In 2011–12, having lost four starters from the 2010–11 team, Kansas faced an apparent rebuilding year. Two of Self's recruits were ruled ineligible by the NCAA, and those who moved into the starting positions had seen little action in prior years. Kansas began the season with a 7–3 record, and though there were wins over Georgetown and UCLA in Maui and an upset of Ohio State in Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas lost to Kentucky by ten points, to Duke by seven points in the Maui finals, and to Davidson by six points in an upset in Kansas City. Self later stated that, after the loss to Davidson, he worried of his team's chances of making the NCAA Tournament that year.