6 March 2024
LAWRENCE (KSNT) – Wildcat and Jayhawk fans, coaches and players don’t like to admit they have much of anything in common. One trait is certainly shared and it comes out when the two school’s go head-to-head: Passion.
KU played with more passion on Tuesday night in Lawrence, beating the Wildcats 90-68, a revenge win after K-State won the meeting in Manhattan one month prior.
Postgame, Bill Self was asked about the postgame handshake line.
“[Tang] just didn’t want to shake hands, he just did a fly by,” Self said. “It’s fine.”
KU big man Hunter Dickinson said he remembered the feeling, and reaction from everyone in purple, when the Wildcats pulled off the upset earlier in the season.
“I saw how excited they were after they beat us,” Dickinson said after a 15-point, 20-rebound double-double. “That definitely stuck with some of us… Usually people are excited to beat us because it’s a rare occasion, especially for them.”
Dickinson said Senior Night was also a motivating factor for KU on Tuesday.
Self was asked if the celebration, from K-State’s victory against his team in February, served as added fuel.
“The celebration and going in the stands and stuff, we’re used to that,” Self said, before seemingly voicing displeasure with his postgame interaction, or lack thereof with Jerome Tang. “When we got our [expletive] kicked there we shook everyone’s hand and did a handshake line and all that stuff, so I guess it was different here today.”
Self won’t be holding any grudges, it sounds like. Instead, he attributes it to this game being one both sides care about a whole lot.
“That’s what happens with rivalries,” Self said. “If it didn’t stick with them, then they probably shouldn’t be playing here. You always want to beat your rival.”
The ESPN broadcast was on an ISO-shot of Hunter Dickinson for much of the postgame handshake line, including when Tang and Self would’ve crossed paths. The broadcast did show a quick hug between KU forward KJ Adams and Tang greeting Dickinson.