Cincinnati stuns Kansas: Inside the numbers as Jayhawks see longstanding streak snapped in blowout loss
CBS Sports
by
Brad Crawford
February 21, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Cincinnati delivered a shocking defeat to No. 8 Kansas, ending one of college basketball's longest streaks in the AP poll era. The Jayhawks, who were projected as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament just hours earlier, fell 84-68 on their home court—a loss that snapped a 425-game streak without losing to an unranked team by 10 or more points since 1993. Cincinnati's 7-foot center Moustapha Thiam led the way with a career-high 28 points, including a crucial three-pointer late in the game that sealed the victory. Kansas coach Bill Self acknowledged his team's defensive struggles and lack of energy, calling it one of their worst performances defensively during his tenure.
The Jayhawks had been on a strong run recently, winning nine out of ten games after an initial 1-2 start in Big 12 play. However, they struggled to contain Cincinnati’s guards and big men, who dominated both offensively and on the boards. The Bearcats shot an impressive 57% from the field and made 12 of 21 three-point attempts, out-rebounding Kansas 40-29. This loss marked the Jayhawks' largest home defeat by an unranked opponent since a 15-point setback to Long Beach State in 1993. It also ranked as the fourth-largest margin of defeat under Self, with previous losses coming against ranked teams.
The defeat raises questions about Kansas' readiness for the NCAA Tournament, despite being one of five Big 12 teams to receive a top-16 seed. The Jayhawks will look to regroup ahead of key matchups against conference leaders. Self emphasized that his team "played soft" and lacked energy, particularly on defensive rebounds, which allowed Cincinnati to pull away in the second half.
For Cincinnati, this win was a crucial bounce-back performance after struggling to .500 in conference play. Thiam's standout game highlighted the Bearcats' potential under first-year head coach John Huhls, who has been working to rebuild the program. The victory also underscores the importance of staying mentally tough against ranked opponents, as Cincinnati proved they can compete with some of college basketball's elite teams.
The loss is a significant blow to Kansas' momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season and the NCAA Tournament. It serves as a reminder that even top-ranked teams can be vulnerable if they don't bring their best effort, especially against opponents who come prepared to play at a high level. For fans and analysts, this game provides valuable insight into the strengths and weaknesses of both teams as they prepare for the challenges ahead in the Big 12 conference and beyond.
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/21/2026