Self praises KU team, doesn’t address New York court case at cancer fundraiser

The 450 women at Kansas basketball’s ninth-annual Ladies Night Out didn’t ask KU coach Bill Self any questions about this week’s federal court case involving Adidas employees and college basketball corruption during a Q and A session at Wednesday’s event at Allen Fieldhouse.

Self, KU’s 16th-year coach, also declined to address the matter in an interview with The Star conducted as he walked to a room in which he posed for pictures with guests at the fundraiser for cancer research.

Self did, however, did provide an update on the 2018-19 Jayhawks, who held a live scrimmage with referees on Wednesday in the team’s practice facility.

“Practice is actually going good,” Self said. “I thought the scrimmage obviously showed a lot of slippage. For the most part I think practice has gone really well and the guys have worked really hard.”

He gave a brief synopsis of the scrimmage.

“I think Doke (Udoka Azubuike) led us in scoring with 25, but there’s a lot of guys who had right around 14 to 18 points,” Self said.

Freshman guard Quentin Grimes, who had flu-like symptoms on Wednesday, missed the scrimmage and Ladies Night Out event. He likely would return to practice Thursday, Self said.

Self also praised his Jayhawk team during the event’s Q and A.

“We lose Malik (Newman) who was unbelievable down the stretch for us. Svi (Mykhailiuk) was so consistent, such a good shooter and player. We lost a guy who ran this place,” he said of team leader Devonté Graham.

“How do you replace them? We’ve been pretty successful with it. I’ve probably enjoyed coaching this group to date as much as any team. They have fun, like each other, are coachable, share it, are unselfish, can pass,” Self added.

He said he’s not close to coming up with a starting lineup or even a rotation.

“We’ll wait and get through the exhibition games (Oct. 25, Emporia State; Nov. 1, Washburn) before we settle on that,” he said.

Self said he did not see a point guard battle brewing between Devon Dotson, Charlie Moore, Grimes and Marcus Garrett.

“I think we should play position-less this year,” Self said. “Whoever gets it brings it. I am not as hung up on playing with a true point. I am more hung up playing with combo guards that can play some point. I think we’ve got three, four guys who can do that.”

One of the fans at Ladies Night Out asked junior center Azubuike what his free throw percentage would be in 2018-19. He hit 41.3 percent his sophomore season.

“I work on my free throws a lot,” Azubuike said. “I think my percentage will be improved this year.”

Self then chimed in: “Doke has developed into a very good free throw shooter. He’s shot them very well.”

KU sophomore Silvio De Sousa was asked to state a little known fact about himself to the attendees.

“I’m a better soccer player than basketball,” the Angola native said.

With the timing of an accomplished comedian, Self chimed in: “Silvio, I didn’t know you were such a good soccer player. That’s why you fumble so many balls. You are not used to using your hands.”

Lagerald Vick told the attendees he was planning on being a team leader this season.

“It’s my last year. I take that responsibility,” the senior guard from Memphis said.

Noted Self: “They say a team is only as good as the seniors allow it to be. I’ll take his word for it (that he’ll lead).”

Of Ladies Night Out, Self said: “This is a fun night. This is a good night for a good cause. There’s a lot of people who showed up from around the area and also outside the area. Anytime you can do something like this (where) it’s fun and still yet raise money for a good cause, is good.”

Gary Bedore

Gary Bedore covers University of Kansas athletics for The Star.