In what forever may remain an unsolved mystery, Kansas University’s men’s basketball offense disappeared without a trace over the weekend in California and ultimately cost the Jayhawks a spot in the Final Four.

The No. 1-seeded Jayhawks, who clicked in a 107-67 victory over outmanned Niagara and an 88-76 decision over defensive-minded Kentucky in first- and second-round action on March 16 and 18 in frigid Chicago, fizzed in a 61-58 Sweet 16 victory over Southern Illinois and 68-55 Elite Eight loss to UCLA in the balmy Bay Area.

The 55-point total was the lowest of the season, and the 61-pointer was the third-worst outing, with a 57-point performance against DePaul tossed in between.

“If we had shot the ball well, we could have scored a few points,” KU coach Bill Self said. His Jayhawks hit just 41.4 percent of their shots and a brutal 45.5 percent of their free throws in the loss to UCLA.

KU did sizzle with 25 baskets in 42 tries against SIU, good for 59.5 percent on a night all possessions – the few there were – were pivotal.

“It’s a team deal. We did a poor job in key stretches. At times we got the ball where we needed to get it, but wasted possessions with turnovers that played a role, too,” Self said.

KU had 21 turnovers against UCLA and 19 versus the Salukis.

Self, whose team dropped just five games and won 33, did not offer youth as an excuse.

Kansas University's Mario Chalmers, second from left, is double-teamed by UCLA's Josh Shipp, left, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Chalmers scored just two points in KU's 68-55 loss to UCLA on Saturday in San Jose, Calif.

“That’s who we are. We are young,” Self said. “When I say we ‘play young,’ I mean we got sped up. The longer you play the game, the slower the game becomes. I mean, every coach in America would tell you that.

“We tried to split traps. We haven’t done that all year long, things like that. To me, it’s the guys trying too hard. I think sometimes trying too hard is a sign of youth.”

“Sped up” might be one way to describe a pair of KU sophomores, who played well in first- and second-round tourney action, but struggled to find the way over the weekend in San Jose.

Julian Wright opened with seven points, four rebounds, one assist, one turnover and two steals in 28 minutes versus SIU and closed with eight points, four assists, four steals and two turnovers in 29 minutes against UCLA. In the two games, he hit seven of 14 shots.

Mario Chalmers – who finished the season as KU’s single-season steals leader – opened with nine points, three assists, four turnovers and one steal against SIU and closed with two points, seven assists, seven turnovers, six steals and three rebounds in the loss to UCLA.

He hit three of 14 shots in the two games in San Jose.

“We had a lot of shots in Chicago that we normally make and made them,” said Chalmers, who hit 13 of 17 shots in the Windy City. “We took the same shots (in California). They just didn’t fall for us. That’s just the way the game goes sometimes.”

Wright, who hit 12 of 23 shots in the first two tourney games, noted: “The more we advanced in the tournament, the more teams are good defensively. Sometimes we just tried to make plays. We were missing a lot of shots we’re used to making.”

If it’s any consolation, the Jayhawks, even if Brandon Rush elects to leave for the NBA Draft, figure to be much older and wiser next season.

Sasha Kaun, Russell Robinson and Darnell Jackson will be senior returnees from the regular rotation, to go with juniors Wright and Chalmers. Darrell Arthur and Sherron Collins will be battle-tested sophomores. Hoping to make an impact will be seniors Rodrick Stewart, who played meaningful minutes in the NCAAs, and Jeremy Case along with scholarship sophomore Brady Morningstar.

The Jayhawks have added freshman big man Cole Aldrich and guard Tyrel Reed in recruiting. Walk-ons will be Matt Kleinmann, Brennan Bechard, Brad Witherspoon and newcomer Conner Teahan.

“We’re not going to be a good team. We’re going to be a great team,” Jackson said. “Everybody will come back and be hungry and experienced. Everybody will be mad about this game, the fact we just lost in the Elite Eight. We will hold it in and make it hurt so next year we reach the Final Four and win the national championship.”

KU’s Wright added: “I hate this feeling of losing. It’s the same I felt in high school losing the game before going to state. It’s the toughest loss. I know this is one experience will help us. I know next year we will do what we have to do to win it all.”

Robinson, who will be a senior, is ready to lick his wounds a bit. He’s been nicked up this year like a lot of Jayhawks in a long, long season.

“I’ve got to get away from basketball a little bit,” Robinson said. “As far as next year, I think we’ll be really good. We’ll build on this season, which was a good season, build on this experience of the Elite Eight. I feel good about this season, much better than last year. Last year we were out in one game. This year we gave ourselves a chance. It’s tough to lose, though.”

KU coach Bill Self proclaimed it a stellar season.

“I’ll remember these were talented kids who sacrificed for the good of the program,” Self said. “We were not perfect by any means. We accomplished a lot. We struggled early, but that made us tougher. I’m proud of the guys. If we stick together, it could be a special group.”