Kansas basketball report: Coach Bill Self uses lineup to send message

Jayhawks coach Bill Self unveiled his third starting lineup in three games, going with Mykhailiuk alongside Frank Mason and Selden in the backcourt and sophomore Landen Lucas over junior Jamari Traylor in the frontcourt. Ellis maintained his starting spot.

“If everybody was responsible off the court, we’d probably have more of the same starting lineups every time,” Self said. “And I don’t mean (players are) doing anything bad, but we got to tighten some things up. I see a lot of slippage on the court, and I think there’s a correlation to being responsible off the court, too.

“I’d like to see us settle in on a starting five, but I have a hard time starting guys that are late to tutoring or whatever. … I can’t do it. That’s kind of where that is right now. If I let it go now, I know it’s going to be something that will haunt us later.”

▪  Freshman Cliff Alexander had 10 points in 9 minutes in the first half.

He started the second half but played just 4 total minutes after the intermission.

“It was a couple things,” Self said, explaining the limited minutes. “But I just wanted to see how he would do starting a half or starting a game. When he started the second half, I don’t think he did very well.”

▪ Guard Devonte’ Graham did not play after suffering a sprained shoulder last week but could have. Graham practiced Sunday, and Self said he wanted to give Graham another day of rest. But with three games coming later this week at the Orlando Classic, Self chose to give Graham’s shoulder another day of rest.

“He’ll shoot full speed tomorrow and practice Wednesday,” Self said. “And then I don’t see a reason why he won’t be available.”

First half

▪ Key play: Freshman Svi Mykhailiuk missed a three-pointer, saved the possession with a follow rebound and finished the sequence by finishing on a layup alley-oop. The Jayhawks led 34-15.

▪ Key stat: KU had 15 assists.

Second half

▪ Key play Perry Ellis had a dunk that stretched KU’s lead to 64-33 with 11:14 left.

▪ Key stat: Wayne Selden had nine assists.

This story was originally published November 24, 2014 at 11:22 PM with the headline "Kansas basketball report: Coach Bill Self uses lineup to send message."