Kansas Jayhawks’ Zeke Mayo Faces Social Media Backlash After Tough Loss
In the world of college basketball, emotions run high, and the stakes are always intense. This past Saturday, the Kansas Jayhawks faced a challenging game against the No. 10 ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders, resulting in a 78-73 home loss. The defeat was a tough pill to swallow for the Jayhawks, who now stand at 19-10 overall and 10-8 in the Big 12. This marks their third home defeat of the season, a record they haven’t seen since the 2017-18 season. It’s also the second consecutive year they’ve lost at least eight games in the conference.
One player who found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons was Zeke Mayo. The senior guard, who entered the matchup averaging 14.3 points, struggled during the game, scoring just five points on 1-of-7 shooting. This performance was part of a series of challenging games for Mayo in recent weeks.
After the game, Mayo took to social media to express his disappointment and apologize to fans and teammates. In a heartfelt post, he wrote, “I 100% deserve all the criticism in the world. My performance was beyond pitiful today, and has been for a while now. I work my ass off every day to be great, but I can’t be perfect all the time. I’m sorry to our fans and my teammates, I will continue to get better.”
However, the response Mayo received was far from supportive. He shared four screengrabs of direct messages sent to him on Instagram, which included threats of violence, racist comments, and even wishes for his death. This kind of vitriol is, unfortunately, not uncommon in the world of sports, where passionate fans sometimes cross the line.
In the wake of these hateful messages, Mayo’s teammates and the Kansas community rallied around him. Fellow senior guard Dajuan Harris Jr. showed his support on social media, writing, “It ain’t nothing to explain brotha I got yo back.” This sentiment was echoed by Kansas athletic director Travis Goff, who also took to social media to condemn the hateful messages.
Goff’s message was clear: “These aren’t Jayhawks. They’re not ours. Driven by gambling and hate. They’ve never competed a day in their life. To Zeke and all our guys — the Jayhawk family loves you and will always ride with you through thick and thin.”
Key Takeaways from the Incident:
- Despite the loss, the Jayhawks remain a strong team with a 19-10 overall record.
- Zeke Mayo’s recent struggles have been met with both criticism and support from the community.
- The Kansas athletic community stands united against hate and supports their players.
As the Jayhawks look to bounce back from this loss, the focus will be on supporting each other and moving forward. The team has shown resilience in the past, and with the backing of their community, they are sure to rise above the negativity.
In the world of sports, it’s important to remember that athletes are human too. They face immense pressure and scrutiny, and while criticism is part of the game, it should never cross the line into hate. As fans, it’s crucial to support our teams and players, even when the going gets tough.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on the Jayhawks to see how they respond to this adversity. With the support of their fans and the determination of players like Zeke Mayo, there’s no doubt that they will continue to fight and strive for greatness.
Originally Written by: Jeff BorzelloDavid PurdumJ.J. PostESPN
