The Kansas Jayhawks faced another setback on Saturday, suffering a 78-73 defeat against No. 10 Texas Tech. Off the court, Zeke Mayo experienced a more significant blow. In the game, Mayo struggled, shooting just 1-for-7 overall and failing to make any of his five attempts from beyond the arc. Following the game, he took to social media to accept responsibility for the loss, stating, “I 100% deserve all the criticism in the world. My performance was beyond pitiful today, and has been for a while now. I work hard every day to improve, but I can’t be perfect all the time. I’m sorry to our fans and my teammates; I will continue to get better.” His account has since been deactivated.
Mayo’s post was accompanied by screenshots of hateful messages, including one that referred to him in a derogatory manner and others that were threatening. This prompted head coach Bill Self to release a detailed statement expressing his pride in the team. He remarked, “The game today was a very good college basketball game. We played a very good team and we got beat. Some individuals had exceptional performances, while others may not have met their usual standards. However, everyone on our team, including the coaches and myself, had chances to influence the game.”
Self emphasized his commitment to the team, stating, “I’ll stand by these guys every day and be proud of it. Any criticism directed at the team should be aimed at me, as I am the head coach.” He concluded by highlighting the importance of focusing on basketball during this critical time of the season, rather than on external negativity that lacks merit.
Currently, the Jayhawks hold a record of 19-10 and sit in sixth place in the Big 12, leaving their chances for an at-large bid in the upcoming March Madness tournament uncertain.
