Kansas head coach Bill Self was ejected from the game against Arizona State in a dramatic turn during the first half, leaving his team trailing just 14 minutes into the matchup. The decision, made by referee Doug Sirmons, followed a heated exchange regarding a controversial foul called against standout freshman Darryn Peterson.
Going into the game, Kansas held a record of 21-8 overall and 11-5 in Big 12 play, with only two games remaining ahead of the upcoming conference tournament. Arizona State, on the other hand, entered at 15-14 overall and 6-10 in the conference.
Peterson, who is considered one of the top prospects for the 2026 NBA Draft, had a challenging first half, managing only two points on 0-of-7 shooting. This performance contrasts with his season averages of 19.7 points and 3.8 rebounds, shooting 46.5% from the field.
At halftime, the Jayhawks faced a significant setback, trailing 40-20, and they now have a considerable uphill battle in the second half without Self leading on the sidelines. The outcome of this game could be pivotal for Kansas’s standings in the Big 12, as they aim to maintain their position above Iowa State, which is just a half game behind, while also keeping pace with Texas Tech, also a half game ahead.
Kansas previously appeared as a 4-seed in On3’s most recent bracketology update, projected to compete in the South Region with a first-round matchup against High Point in Portland. This bracket also included 5-seed Tennessee and 12-seed Yale. As bracketology projections will be updated on Thursday morning, the results of midweek college basketball games will be reflected, including the impact of Kansas’s performance.
Despite the challenging first half and subsequent deficit, the Jayhawks still have some margin to maintain their 4-seed position, with Arkansas posing the most significant threat from below and potentially poised to make a leap, alongside Vanderbilt. With the regular season nearing its end, the upcoming conference tournament will present the final opportunity for teams to enhance their positioning in the NCAA landscape, amidst potential shake-ups in the playoff bracket.