'One's not enough': Kansas coach Bill Self knows Jayhawks' 14-year title drought is frustrating
NEW ORLEANS — Kansas coach Bill Self knows the Jayhawks are the odds-on favorite in Monday's national championship game against North Carolina.
Self is often hit with criticism when his teams underachieve or don't reach the Final Four, especially when the Jayhawks are regularly earning No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
The past three years saw Kansas get bounced in the second round in 2019 and 2021, while a team favored to win the national title in 2020 had its hopes dashed when March Madness was canceled due to COVID-19.
Prior to a Final Four run in 2018, Self had back-to-back Elite Eight runs in 2016 and 2017 but failed to get to the final weekend as a No. 1 seed. The last time KU reached a title game was 2012 when the Jayhawks fell to Kentucky. The last time they cut down the nets was 2008 when they beat Memphis.
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"It has been a while," Self acknowledged. "We've had some really terrific seasons and some great teams that came up short. And I do think that when you have as many good teams as we've had – at most places winning one national championship would be quite an accomplishment. I think as many good teams as we've had, one's not enough."
"I don't think that I personally feel pressure that we have to win. But I do know that when you have a chance to coach at a place where you have an opportunity to be in the game most years, you need to take advantage of that more than we have."
Follow college basketball reporter Scott Gleeson on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.