Hey all,
-- With Kansas set to open up the season against North Carolina Central University on Monday night, Head Coach Bill Self met with the media on Friday and touched on a number of topics. I opened up the press conference by asking Coach Self what he hopes to get out of that fifth and final spot in the starting rotation moving forward this season.
So far, Elmarko Jackson started the game against Illinois, Nicolas Timberlake started the first half against Fort Hays State and Johnny Furphy started the second half against the Tigers.
“Oh, I don't know how to get, you know get a guy hopefully, you know, shoot 33 percent to 35 percent from three and getting close to double figures a game I mean, that'd be great,” said Bill Self on Friday afternoon. “But that to me is also not as relevant as just as a guy that can defend, take care of the ball, and make sure we get shot every possession. And then also understand what we're doing to the point where it doesn't take away from other guys' games.
“We’re not quite at this at that spot yet, but hopefully we'll get there soon,” he added. “We will go get there, but we just haven't got there yet.”
As of Friday afternoon, Self said he isn’t sure who is going to start in that fifth and final starting with the regular season opener set for Monday night.
-- When Kansas does take the court against North Carolina Central on Monday night, the Jayhawks will do so as the No. 1 ranked team in college basketball. When all is said and done, Self’s squad is expected to compete for his third National Championship at Kansas.
How comfortable is Coach Self opening up the season at No. 1?
“We certainly haven't played to our ranking by any stretch thus far,” said Self. So, but that can't be your focus. I mean, your focus is you want to be ranked, you want to be ranked there at the end, not the beginning. So, we’ve got a long way to go to improve to get to the point where we can play to that ranking.
“But that's not my concern right now,” he added. “My concern is just trying to get better and put us in a position where we're actually ready to play an incredibly difficult nonconference schedule. Because if we're, not then you know, we could get taught some pretty good lessons early on and I just soon learn some lessons from wins than I would through not winning.”
-- Being that Kansas will enter the season ranked No. 1, will Self discuss that with the team in terms of being hunted for much of the season? Really, Kansas always has a bullseye on its back, but coming with a No. 1 ranking will only make the Jayhawks a more attractive opponent, especially early on in the season.
How, if at all, does Self plan to handle the No. 1 ranking with his team?
“Well, I think we know that,” said Self. “I mean, we've talked about that, so I don't think that's going to be anything that you know – to be honest with you – we’ve talked about that and I do think those are real things. But over the course of a long season and things like that, I mean, those things change and, and all that stuff.
“But to start the season out I think you're exactly right, will be and we need to be ready to take on, you know, all comers and their best shots and I don't think that we have done that yet, in the two times we've been out there.”
-- Self, on Friday afternoon, also touched on the latest regarding Kevin McCullar, Jr., and Johnny Furphy. McCullar, Jr., who suffered whiplash against Illinois, was almost held out of action against Fort Hays State, while Furphy is still dealing with shin splints.
Moving forward, how does Self plan to handle McCullar, Jr., and Furphy?
“I don't know that,” said Self when asked if either player will be limited moving forward. “I think Johnny's minutes or reps will be monitored for a while, but it's gonna continually increase. Kevin, I don't think there'll be limitations next week. But I don't know that he can practice today.”
-- With Kansas set to open up the season against North Carolina Central University on Monday night, Head Coach Bill Self met with the media on Friday and touched on a number of topics. I opened up the press conference by asking Coach Self what he hopes to get out of that fifth and final spot in the starting rotation moving forward this season.
So far, Elmarko Jackson started the game against Illinois, Nicolas Timberlake started the first half against Fort Hays State and Johnny Furphy started the second half against the Tigers.
“Oh, I don't know how to get, you know get a guy hopefully, you know, shoot 33 percent to 35 percent from three and getting close to double figures a game I mean, that'd be great,” said Bill Self on Friday afternoon. “But that to me is also not as relevant as just as a guy that can defend, take care of the ball, and make sure we get shot every possession. And then also understand what we're doing to the point where it doesn't take away from other guys' games.
“We’re not quite at this at that spot yet, but hopefully we'll get there soon,” he added. “We will go get there, but we just haven't got there yet.”
As of Friday afternoon, Self said he isn’t sure who is going to start in that fifth and final starting with the regular season opener set for Monday night.
-- When Kansas does take the court against North Carolina Central on Monday night, the Jayhawks will do so as the No. 1 ranked team in college basketball. When all is said and done, Self’s squad is expected to compete for his third National Championship at Kansas.
How comfortable is Coach Self opening up the season at No. 1?
“We certainly haven't played to our ranking by any stretch thus far,” said Self. So, but that can't be your focus. I mean, your focus is you want to be ranked, you want to be ranked there at the end, not the beginning. So, we’ve got a long way to go to improve to get to the point where we can play to that ranking.
“But that's not my concern right now,” he added. “My concern is just trying to get better and put us in a position where we're actually ready to play an incredibly difficult nonconference schedule. Because if we're, not then you know, we could get taught some pretty good lessons early on and I just soon learn some lessons from wins than I would through not winning.”
-- Being that Kansas will enter the season ranked No. 1, will Self discuss that with the team in terms of being hunted for much of the season? Really, Kansas always has a bullseye on its back, but coming with a No. 1 ranking will only make the Jayhawks a more attractive opponent, especially early on in the season.
How, if at all, does Self plan to handle the No. 1 ranking with his team?
“Well, I think we know that,” said Self. “I mean, we've talked about that, so I don't think that's going to be anything that you know – to be honest with you – we’ve talked about that and I do think those are real things. But over the course of a long season and things like that, I mean, those things change and, and all that stuff.
“But to start the season out I think you're exactly right, will be and we need to be ready to take on, you know, all comers and their best shots and I don't think that we have done that yet, in the two times we've been out there.”
-- Self, on Friday afternoon, also touched on the latest regarding Kevin McCullar, Jr., and Johnny Furphy. McCullar, Jr., who suffered whiplash against Illinois, was almost held out of action against Fort Hays State, while Furphy is still dealing with shin splints.
Moving forward, how does Self plan to handle McCullar, Jr., and Furphy?
“I don't know that,” said Self when asked if either player will be limited moving forward. “I think Johnny's minutes or reps will be monitored for a while, but it's gonna continually increase. Kevin, I don't think there'll be limitations next week. But I don't know that he can practice today.”
