How Kansas delivered Bill Self another milestone win against Cincinnati

Gary Bedore, The Kansas City Star on Jan 11, 2025

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Bill Self has won his 600th game in 22 seasons as University of Kansas men’s basketball coach.

The milestone victory, Saturday’s 54-40 decision at Cincinnati, is one he’ll likely not soon forget because his Jayhawks prevailed despite going just 2 of 21 from 3. KU won the low-scoring game thanks to a 16-3 run over the final 6:47.

As part of that spurt, KU used a 10-0 run to increase a 38-37 lead to 48-37 with just 3:08 to play.

Hunter Dickinson scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Jayhawks improved to 12-3 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 Conference action.

The victory pushed Self’s record as KU coach to 600-146. Earlier this season, Self passed Phog Allen (590-219) to become the winningest coach in KU history.

Zeke Mayo scored nine points as the Jayhawks won their third straight league game.

Here are a few takeaways from Saturday’s action:

Kansas, Cincinnati both ice cold

The Bearcats went 3 of 22 from 3. The fans noticed, booing the home team down the stretch.

The Jayhawks shot 35.3% from the field. The Bearcats shot 30.5% overall.

Each team had one player score in double figures.

The officials let ‘em play

KU went 2 of 2 from the line the first 20 minutes courtesy of AJ Storr’s two free throws with 46 seconds left before halftime. Cincinnati did not attempt a free throw the initial half.

There were only three fouls called the entire first half.

For the game KU was 4 of 5 from the line; Cincy 1 of 2.

Jayhawks on hot streak in Big 12

KU has bounced back nicely after losing its conference opener, 62-61, to West Virginia on Dec. 31 at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks stopped Cincy on Saturday after defeating Arizona State, 74-55, on Wednesday in Lawrence and downing UCF, 99-48, on Jan. 5 in Orlando.

Thus KU is 2-0 on the road and 1-1 at home in league action in 2024-25.

NFL coach in the house

Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor attended the game. The former Nebraska Cornhusker visited with KU staff member Doc Sadler before the game.

Sadler is a former head men’s basketball coach at Nebraska. The Bengals did not make this year’s NFL postseason.

KU finally catches Cincinnati

The Jayhawks, who went 1-1 against Cincinnati in its first year in the Big 12, now are 5-5 all time against the Bearcats. KU has won three of the last four in the series.

Cincinnati slugged KU, 72-52, in a first-round Big 12 tournament game on March 13, 2024, at T-Mobile Center. KU tripped Cincy during the 2023-24 regular season, 74-69, on Jan. 22, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Up next

KU will travel to Iowa State to meet the No. 3 Cyclones in a 6 p.m. tipoff on Wednesday.