Here’s why Kansas coach Bill Self showed so much emotion after win over Arizona
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- Bill Self showed rare emotion after KU’s 82-78 win over No. 1 Arizona.
- Students stayed in Allen Fieldhouse, cheered and sang during Self’s TV interview.
- KU improved to 19-5 overall and 9-2 in league play after the signature victory.
Kansas’ students, who were crammed into the bleachers in both end zones, did not storm the court after the final horn sounded in the Jayhawks’ 82-78 victory over previously undefeated Arizona on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
It’s a tradition at blue-blood KU that spectators do not even consider the possibility of charging onto the playing surface after victories, even ones as significant as Monday’s — the first victory in the fieldhouse over a No. 1-ranked team in the AP poll (against five previous defeats) throughout history.
Instead … the student body and a good portion of the rest of the 15,300 in attendance may have started a new tradition: That is, staying glued to their seats long after the final seconds ticked off the clock.
They watched and cheered and sang the fight song, accompanied by the pep band, as normally stoic coach Bill Self thrust both hands in the air over his head and gave warm hugs to Melvin Council Jr. (23 points, six assists, six rebounds, 40 minutes) and Flory Bidunga (23 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, 33 minutes) before making his way to a postgame interview with ESPN’s announcing crew.
That interview was played over the loudspeaker in the arena, the fans listening intently before finally heading to the exits after Self made his way through the northwest tunnel to a thunderous ovation.
“I never do that. I’m never like that,” Self said with a smile, referring to showing emotion after victories. Monday’s win upped No. 9 KU’s record to 19-5 overall and 9-2 in the Big 12; No. 1 Arizona fell to 23-1, 10-1.
“I was just playing to the crowd ... but the crowd stuck around. I don’t know why they stuck around, but I was excited. I think I was probably a little bit more emotional because we’re better than what we’ve played when we get all our pieces.”
His emotional response to the victory, he said, had little to do with KU beating the No. 1 team in the country without Darryn Peterson, who Self said informed his coach in the training room before the game he’d be unable to play because of flu-like symptoms.
Peterson has missed 11 of KU’s 24 games this season.
This had more to do with his appreciation for the fans, who didn’t give up when KU trailed by as many as 11 points with 17:02 to play. This Arizona team, led by freshman guard Brayden Burries’ 25 points and the 14-point, 15-rebound, four-assist, six block effort of Motiejus Krivas, gave KU all it wanted.
“I don’t think I’m usually the most overly emotional guy, but that was a big win for us today,” Self said. “I watched how Carolina celebrated when they beat Duke (Saturday in students storming the court). That was a great win. And even though we won’t do that, we won’t storm or do that stuff. But in my world, that was the equivalent of what we watched the other night.”
Of the juiced atmosphere, Self said: “Maybe it is because Darryn didn’t play. They would have been excited regardless. But they took ownership of making sure we didn’t get tired.”
Playing in place of Peterson, soph guard Jamari McDowell had 10 points, six rebounds four steals in 35 minutes. Freshman forward Bryson Tiller had 18 points, eight boards and two blocks while playing 33 minutes. He suffered cramps after a late slam dunk — one that gave KU a 73-67 lead with 4:37 left.
“It’s hard to get tired — Melvin, playing 40 and everything else — it’s hard to get tired when that crowd is like that. There are a lot of great crowds out there. And everybody would think I’m biased by saying that we’re the best. I shouldn’t say that, because I don’t know exactly what everybody else has, but I can guarantee you there’s no place better than this place. So nobody can say they got a better joint than this one.”
He provided more reasons for his being so happy after the game.
“I’m enjoying our guys,” he said. “Flory has been great. Tre (White, four points, 1-of-6 shooting, 25 minutes) didn’t have a good game today, but he’s been great.
“And all the guys have been great, but Melvin Council just, I mean, how can you have a bad day when you’re around him? To me, he’s put his handprint on this place as much as anybody possibly could in the short amount of time he’s been here. I mean, he owns this place. He’s as popular as any kid that we’ve ever had played here. You guys follow it. He is. I think the pleasant surprise of who he is has really made this enjoyable for everybody.”
Self was unable to identify a more rewarding win in Allen during his 23 years at KU.
“Yeah I can’t (remember one),” said Self, who has a personal record of 40-0 on Big Monday games in Allen during his 23 seasons at KU. “Hopefully we’re going to play bigger games than this, or it’d be a disappointment. But I can’t remember … one day prep. Of course, they had the same thing. A 30-minute practice (Sunday after beating Utah in Allen). Winning the last two Big Mondays the way we’ve won them, Texas Tech (when Peterson hit two late 3s) and this one. ...”
The Jayhawks will have the rest of the week to prepare for their next game, which is Saturday versus Iowa State. Tipoff is 12 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum.
This story was originally published February 10, 2026 at 12:17 AM.
