There might be a new era on the horizon for Kansas State men’s basketball, but not in the way you might think. With the future uncertain across the way in Lawrence, Sunflower Showdown momentum could be trending in the direction of the Wildcats.
Bill Self’s uncertainty about Kansas future paves way for K-State momentum
Unlike the Jayhawks, Kansas State did not make an appearance in the NCAA March Madness tournament. The Jayhawks, however, faced a different outcome.
For the third straight season, Kansas was bounced in the second round. This time around, legendary head coach Rick Pitino – now at St. John’s – and former Jayhawk Zuby Ejiofor left Self and the Jayhawks with no answer.
With 3.9 seconds on the clock, Pitino turned to Dylan Darling, who delivered a clutch layup to send the Red Storm to the Sweet 16 and the Jayhawks packing. Now, the future is uncertain for the conference rivals.
Bill Self said Sunday that he is unsure if he'll be back to coach Kansas in the fall. This has been brewing for a while.
— Jason Kinander (@WIBWJason) March 23, 2026
Tonight at 6 I took into the last 3 years of Self's health concerns. His change in tone from January to now is notable. @WIBWsports pic.twitter.com/RiksJLvYWN
Self hasn’t explicitly come out and said that he plans to retire. No official reports confirm that he’s stepping down at Kansas, and ESPN even refutes “bad info.” What’s true is that it’s still uncertain whether or not he’ll return.
Self’s decision does more than spark conversation for Kansas State
Kansas State finds itself on the other side of that discussion. The Wildcats just brought in first-year head coach Casey Alexander, aiming to rebuild momentum now that Jerome Tang is out of the picture.
Facing one of the longest-tenured coaches in the Big 12 is an opportunity for Alexander to make a statement in his first Sunflower Showdown game. Should Self decide to leave the Jayhawks, the series is quickly diluted in his first year at the helm.
But just because Self might be out of the picture doesn’t mean ther isn’t a chance to make history. Kansas State hasn’t taken down the Jayhawks inside Allen Fieldhouse since the 2005-06 season, long before most young fans were even born.
The streak of Kansas’ conference rivalry wins dates back to the days of Jim Wooldridge and Wildcat legend Clent Stewart. Self was in his third season after leaving the head coaching job at Illinois after three seasons.
That remains the only time in his coaching career that Self fell to the Wildcats in Lawrence. With Alexander in his first season, it would take a monumental effort to change that outcome.
What’s still to come for Kansas State following March Madness
The transfer portal window officially opens on April 6 following the championship game of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. It’s still unclear which players, if any, from the 2025-26 roster will retain a spot on the current roster.
As it stands, Alexander’s staff for the 2026 season is set. So far, it consists of Belmont legend Kerron Johnson among other big names.
Two former Belmont players, Tyler Lundblade and Drew Scharnowski, are also searching for transfer destinations following Alexander’s departure from the Bruins. More updates on recruiting are expected to come closer to the end of the tournament.
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