Things have been unraveling for Bill Self’s Kansas Jayhawks since their loss to Creighton. The shock defeat dented their momentum, but the fallout didn’t stop there. A brewing controversy over their non-conference scheduling choices has put their No. 1 ranking under scrutiny. Questions are now being raised about their competitive intent, igniting a heated debate.

“Blue bloods like Kansas have a long history of avoiding true road games in non-conference play. Unless they’re a part of a specific event, like the Big East-Big 12 battle. And in this case, they manipulated where they got to play,” said Mark Zannetto, host of Locked on UConn.

“You’re seeing a lot of that right now. You’re seeing the ACC-SEC challenge. You know, Clemson had Kentucky on their home floor, you’ll never see that again. Especially since Kentucky got beat. These schools rarely step into hostile environments outside of those orchestrated by themselves or corporate sponsorships. Kansas, in particular, almost never takes on true road games before the Big 12 slate because it’s all about minimizing risk.”

Zannetto’s critique was an observation of an episode hosted by Matt Norlander called The Eye on College Basketball podcast. Norlander explained how a potential Kansas-UConn rematch fell apart, citing logistical preferences by Kansas.

“UConn went to Kansas last year; Kansas got the win. Then the idea was that Kansas would do the return trip to UConn this season, but that didn’t happen,” he said. “Kansas has to play at Missouri this upcoming weekend, and perhaps to cut down on distance of travel, Kansas was not looking to have that game be returned. So Baylor got slotted in instead.”

The missed rematch disappointed many, especially since last year’s game at Allen Fieldhouse was an instant classic. Kansas edged UConn 69-65 in a battle of recent national champions. Fans anticipated a fiery return at UConn’s XL Center, one of the most intimidating venues in college basketball. Instead, the Huskies hosted Baylor, winning 75-72, while Kansas stumbled at Creighton, losing 76-63.

Missed opportunity or strategic avoidance? Bill Self and Kansas face scrutiny over scheduling choices

UConn head coach Dan Hurley had been eager for the rematch, but sources claimed Kansas coach Bill Self “clearly didn’t want it.” Self, however, denied any knowledge of the scheduling breakdown, to NJ Advance Media stating, “I’ve never heard that. My scheduler never shared that with me.” A Kansas spokesperson clarified that scheduling decisions are determined by conferences, not individual schools.

Self’s track record against elite programs like Duke, Kentucky, and UConn suggests he isn’t afraid of tough matchups. Kansas has already beaten North Carolina, Michigan State, and the Blue Devils this season.

However, critics argue that Jayhawks’ unwillingness to visit Storrs raises questions. Zannetto pointed out the double standard in narratives: while Kansas avoids criticism for such decisions, UConn often faces scrutiny for similar scheduling controversies.

A Kansas-UConn game would have been a national television spectacle, bolstering college basketball’s profile. Instead, the Big East-Big 12 Battle concluded without its marquee matchup, a symbolic loss as the series ends this year. As Zannetto highlighted, the decision reflects a broader trend in college basketball: minimizing risk over maximizing competition.

For now, Kansas retains its top spot, but the missed rematch and growing criticism of Self’s scheduling tactics loom large. In a season where the stakes are high, the Jayhawks’ decisions off the court may weigh as heavily as their performance on it.