Former KU player takes issue with ‘spoiled’ Jayhawks fans following NCAA loss
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Fans vent on social media after KU exits NCAA Tournament early again.
- Former players defend Bill Self, argue program success outweighs criticism.
- Ex-players label fan complaints as 'spoiled' given Kansas' long-term record.
Many Kansas men’s basketball fans have seen enough.
The Jayhawks lost 67-65 to St. John’s on Sunday in San Diego and fell short of advancing to the Sweet 16. KU failed to make it to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year, the first time that’s happened since 1982-85, as the Associated Press’ Josh Dubow noted.
KU fans expressed their displeasure with what they saw as another season of failure. And they shared their thoughts on social media.
“Not advancing to the Sweet 16 at a place like Kansas 6 times in 7 years should get you fired or forced to retire,” a fan wrote on X, referencing KU coach Bill Self.
Another shared this: “Dear Bill Self, you are a great college basketball coach. However, it’s time to retire. No sweet 16‘s in the last 4 years is unacceptable. KU needs a new basketball coach.”
“KU fans are too loyal to Bill Self. His time has passed. 1 sweet 16 in 7 years is not acceptable for a blue blood,” wrote another. “We need a new coach that can actually build a good roster in the new NIL era.”
KU players took issue with the criticism of Self, and so did some former players.
Rex Walters, who played two seasons under Roy Williams at KU, said the Jayhawks need Self to return.
“KU fans better pray that Bill Self can get healthy, feels good about next year and is excited about what he can bring in with the right amount of money,” Walters wrote on X. “U are not finding a better coach and recruiter that will leave where he is at for KU. Just saying.”
Scot Pollard, who played at Kansas from 1993-97, responded to a fan who asked what changes need to take place.
“Longest active consecutive streak in the tournament and another 20+ win season for I don’t know how many years in a row and our fans ask what needs to change,” Pollard wrote. “I love how spoiled we are.”
Pollard answered a number of fans.
A fan noted the four straight seasons of losing in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament and said change had to take place.
“Perhaps you could root for Kstate? Misery?” Pollard responded. “Literally any other college. Take your pick. Who’s doing it better over the last 128 years?”
Pollard wrote this to another fan who said KU needed a change: “Pick another program, then. 128 years and 8 head coaches with only the inventor having a losing record isn’t good enough for you.”
Fans continued to push Pollard to say something was wrong with the program.
Instead, he wrote: “Perhaps you could choose a program, literally any other college basketball program and tell me they are better over the entire history of said program? Our fans are COMPLAINING about not making the sweet sixteen when almost every team celebrates MAKING the tournament. ❤️”
Pollard wrote to another who deleted his post: “It’s actually the opposite of everything you said. I’m not happy. I’m not content. But to complain that we ‘only’ made it to the second round? That’s how spoiled we are and I love that about @KUHoops We almost won playing awful tonight. Enjoy that.”
Another fan pointed out the three straight seasons of missing the Sweet 16, and Pollard responded: “Because our standard is so high that no actual fan that sees every other team in the country struggle to try to be like us can stand your point of view”
And, finally, Pollard again said KU fans have become spoiled.
“I don’t put words in other peoples mouths but anyone in the last 40+ years that played for KU that achieved those things played for Larry, Roy, or Bill, and I know most of them, so I’ll guess yes. Please, fans, keep proving how spoiled we are,” he wrote.
This story was originally published March 23, 2026 at 9:02 AM.
