Another disappointment for Kansas in the NCAA tournament
The song isn't on repeat but it might as well be, because you've heard it before: Kansas is going home from the NCAA tournament prematurely.
A loss in the Elite Eight to Oregon on Saturday marked the fifth straight season in which the Jayhawks have fallen shy of the Final Four - they've lost to a lower-seeded opponent each time.
Bill Self's 2016-17 squad featured plenty of talent, with National Player of the Year candidate Frank Mason III leading the way at point guard and prospective top-five NBA draft pick Josh Jackson dominating on the wing. There were numerous impact players waiting behind them, ready to pick up the slack if need be.
Turns out, it didn't matter. Kansas is going home from the NCAA tournament prematurely.
Bill Self is a future Hall of Famer. He’s also now 2-7 in Elite Eight games. Been a 1-seed 7 times. Only made 1 Final Four in those 7 years.
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) March 26, 2017
A loss to Oregon in the Elite Eight is by no means a disaster, but the latest tournament disappointment in a growing string of them sure felt like one. As a dejected Kansas roster walked off the court in defeat, an equally depressed sea of blue at the Sprint Center in Kansas City made its way for the exits.
Not only did the Ducks have to win what was essentially a road game, they needed to do it without Chris Boucher, their key frontcourt cog who's on the shelf with a torn ACL.
It didn't matter. Kansas is going home from the NCAA tournament prematurely.
Well, at least we have a lot of experience dealing with fans after an #Elite8 loss. Get home safely Jayhawk fans. #DriveSober
— Lawrence Police (@LawrenceKS_PD) March 26, 2017
The Jayhawks were 7-2 before Saturday night in games they trailed by double digits. That record is now 7-3, and Kansas is going home from the NCAA tournament prematurely.
The Jayhawks have won 13 straight Big 12 titles.
And one more time, Kansas is going home from the NCAA tournament prematurely.