Kansas Jayhawks: Four Unbelievable Facts from the Self Era
By Mike Norris
Nov 27, 2014; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self against the Rhode Island Rams during the first half at HP Field house at Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
No Sweep for You
West Virginia almost did it Tuesday.
However, the Jayhawks overcame an 18-point, first-half deficit to knock of the Mountaineers in overtime, and avoided being swept in the regular season by a Big 12 opponent for the first time in the Self era.
After defeating the Jayhawks in February, Bob Huggins nearly became the first coach to pull off the feat, and it could have very well cost Kansas an outright conference title.
As you’ll see on the next slide, it has been incredibly hard for any conference foe to win in Allen Fieldhouse the past 12 years (or ever), which makes a season sweep difficult.
Hold up your hand as if you are going to give someone a high five — that’s how many Big 12 teams (Iowa St., Kansas St., Texas A&M, Oklahoma St. and Texas) have won in Lawrence against Self.*
It equates to one home loss about every 2.5 years, or terrible odds for a chance at a season sweep against the best team in the league.
It is bound to happen sometime before Self retires, but if not, it would go down as one of the most incredible feats in the history of the sport.
*From 2003 to 2012 only Big 12 North teams (Nebraska, K-State, Colorado, Missouri, and Iowa St.) played Kansas twice in a season. From 2013-2015 all 10 teams have played a round-robin schedule.
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