Kansas' Bill Self Admits to Looking Ahead to Next Year; Team Was 'Gassed' vs. Gonzaga | News, Scores

Kansas has been eliminated from the NCAA tournament in the Round of 32 for a second straight season. The No. 4 Jayhawks fell to No. 5 Gonzaga 89-68 Saturday, and head coach Bill Self told reporters after the game that he had already had his sights set on next season well before March Madness got

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 23: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts during the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Delta Center on March 23, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Kansas has been eliminated from the NCAA tournament in the Round of 32 for a second straight season.

The No. 4 Jayhawks fell to No. 5 Gonzaga 89-68 Saturday, and head coach Bill Self told reporters after the game that he had already had his sights set on next season well before March Madness got underway.

"For the last month, I've been thinking about next season to be honest," he said.

NCAA March Madness @MarchMadnessMBB

"For the last month, I've been thinking about next season"<br><br>- Bill Self 😳<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarchMadness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarchMadness</a> <a href="https://t.co/YfGseyZkjK">pic.twitter.com/YfGseyZkjK</a>

Kansas went into halftime with the lead, but the second half was all Gonzaga as the Bulldogs pulled away. Gonzaga went on a 15-0 run early in the second half and didn't look back to advance to its ninth straight Sweet 16.

Self said fatigue got the best of his team as they watched their season come to an end, per Fox Sports' Bryan Fischer.

"My guys were gassed," Self said after the game.

It was another disappointing ending for Kansas after the Jayhawks won the national championship just two seasons ago. Kansas was not its dominant self this season, finishing sixth in the Big 12 and earning their lowest seed since 2019.

The Jayhawks snuck past No. 13 Samford 93-89 on Thursday, but the Zags were too much for them in the second round.

Injuries played a major part in Kansas' early exit. The Jayhawks were without leading scorer Kevin McCullar Jr. after the guard suffered an injury toward the end of the regular season. Kansas was lacking the spark that McCullar likely would have provided had he been healthy.

Now, Self and the Jayhawks begin preparation for what they hope will be a bounce-back season in 2024.

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