How Kansas Responds to Losses: Analyzing The Jayhawks' Bounce-Back Ability
As established in part one of this series, even great teams have days when it’s not going right, the other team is clicking, and they suffer a defeat.
When that’s the case, how a team responds can say as much about it than the loss itself. Does the team bounce back and come out motivated or does it let one loss snowball into two, three, or four?
One of the hallmarks of Kansas’ and Bill Self’s success is that rarely do losses pile up. As KU AD Travis Goff pointed out after the Iowa State win Tuesday, Kansas is 106-15 following a loss under Self.
Just take a look at the Jayhawks’ recent history after losses.
2021-22
Number of 2+ game losing streaks: 0
Longest losing streak: 1 game
2020-21
Number of 2+ game losing streaks: 1
Longest losing streak: 3 games
2019-20
Number of 2+ game losing streaks: 0
Longest losing streak: 1 game
2018-19
Number of 2+ game losing streaks: 1
Longest losing streak: 2 games
2017-18
Number of 2+ game losing streaks: 1
Longest losing streak: 2 games
2016-17
Number of 2+ game losing streaks: 0
Longest losing streak: 1 game
2015-16
Number of 2+ game losing streaks: 0
Longest losing streak: 1 game
2014-15
Number of 2+ game losing streaks: 0
Longest losing streak: 1 game
2013-14
Number of 2+ game losing streaks: 1
Longest losing streak: 2 games
2012-13
Number of 2+ game losing streaks: 1
Longest losing streak: 3 games
You read that correctly. Kansas has had just five losing streaks of two or more games in the past 10 years. And I know what you’re going to say. Kansas usually has more talent than other teams. That’s what happens.
Well, not exactly. Another powerhouse in Villanova has suffered six streaks of two or more losses since the 2018-19 season alone. Baylor has suffered eight of those streaks since 2017-18. Even Duke, who has consistently had one of the best recruiting classes in a given year, has racked up eight 2+ loss streaks since 2016-17 and 11 in the past 10 seasons.
This is how you win 14-straight conference championships and close in on the most wins all time by a program. It also says something about not only how well Kansas has been coached, but also about the mental strength these teams have possessed.
Just look at last week's road game at Iowa State. Not only had Kansas just been handled soundly by Kentucky, but their national player of the year candidate in Ochai Agbaji was out with COVID and Remy Martin was still out with a knee injury. On the road against a ranked team in a hostile environment without two of your best players is a fair reason to struggle and lose a second straight. But instead, Kansas looked more focused, more determined, and the losing streak stopped at one.
The postseason success doesn’t benefit from this quite as much as during the regular season on account of the single-elimination nature. If the NCAA Tournament was made up of best-of-three series, Kansas could have a few more titles. But the Jayhawks are often in favorable seeding positions because of this regular-season success.
More importantly, Kansas carries the mentality that a bad performance—even in a win—doesn’t hang over the Jayhawks’ head. It starts with and is instilled by Self, but it ultimately has to come down to the team’s execution and will.
Opponents can beat Kansas. But good luck to whoever has to face the Jayhawks next.
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