We visit with our Kansas Rival colleague Shay Wildeboor about the state of Bill Self's team as it plays in Waco Monday.
SicEmSports: This team has lost two straight including a humbling blowout home loss to TCU. What's the sense of where the Jayhawks are right now?
Jayhawk Slant: I think the biggest thing with this team right now is they’re just tired. I think that’s the case with most teams in college basketball, but the grind of playing in the Big 12 is really starting to take its toll on this group. When you look at this particular Kansas team, a handful of guys are playing a majority of the minutes and Kansas isn’t getting much from its bench right now. Plus, and this has always been the case with Kansas basketball, they get everybody’s best-shot game in and game out. Being the defending National Champs, there are no off nights for Kansas.
SicEmSports: Have these games shown that this team needs to find a true second scorer behind Jalen Wilson if teams cover Grady Dick?
Jayhawk Slant: Yes, this team needs a few guys to step up and help carry the scoring load for Kansas. Jalen Wilson scored 38 points against Kansas State and 30 points against TCU, but he didn’t get much help on the offensive end of the court. Gradey Dick, Kevin McCullar, Jr., Dajuan Harris, and KJ Adams, Jr., have all proven, at different times, to be productive scorers for the Jayhawks, but they haven’t done so, at least not yet, on a consistent basis. The last two games, Wilson, for the most part, has carried the scoring load by himself. I think the big thing is, Kansas is getting really good looks from behind the arc, but the shots just aren’t falling. Furthermore, Bill Self’s squad continues to miss a high number of layups each game.
SicEmSports: This team appears to have been playing with fire all year facing huge deficits against Oklahoma State, at home to OU late. What's the story?
Jayhawk Slant: Kansas, especially during Big 12 play, has gotten into a habit of getting off to slow starts and, because of that, has faced some huge deficits early on often. The Jayhawks trailed Oklahoma by 10 points with five minutes to play, but found a way to win. They were down by 14 points at Kansas State before falling by one point in overtime and, this past weekend, TCU had Kansas down 31-13 in the first half. Kansas eventually pulled to within 10 points at the half, but failed to get any closer. Bill Self has always said that if a team labors to score, that team has to make stops on the defensive end of the court. Kansas isn’t defending the way it was, let’s say, against Indiana earlier in the season. They are missing open shots, missing layups, and, at times, allowing opponents to score at will. Truthfully, TCU got pretty much whatever it wanted on Saturday.
SicEmSports: Pretty big stretch for Bill Self's program with Baylor Monday and then at Kentucky Saturday for the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Is this a pivotal week for how the rest of the season plays out?
Jayhawk Slant: Kansas, coming off a National Championship last April, is still coming together as a team. Jalen Wilson and Dajuan Harris were starters last year, but Dick, KJ Adams, Jr., and Kevin McCullar, Jr. (transfer from Texas Tech) are playing major roles for Self’s squad for the first time. Kansas lost a lot of key players from a season ago and Self is still figuring out his bench. Is it a pivotal week in terms of getting back on track and gaining some confidence? Sure, I think that’s fair to say. As you mentioned, Kansas has some huge games coming up on the schedule and has dropped two straight in Big 12 play. Baylor on Monday, Kentucky this weekend, and then Kansas State comes to town early next week. The last thing Kansas wants to do is fall too far behind in the race for the Big 12 regular season championship. These guys need to gain some confidence, string some wins together and get back into a grove.
SicEmSports: This team has lost two straight including a humbling blowout home loss to TCU. What's the sense of where the Jayhawks are right now?
Jayhawk Slant: I think the biggest thing with this team right now is they’re just tired. I think that’s the case with most teams in college basketball, but the grind of playing in the Big 12 is really starting to take its toll on this group. When you look at this particular Kansas team, a handful of guys are playing a majority of the minutes and Kansas isn’t getting much from its bench right now. Plus, and this has always been the case with Kansas basketball, they get everybody’s best-shot game in and game out. Being the defending National Champs, there are no off nights for Kansas.
SicEmSports: Have these games shown that this team needs to find a true second scorer behind Jalen Wilson if teams cover Grady Dick?
Jayhawk Slant: Yes, this team needs a few guys to step up and help carry the scoring load for Kansas. Jalen Wilson scored 38 points against Kansas State and 30 points against TCU, but he didn’t get much help on the offensive end of the court. Gradey Dick, Kevin McCullar, Jr., Dajuan Harris, and KJ Adams, Jr., have all proven, at different times, to be productive scorers for the Jayhawks, but they haven’t done so, at least not yet, on a consistent basis. The last two games, Wilson, for the most part, has carried the scoring load by himself. I think the big thing is, Kansas is getting really good looks from behind the arc, but the shots just aren’t falling. Furthermore, Bill Self’s squad continues to miss a high number of layups each game.
SicEmSports: This team appears to have been playing with fire all year facing huge deficits against Oklahoma State, at home to OU late. What's the story?
Jayhawk Slant: Kansas, especially during Big 12 play, has gotten into a habit of getting off to slow starts and, because of that, has faced some huge deficits early on often. The Jayhawks trailed Oklahoma by 10 points with five minutes to play, but found a way to win. They were down by 14 points at Kansas State before falling by one point in overtime and, this past weekend, TCU had Kansas down 31-13 in the first half. Kansas eventually pulled to within 10 points at the half, but failed to get any closer. Bill Self has always said that if a team labors to score, that team has to make stops on the defensive end of the court. Kansas isn’t defending the way it was, let’s say, against Indiana earlier in the season. They are missing open shots, missing layups, and, at times, allowing opponents to score at will. Truthfully, TCU got pretty much whatever it wanted on Saturday.
SicEmSports: Pretty big stretch for Bill Self's program with Baylor Monday and then at Kentucky Saturday for the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Is this a pivotal week for how the rest of the season plays out?
Jayhawk Slant: Kansas, coming off a National Championship last April, is still coming together as a team. Jalen Wilson and Dajuan Harris were starters last year, but Dick, KJ Adams, Jr., and Kevin McCullar, Jr. (transfer from Texas Tech) are playing major roles for Self’s squad for the first time. Kansas lost a lot of key players from a season ago and Self is still figuring out his bench. Is it a pivotal week in terms of getting back on track and gaining some confidence? Sure, I think that’s fair to say. As you mentioned, Kansas has some huge games coming up on the schedule and has dropped two straight in Big 12 play. Baylor on Monday, Kentucky this weekend, and then Kansas State comes to town early next week. The last thing Kansas wants to do is fall too far behind in the race for the Big 12 regular season championship. These guys need to gain some confidence, string some wins together and get back into a grove.
