Bill Self Ejected as Kansas Falls to Arizona State in Upset
TEMPE, AZ – Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self was ejected from Tuesday night’s game against Arizona State, ultimately resulting in a 70-60 upset loss for the No. 14 ranked Jayhawks. The ejection occurred in the first half following a disputed offensive foul call against Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson.
Ejection Sparks Sun Devils’ Run
The incident took place with 6:07 remaining in the first half, as Arizona State held a 23-16 lead. Self vehemently protested a call where Peterson was assessed an offensive foul after contact with Arizona State guard Bryce Ford. He received two technical fouls and was subsequently ejected from the contest.
Following Self’s departure, Arizona State capitalized, building a 20-point lead by halftime. Kansas struggled offensively, managing only four points and shooting 21% from the field in the first 20 minutes after the ejection.
Game Recap
Despite a better second-half performance, Kansas was unable to overcome the large deficit. Arizona State secured a 10-point victory, sparking a court storm at Desert Financial Arena.
Maurice Odum led the Sun Devils with 23 points, including five 3-pointers. Massamba Diop contributed 19 points and nine rebounds. For Kansas, Tre White scored 16 points, while Flory Bidunga added 14 points and 13 rebounds. Peterson finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Recent Struggles for Kansas
This loss marks the fourth in Kansas’ last six games, including a 23-point defeat at Arizona on Saturday. Despite the recent struggles, Kansas still managed 25 offensive rebounds against Arizona State, the most since 2009.
Self’s Reaction
“I’m disappointed in myself that I wasn’t out there with the guys to finish the game,” Self said, via The Field of 68’s Sam Lance. “But that was a pretty temperamental crew tonight. That didn’t cost us. What cost us is we weren’t ready to play.”
Looking Ahead
Kansas will conclude its regular season against Kansas State on Saturday. Despite the recent losses, the Jayhawks remain a contender in the Big 12 conference and will glance to regain form heading into the Big 12 tournament.