Kansas coach Bill Self met with the media on Thursday to discuss the Jayhawks’ upcoming road test against Baylor. He updated the media on Dajuan Harris and KJ Adams, discussed where Kansas gets its leadership, previewed the game, and emphasized the need for the team to return to its defensive mindset.
Harris missed his first game in over four years due to a tweaked ankle in practice, but Self hopes he will practice this week. Despite the absence of their star guard, Kansas still managed to win against UCF 91-87.
Self highlighted the importance of leadership on the team, stating that it comes from various places and is collective. He mentioned players like Dajuan Harris, KJ Adams, and Hunter Dickinson as key contributors to this aspect.
However, Self also acknowledged that there’s room for improvement in terms of authority outside of this trio. Diggy Coit, who had a solid performance against UCF, has the potential to lead by example.
The coach noted that Baylor’s season has played out similarly to Kansas’, with underperformance and inconsistency due to injuries. However, he sees talent on both sides, particularly in freshman VJ Edgecombe and Robert Wright III.
Self emphasized that consistency is key for success, saying, “When we’ve been good this year, we’ve been really good. When we haven’t been good, there’s been too big a drop off.”
Ultimately, Self believes Kansas needs to return to its defensive mindset, as the team currently ranks fifth in KenPom’s defensive efficiency. With an elite rim protector like Flory Bidunga and strong on-ball defenders, Self sees potential for one of his better defensive teams.
The upcoming road test against Baylor is expected to be a challenge for Kansas. Despite their recent inconsistency, Self remains optimistic about the team’s chances.
Source: https://kansas.rivals.com/news/notebook-updates-on-harris-and-adams-kansas-leadership-baylor-preview