\u201cI don\u2019t think that had much to do with our energy level being better. I think if we\u2019d have played well Saturday, I think we would have been the same team tonight,\u201d added Self, whose Jayhawks led the Cougars by as many as 20 points with 7:32 remaining.<\/p>\n
Considering KU (21-7, 11-4) was a 1.5 point underdog Monday, there was serious danger of two straight losses in Allen, which has never happened in Self\u2019s 23 years as Jayhawk coach.<\/p>\n
Also on the line was KU\u2019s 40-0 record in Big Monday games coached by Self in Allen Fieldhouse.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t talk about losing at Allen Fieldhouse. I didn\u2019t talk about that. That\u2019s something for you guys to talk about,\u201d Self said. \u201cYou know, our record here is pretty good (344-23), but it\u2019s not perfect and it\u2019s not going to be perfect. So we (stunk) the other day. We contributed to them playing well, and they were great. Their bigs dominated us, and you guys watched the game, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut basketball is a long season. If you\u2019re going to play 35 games, or whatever it is, you\u2019re going to have some games like that. And we weren\u2019t good enough to overcome that game, where maybe some of the teams in the past, we play that way we were able to overcome it. Was that extra motivation? I don\u2019t think so, We were playing Houston, a top-five team in the country? That was the motivation, just getting a chance to play them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Jayhawks this season at home now have beaten No. 1 Arizona, No. 2 Iowa State and No. 5 Houston.<\/p>\n
Self was reminded of this being a huge game when driving to work at 7:30 a.m. Sunday when he saw more than 2,500 students walking into Allen Fieldhouse<\/a> for their ticket lottery.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were cars and people everywhere. I thought maybe there was a church service or something going on. And they were all kids, but all the parking lots were full, all the stuff was going on. And I\u2019m driving, I put my window down, and I asked a dude, \u2018Hey man, what\u2019s going on? Why all the people?\u2019 And his response was, \u2018It\u2019s Houston,\u2019\u201d Self related.<\/p>\n Self was so awed by the large turnout of students seeking their spot in line for tickets in the student section he spoke to the group for the first time in his 23 years at KU.<\/p>\n Whatever the motivation of the team on Monday, several players stepped up to hand Houston (23-5, 11-4) its third straight loss (in a brutal stretch of playing Iowa State, Arizona, KU.<\/p>\n Tre White scored 23 points, most he\u2019s scored in a game in his one season as a Jayhawk. He hit 6 of 9 shots \u2014 3-of-4 from 3 and 8-of-8 from the line. He also had five rebounds in 28 minutes.<\/p>\n Darryn Peterson, who had no cramping issues, had 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting (2-of-7 from 3) with four rebounds in 30 minutes. Bryson Tiller had 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting (5-of-7 from line) with 10 rebounds and three blocks in 31 minutes.<\/p>\n Melvin Council Jr. had 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting with six rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes. Flory Bidunga had four points and seven rebounds and Jamari McDowell iced two 3s, good for six points.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought our ball-screen defense was really good,\u201d Self said. \u201cThe bigs stayed until they picked the dribble up a lot more. They didn\u2019t get near as many open looks.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought the defense was right on point.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cougars went 5-for-24 from 3 and shot 31.8% overall to KU\u2019s 44.0% mark. Houston had just one double-digit scorer. Guard Kingston Flemings had 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting in 34 minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, people make a big deal about \u2026 they played great, but we allowed them to play great,\u201d Self said, reflecting on the game against Cincinnati. \u201cThat was the difference tonight. We didn\u2019t allow Houston to get a rhythm. They didn\u2019t allow us to get one either. So it was the best looking ugly (that) was going to win the game. And we were just a little bit better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n KU will next meet Arizona at 3 p.m. Central on Saturday in Tucson.<\/p>\n This story was originally published February 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Kansas City Star<\/p>\n Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) talks with head coach Bill Self during a timeout in the second half vs. the Houston Cougars on Monday, February 23, 2026, at Allen Fieldhouse. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com <\/p>\n
Kansas Jayhawks forward Bryson Tiller (15) smiles as guard Tre White (3) celebrates a made shot in the second half vs. the Houston Cougars on Monday, February 23, 2026, at Allen Fieldhouse. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com <\/p>\n
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