University of Kansas

Jayhawks fans hit Mass Street in Lawrence in celebration of Kansas’ trip to Final Four

University of Kansas students and Jayhawk fans packed Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence Sunday to celebrate after the KU men’s basketball team earned a spot in the Final Four by defeating the University of Miami.
University of Kansas students and Jayhawk fans packed Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence Sunday to celebrate after the KU men’s basketball team earned a spot in the Final Four by defeating the University of Miami. University Daily Kansan

It ain’t a party in Lawrence until they shut down Mass Street.

Done.

As soon as the final score was called, Massachusetts Street erupted in pandemonium. The Kansas Jayhawks punched their ticket to the Final Four.

The Lawrence Police Department closed the street to auto traffic between 8th and 11th on Sunday afternoon after the Jayhawks beat Miami 76-50 in Chicago to advance to their 16th Final Four.

Students poured out into the street from bars as far as the eye could see. Fans blared music from the University’s band through portable loudspeakers as others danced, drinks in hand, no care in the world.

Why would they have any problems? Their Jayhawks had just won their first Elite Eight game since 2018, and the first Elite Eight since the start of the pandemic. There was nothing to worry about.

University of Kansas students and Jayhawk fans packed Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence Sunday to celebrate after the KU men’s basketball team earned a spot in the Final Four by defeating the University of Miami.
University of Kansas students and Jayhawk fans packed Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence Sunday to celebrate after the KU men’s basketball team earned a spot in the Final Four by defeating the University of Miami. University Daily Kansan

Fans flooded downtown Lawrence and were posting photos from the fun on a sunny afternoon.

Some posted video of the crowd, which had grown pretty big by 4:15 p.m.

During Sunday’s postgame news conference with KU coach Bill Self and several players, the Jayhawks at the mics were asked if they planned to join the revelry upon their return to Lawrence later that evening.

Here’s the humorous exchange:

The University Daily Kansan’s Matthew Petillo contributed to this report.

This story was originally published March 27, 2022 at 4:14 PM.

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