The annual freakout came a little early this year. Kansas basketball being dissected and picked apart and fretted over usually happens in January (lost three of five in 2016) or after the last game before Christmas break (a 25-point loss to Temple in 2014) or sometimes even in February (the Henry T’s meeting in 2008).
But, the freakout almost always comes, and Bill Self always — aaalllwwwaaayyysss — wins another Big 12 title anyway. Then, everyone moves on and waits for the Elite Eight game.
Self has, literally, made a Hall of Fame career by funneling the outside stress into production and focus.