Bill Self claims Jerome Tang did a 'fly-by' in handshake line after Sunflower Showdown

The Kansas Jayhawks’ Tuesday night victory over in-state rival the Kansas State Wildcats was a bit one-sided on the court. Kansas crushed Kansas State 90-68 on their way to a 22-point home victory. However, that was not the only thing that appeared to be one-sided in the eyes of Jayhawks head coach Bill Self.

Following the game, in the postgame press conference, Self addressed some handshake line antics by the visiting team. The way he saw it, Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang had no interest in participating in the sportsmanship of the handshake line, and it showed.

“No. He just didn’t want to shake hands. He just did a fly-by; that’s fine,” said Self.

In the first game of the sunflower showdown, there was a handshake line, and things appeared to go similarly in Manhattan as they did in Lawrence on Tuesday. Local Kansas State sports journalist Tim Fitzgerald ran a side-by-side of the two postgame interactions for fans to see. Whether or not there is a difference, you can judge for yourself after examining the video below.

Hot damn. I have it. There was a handshake. Yes it was a drive-by but no different than what Coach Self did in MHK.

Let's move on so that K-State fans can return to their disappointment and KU fans can mentally prepare for the Houston game. pic.twitter.com/dJFdwwsdp3

— Tim Fitzgerald 💙☘️🌾 (@LifeofFitz) March 6, 2024

Self addresses handling rivalry with Kansas State

Ahead of the game, Jayhawks big man Hunter Dickinson revealed that the postgame antics by the Wildcats after winning the first matchup in Manhattan, KS, left a bit of a sour taste in his mouth and that of his teammates. That is why the Kansas players appeared to take this matchup personally.

But, Self didn’t necessarily agree with that take. While he agreed his players should have felt some type of way, Kansas State’s postgame celebration is nothing new to them. Furthermore, the Wildcats are a rival. And if you can’t get up for a rivalry game, you probably shouldn’t be in Lawrence, KS, as a member of Jayhawks basketball.

“That stuff, stuff the celebration, going into the stands, we’re used to that. I will say this; when we got our asses kicked there, we shook everyone’s hand and did a handshake line and all that stuff. So, I guess it was different here today.”

“But the whole thing is, that’s what happens with rivalries. And if it didn’t stick with them, then they probably shouldn’t be playing here because you always want to beat your rival.”