Zeke Mayo receives racist messages after Texas Tech game
Zeke Mayo had a rough night. But what happened off the court was worse. After Kansas lost a close game to No. 10 Texas Tech, Mayo shared screenshots of racist and hateful messages. Fans were angry about his missed 3-point shot in the final seconds. His performance was not great. But the backlash was extreme.
Mayo took responsibility. He admitted that his game was not good. He posted, “I completely understand deserving criticism. My performance was utterly disappointing today, and it’s been like that for some time. I can’t be flawless all the time. I apologize to our fans and my teammates, and I promise to improve.”
Hate messages flooded his account. By Sunday morning, his profile on X was gone. He deactivated it after receiving so many attacks. The response was shocking. No athlete should deal with this.
Kansas Coach Bill Self and AD Travis Goff support
Kansas Athletic Director Travis Goff stood by Mayo. He made it clear that hateful fans do not represent Kansas basketball. “These people aren’t true Jayhawks. They do not represent us,” Goff said. He blamed gambling and anger. Goff said real fans understand the game. He assured Mayo that the Kansas family supports him.
Coach Bill Self also spoke up. He refused to let people blame the players. “Any critique of the team should be aimed at me. I’m the person in charge as head coach,” Self stated. He takes responsibility. He does not let young athletes take all the blame.
Kansas fans expect greatness. They want wins. They want championships. But the hate Mayo received was unacceptable. There is a difference between criticism and abuse. Fans should never cross that line.
The Kansas huard struggles in Kansas loss to Texas Tech
Mayo had a tough game. He scored only five points. Mayo made just one shot out of seven attempts. He missed a key 3-pointer in the final seconds. Kansas lost at home, a rare occurrence at Allen Fieldhouse. The loss was frustrating. Fans were upset. But no mistake justifies the attacks he received.
Mayo is still adjusting. He transferred from South Dakota State, where he was a star. Kansas is different. The pressure is intense. The expectations are higher. But Mayo is one of the team’s best players. He is averaging 14 points per game. One bad game does not define him.
Zeke Mayo faces pressure from Kansas fans and gamblers
Sports have changed. Betting is everywhere. Fans are more than just supporters. Many have money on the line. They take losses personally. When a player struggles, they lash out. Mayo’s experience is proof. Some so-called fans act like players owe them perfection. That is not how sports work.
Mayo knows this. He has been in big moments. He has made big shots. But every athlete has bad games. The best players in history have off nights. Even legends miss shots. That is part of the game. But social media makes everything worse. Players cannot escape criticism. It follows them everywhere.
Kansas basketball is about winning. It is about competing. Fans expect nothing less than greatness. But supporting a team means standing by players even when they struggle. Mayo will bounce back. He will put in the work. He will improve. That is what great athletes do.
Zeke Mayo and the reality of being a Kansas basketball player
Mayo is not the first Kansas player to face harsh criticism. It comes with the territory. Kansas basketball is legendary. The program has a history of success. The pressure is intense. Players must perform. But no player should endure racist hate. That has no place in sports.
Mayo will move forward. He will keep playing hard. Mayo will keep giving everything to his team. He is a Jayhawk. Through and through. Real fans will support him. They will cheer him on. They will recognize his effort.
Kansas basketball is bigger than one game. It is bigger than one player. The season will continue. The team will fight for wins. Mayo will get back on track. He is too good not to. The haters will always be there. But true fans will always have his back.
