LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas basketball fans returning to their routines a day after the Jayhawks lost in the national championship game said Tuesday they were saddened by the defeat but proud of their team.

Kansas lost to Kentucky 67-59 Monday night, dashing hopes for a second title in five years. On Tuesday, fans were still talking about the game as they got haircuts and dropped kids off at school.

While Kentucky was loaded with NBA lottery picks, fans said the Jayhawks were stacked with players who had the heart and determination to compete on college basketball's biggest stage.

Steve Williams, 52, a surveyor in Lawrence, said the Jayhawks gave fans more than they could have expected this season after it didn't look like the team would even make it to the NCAA tournament early on.

"I don't think they have any reason to hang their heads at all," Williams said as he dropped his daughter off at school. "You couldn't help but think back to 2008 when they came back, and think 'man, it's going to happen all over again'."

The team was expected to return to Lawrence early Tuesday evening. A brief ceremony was scheduled at Allen Fieldhouse where thousands of fans planned to welcome the 32-7 team home.

Denton Nichols, 40, an architectural graduate student at the University of Kansas, climbed out of the chair at Amyx Barber Shop and talked about the players' determination and the coaching job by Bill Self.

Nichols, who earned his undergraduate degree from Kansas State University, said the team handled themselves and the season really well.

"You realized how good a coach Bill Self is. I hope that recruits out there saw how this team played and want to come here," Nichols said.

Mike Amyx, 58, dusted off his chair and waited for the next customer to take his seat. Amyx said his mother called during the game, upset with the way it was going.

"I said, 'Mom, they're playing a pro team,'" Amyx said. "It was just phenomenal. They had a great year. The last several weeks after the game it took forever to go to sleep. It was hard to relax."

City Manager Dave Corliss said the crowds Monday night were kept under control by the more than 250 law enforcement officers in Lawrence, many of whom were in town for Saturday's game against Ohio State. Corliss said there were about two dozen arrests, mainly for disorderly conduct.

Most of the damage was limited to street signs east of the University of Kansas campus where fans removed signs along Kentucky Street. Corliss said the wiring was removed from traffic lights at the intersection of Kentucky and 14th, not far from downtown.

"We're generally pleased with our ability to handle a large crowd at a challenging time," Corliss said.