Bill Self is back for his 24th season leading the Kansas Jayhawks, and despite all the noise, he is absolutely not thinking about stepping away from the sideline any time soon. The retirement rumors were swirling huge last season, especially after Kansas got bounced early from the NCAA Tournament yet again, but Self has put that talk to bed, officially returning for the 2026-27 season.
“Back Nine” Talk Isn’t Stopping Self
At Big 12 Media Day this week, Self directly addressed the persistent questions about his future. His message was clear: he’s here to coach. “What my legacy is, hopefully what we do this year and what we do next year,” Self said. He acknowledged he’s “on the back nine,” but immediately followed up with, “I don’t (know) whether it’s 14 or 16. I don’t know what hole I’m on right now.” That’s classic Self, admitting he’s not a young buck anymore, but far from calling it quits. He tied his feeling about continuing to how well they play, saying, “As long as we play well, I will feel a lot better.” The fact is, after losing to St. John’s in the second round of last season’s NCAA Tournament, there were real questions if he was done. He isn’t.
Last Season’s Hype Fell Flat, Hard
Last season, 2025-26, kicked off with massive hype around Kansas. Everyone was pumped for five-star guard Darryn Peterson, who 247Sports ranked as the No. 1 player in the 2025 recruiting cycle. He was the third top-ranked high school player to commit to Self, so expectations were through the roof. But honestly, it just didn’t pan out. Peterson flashed why he ended up as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but cramping issues sidelined him for 12 games. Even with Peterson playing well during the March stretch run, Kansas failed to make it out of the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. That’s the third consecutive season they haven’t made it past the opening weekend. Tough.
New Faces Ready to Turn Things Around
So, what about this year? The offseason was all about reloading. Kansas landed Tyran Stokes, who 247Sports has as the top-ranked player in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Plus, they recently added Tre White, Melvin Council Jr., and Trey Kaufman-Renn. White and Council were on the roster last season and are both seeking a fifth year of eligibility. Then there’s Kaufman-Renn, who spent five seasons at Purdue and is now hoping for a sixth year to play for Kansas. If he gets cleared, the Jayhawks could have an absolutely dynamic duo with Kaufman-Renn, one of the best power forwards in college ball, alongside Stokes, who was already voted a preseason First-Team All-American by CBS Sports. This season is looking to be a fresh start with some serious talent on board.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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