Another crushing NCAA exit for Kansas, Self

Kansas' Elijah Marcus Morris reacts in the locker room after losing 71-61 to Virginia Commonwealth at the Southwest regional final game in the NCAA college basketball tournament.

San Antonio - Bill Self eight seasons with Kansas, the Jayhawks have had all kinds of disappointing finishes - the back-to-back departure times of the first round and second round of last year's failure, when they were No. 1 seed overall.

This could be the worst.

Fixing this would have been the easiest route to a national championship in NCAA tournament history, their status as favorites further strengthened by being the only No. 1 seed left in the field, Kansas blew again.

The Jayhawks were delayed early and barely threatened the rest of the way to a 71-61 loss to 11th-seeded Virginia Commonwealth in the regional finals of the Southwest on Sunday.

"We're crushed," Self said. "We tried really hard and just came away empty-handed against a team that was better than today."

A win would have sent a Kansas Final Four game against eighth-seeded Butler, then there is no better than a No. 3 seed in the final. If the Jayhawks won it all, which would have broken the record for the greatest number of seeds found by the champion.

But instead of walking the next weekend in Houston for the heavy favorites, Kansas became the third No. 1 seed lost to No. 11 Connecticut, joining in 2006 and Kentucky in 1986.

"The seeds are so overrated," Self said. "These are the games. Your players can play with us anyday."

It is easy to understand what was wrong. Jayhawks only 35.5 percent of their shots and 9.5 percent 3-point attempts, the lowest season two. They hit 15 of 28 free throws (53.6 percent), narrowly better than the season low.

His last lead 10-9. Who trailed by a season with 14 at halftime. The deficit increased to 16 seconds later, after Kansas made his solo act while then disappears again.

Unlike the 2008-team that came out of the Alamodome as national champions, went in 2011 Jayhawks to face empty dressing room, hands on hips, sometimes looking at the wild celebration around them. Marcus Morris was trying to push back the tears, but had to pull his jersey over his face as he reached the edge of the runway.

"We let them beat us," Morris said Markieff. "We lost a lot of shots that we normally do. We have lost a lot of free throws we normally do."

Kansas reached the regional final 11-game winning streak. Tournament, the Jayhawks have not driven for more than two points, and won at least 14, with wins over teams seeded 16th, ninth and 12th day.

As much as they said they would comply with VCU as much as a Duke or North Carolina, Big 12 champions still knew they were facing the fourth-place finisher Colonial Athletic Association. Lack of compliance may be disclosed during a pregame meeting of team captains, when - according commitment Joey Rodriguez and two of his teammates -. One of the twins Morris said "The race ends here"

The lack of respect was seen after the game. Markieff Morris said: "Possibly the best game ever played, probably the best game ever in school."

The last minutes were a perfect example of what happened to Kansas (35-3).

Marcus Morris missed a short shot, got his own back, then left again just to see her brother to take a bounce. As soon as Jamie Skeen VCU grabbed the ball from his hands.

The next time down, shot a airball on a jumper Tyrell Reed base. Marcus Morris then threw a 3-pointer that was too hard, go after the rebound, he hit the ball out of bounds.

When Tyshawn Taylor made a layup with 24 seconds left, the Jayhawks were down by eight.

As the final seconds ticked, thousands of Jayhawks fans in stunned silence, arms folded, while the small group of fans chanted commitment "Hey, Hey, Goodbye."

Jayhawks What's next?

Much depends on the Morris twins, in exchange for their years of growth. Kansas already pay two experienced backcourt starters, Reed and Brady Morningstar.

"We achieved what we wanted to achieve, it is difficult for me to say that this is a special year," said Self. "No bite from a lack of decision or lack of effort, because these occasions are chopped -. I would like to come every year, but do not come every year and we have to maximize possibilities when you arrive. They have not done that. "