Kansas Jayhawks’ Jalen Wilson figures to ‘fit right in’ as he returns from suspension
Kansas sophomore forward Jalen Wilson, who has completed a suspension that included his missing one exhibition game and three regular-season contests following his arrest on suspicion of DUI, is scheduled to return to the Jayhawks’ men’s basketball rotation at the ESPN Events Invitational on Thursday, Friday and Sunday in Kissimmee, Florida.
“He’ll fit right in. I don’t know if he’ll start or not. I haven’t decided on that,” KU coach Bill Self said Tuesday, referring to Thursday’s first-round contest against North Texas (1:30 p.m. Central time at HP Fieldhouse).
Self, who has used a starting lineup of Remy Martin, Dajuan Harris, Christian Braun, David McCormack and Ochai Agbaji in the Jayhawks’ three regular-season victories, noted that injuries could play a role in the lineup decision.
“We haven’t been healthy this past week,” Self said. He noted that Martin (back injury) and Bobby Pettiford (strained hip) haven’t practiced since after last Thursday’s game against Stony Brook. Jalen Coleman-Lands has practiced but is not 100% because of a cracked bone in one of his two big toes.
Self said all should be healthy enough to play against North Texas.
KU’s 19th-year coach is looking forward to the availability of Wilson, a 6-8 sophomore forward who averaged 11.8 points and 7.9 rebounds a game a year ago.
“He’ll add an offensive threat, not that we didn’t have an offensive threat before, but probably more of an offensive threat,” Self said. “He’ll definitely add rebounding and the thing I hope he adds as much as anything is speed. He is the best we have at pushing it. I would have never said that two years ago. Who do we want to get the ball to? Jalen in transition, far moreso than our guards just because we play faster.”
Self noted, “that doesn’t mean I don’t want the guards to bring it. In an open floor situation he’s the best we have so hopefully he can create some easy baskets that way for us.”
Asked if Wilson’s return would change the responsibilities of the guards in the game with him, Self said: “I think sometimes he demands the ball enough that they almost act like he’s the one that’s supposed to bring it and they defer a little bit to him which I don’t think is great but hopefully that gets them to be better runners.”
For instance, Martin, Self said, “is so quick and fast if he’s not bringing it he should be trying to outrun people. We haven’t done that yet.”
Self stressed that Wilson is “probably our most versatile guy. He is the guy if you had to play somebody in a close game and you wanted to go with a veteran team he could play point guard or could play the five.”
Coleman-Lands said Wilson figures to add much to the rotation.
“I think it’s great,” the Iowa State transfer said of the Denton, Texas native’s return. “Our main goal is to win a national championship so him coming back will be great for us. I think it gives us a better chance of winning a national championship.
“Playing in practice, I know what he can bring. It’s unique. His ability with his size to push the ball in transition, play-make, make shots as well and rebound. ... with that combination added with what we already have it’ll help us more,” Coleman-Lands added.
Like Self, Coleman-Lands said he has noticed Wilson’s ability “to push the ball in transition. Getting rebounds … he has more options this year from an offensive standpoint. He can really push the ball.”
Shooting guard Coleman-Lands, by the way, has averaged 12.1 minutes a game in three games while being hobbled with the sore toe. He’s contributed 7.3 points a game with three assists total against two turnovers.
“It’s good. It’s getting better, gradually getting better each day,” he said of his big toe. “You don’t realize until you hurt it you do a lot exerting power out of your toe. I’ve been doing my part getting my P.T. (physical therapy) in before practice and after. It’s definitely getting better.”
This story was originally published November 23, 2021 at 12:24 PM.
