If you’ve followed Kansas basketball for more than five minutes, you know Bill Self isn’t exactly the "warm and fuzzy" type after a big win. He’s the guy who finds a leak in a roof during a sunny day. So, when he stepped up for the latest Bill Self news conference following the Jayhawks' 80-62 dismantling of Baylor, he didn’t lead with a parade. He led with a music history lesson.
"My Sharona." The Knack. 1979.
That was the vibe in the locker room. Self told reporters he literally wrote "Don't be one-hit wonders" on the whiteboard before the game. He was terrified his team would beat No. 2 Iowa State on Tuesday and then just... stop.
"Everybody’s been patting these guys on the back because they did something on Tuesday," Self said, sounding like a man who has seen too many talented teams fall off a cliff. "That’s nothing. We haven’t done anything."
Honestly, it’s vintage Bill. But behind the grumbling about consistency, there was a palpable sense that something has finally clicked for this 2025-26 squad. After a shaky 1-2 start in the Big 12 and some loud whispers about whether this era was "nearing its final chapter," the Jayhawks just strung together 80 minutes of absolute dominance.
Why the Bill Self news conference revealed a shifting identity
For weeks, the big question in Lawrence has been: When does Darryn Peterson actually become Darryn Peterson? He’s had a brutal injury saga this year. He’s been in and out. But against Baylor, the "heater" finally arrived. Peterson dropped 26 points in just 23 minutes. He looked like the generational prospect everyone promised. During the Bill Self news conference, Self was unusually candid about the learning curve of integrating a superstar mid-season.
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"It’s only about halftime with him," Self remarked. He noted that Peterson only played about 19 minutes where he actually felt 100% healthy on the court.
The interesting part wasn't just Peterson’s scoring, though. It was how the rest of the roster reacted. Earlier in the month, players like Melvin Council Jr. seemed to disappear when Peterson was on the floor—almost like they were waiting for him to do something. Self pointed out that against UCF and TCU, the chemistry was clunky.
"I think the biggest thing is that we’re kind of learning how to play off each other and not take away from somebody else’s skill set," Self explained. Basically, the Jayhawks are learning that they don't have to choose between Peterson being great and the rest of the team being aggressive. They can actually do both at the same time.
Flory Bidunga and the "Seven-Man" Reality
If Peterson was the lightning, Flory Bidunga was the thunder. He finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds, going nearly perfect from the floor. Self called it the best game Flory has had "maybe all year."
But there’s a catch. If you were hoping to see a deep bench this March, you might want to lower your expectations. Self made it very clear that he’s tightening the screws.
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- The Rotation is Shrinking: Self is leaning toward a seven-man unit.
- The "Victims": Kohl Rosario, despite having "the best attitude," seems to be the odd man out right now.
- The "Must-Haves": Elmarko Jackson and Jamari McDowell have officially earned their way into the "circle of trust."
Self was pretty blunt about it: "The bottom line is we got to win games. Right now, our team’s performing better with the shorter rotation."
It’s a tough pill for guys like Rosario, but that’s the reality of the Big 12 in 2026. You don't play for development in January; you play for survival.
The "Get On The Floor" Mentality
One of the more hilarious moments of the week came when Self talked about his whiteboard instructions. He didn't just write "Hustle." He wrote "GET ON THE FLOOR" about four different times.
He specifically highlighted a play by Elmarko Jackson—a "20/80 ball" where Jackson dove, saved a possession, and turned a certain turnover into a three-pointer. To Self, that’s the whole season in a nutshell.
"I was in a better mood coaching tonight because I thought the guys tried so hard," he admitted.
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That’s a big admission. Earlier in the season, after that "unacceptable" loss to West Virginia, there was a lot of talk about this team being soft or "antiquated." People were looking at Self’s two heart procedures over the last three years and wondering if he still had the fire to coach through the NIL era and the transfer portal chaos.
Watching him talk about "My Sharona" and diving for loose balls, it feels like the "back nine" of his career still has plenty of competitive juice left.
What's next for the Jayhawks?
The schedule is about to get disgusting. Three of the next four games are on the road, starting with a 10 p.m. late-night tip at Colorado this Tuesday.
Kansas is 13-5 and 3-2 in the conference. They’ve climbed back into the mix, but the Big 12 is a meat grinder this year. Self’s message in the Bill Self news conference was a warning to his players and the fans: don't get comfortable.
Actionable takeaways for Jayhawk fans:
- Watch the Peterson/Council dynamic: If Council stays aggressive (he had 36 in a half recently), Kansas is nearly impossible to guard.
- Monitor Peterson’s minutes: He asked to come out around the 16-minute mark of the second half against Baylor. His conditioning is still "halftime" according to Self.
- The Road Test: Kansas has struggled away from Allen Fieldhouse. If they want to prove they aren't "one-hit wonders," they have to win in Boulder or Manhattan later this month.
The season isn't saved yet, but for the first time in 2026, it feels like Bill Self has his hands firmly on the steering wheel. He’s got his superstar healthy, his big man dominant, and his rotation set. Now, they just have to avoid being a catchy tune that everyone forgets by February.