to his humor.
“It was a great audience because they actually laughed at my material,” he said. “We visited a while, and they were pretty turned up on Monday.”
Self told the students to “put it in overdrive” for the Houston game — and according to him, they did exactly that.
Kansas Heads to Arizona for Road Stretch
After the big home win, Kansas now shifts focus to a two-game road trip in Arizona.
- The Jayhawks will face Arizona at 3 p.m. Central on Saturday in Tucson.
- They will then play Arizona State at 8 p.m. Central on Tuesday, March 3, in Tempe.
Because of the short turnaround between the two matchups, the team will remain in Arizona between games.
The energy inside Allen Fieldhouse continues to be one of the biggest advantages for the Kansas Jayhawks. Under Bill Self’s leadership, KU has built a culture where student support plays a meaningful role in home-court success.
This season, especially with one of the toughest home schedules in program history, the students have proven to be more engaged than ever. Their enthusiasm helped power Kansas to major wins over elite opponents, including Houston.
As the Jayhawks head into a crucial road stretch, the momentum created at home could play a key role in shaping the remainder of their season.