Kansas head coach Bill Self met with the media on Tuesday morning and touched on a number of topics. Not surprisingly, he was asked about Jalen Wilson making his debut against North Texas on Thursday and also provided some updates on a few injuries.
While Kansas won’t arrive in Orlando, Fla., with a completely healthy squad, Self, for the first time this season, will have his entire roster intact on Thanksgiving Day. Jalen Wilson, the 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward from Denton, Texas, will make his season debut against the Mean Green after serving a four-game suspension following an arrest for suspicion of DWI before the start of the season.
Last season, Wilson averaged 11.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for Kansas.
Self, early on Tuesday morning, was asked about the addition of Wilson.
“He will add an offensive threat,” said Self. “Not that we didn’t have an offensive threat before, but probably more of an offensive threat. He’ll definitely add rebounding. The thing that I hope he adds, as much as anything, is speed.
“He’s the best we have at pushing it,” he added. “You know, I would have never said that two years ago. Who do you want to get the ball to? Jalen, in transition. Far more so than our guards, because we just play faster. In an open floor situation, he’s the best we have.”
Self, who said he expects Wilson to fit right in, but hasn’t decided if he’ll start or come off the bench, indicated that Kansas is dealing with a few injuries just days before the start of the ESPN Events Invitational.
“He’ll (Jalen) fit right in, but I don’t know if he’ll start or not,” said Self. “I haven’t decided on that. We haven’t been healthy this past week. We’ve had Bobby (Pettiford) and Remy (Martin), and J-Cole (Jalen Coleman-Lands) have, J-Cole has been out there more than the other guys, but those two haven’t been out there since we played.
“But today, hopefully, is a full day for everybody,” he added. “I’ll know more, probably, after today.”
While Kansas won’t arrive in Orlando, Fla., with a completely healthy squad, Self, for the first time this season, will have his entire roster intact on Thanksgiving Day. Jalen Wilson, the 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward from Denton, Texas, will make his season debut against the Mean Green after serving a four-game suspension following an arrest for suspicion of DWI before the start of the season.
Last season, Wilson averaged 11.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for Kansas.
Self, early on Tuesday morning, was asked about the addition of Wilson.
“He will add an offensive threat,” said Self. “Not that we didn’t have an offensive threat before, but probably more of an offensive threat. He’ll definitely add rebounding. The thing that I hope he adds, as much as anything, is speed.
“He’s the best we have at pushing it,” he added. “You know, I would have never said that two years ago. Who do you want to get the ball to? Jalen, in transition. Far more so than our guards, because we just play faster. In an open floor situation, he’s the best we have.”
Self, who said he expects Wilson to fit right in, but hasn’t decided if he’ll start or come off the bench, indicated that Kansas is dealing with a few injuries just days before the start of the ESPN Events Invitational.
“He’ll (Jalen) fit right in, but I don’t know if he’ll start or not,” said Self. “I haven’t decided on that. We haven’t been healthy this past week. We’ve had Bobby (Pettiford) and Remy (Martin), and J-Cole (Jalen Coleman-Lands) have, J-Cole has been out there more than the other guys, but those two haven’t been out there since we played.
“But today, hopefully, is a full day for everybody,” he added. “I’ll know more, probably, after today.”
