Kansas Jayhawks’ coach Bill Self discusses how he’ll choose Senior Day starters
Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self says he plans on continuing the tradition of starting the program’s seniors during Saturday’s Senior Day game against Texas.
Tipoff is 3 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse with a live telecast on ESPN.
He has six seniors to choose from, with just five slots available to answer the opening tip.
“We’ll positively start our four guys who have been with us the whole time,” Self said of sixth-year senior Mitch Lightfoot, fifth-year senior Chris Teahan and fourth-year seniors David McCormack and Ochai Agbaji.
“I don’t know what we’ll do with the other one (starting spot),” Self added of picking between seniors Remy Martin and Jalen Coleman-Lands, who are in their first seasons at KU.
“We may do ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors.’ I have no idea, because they both deserve to (start). In defense of those guys, they’ve both already had senior days. I think Jalen may have had two already. This will be his third. It’s certainly the right thing to do to play these guys who have been with us the longest.”
Self was kidding about Coleman-Lands, who has had one prior Senior Day, last year at Iowa State. He did not have a senior day at his two other spots, Illinois and DePaul.
Martin — he had a Senior Day at Arizona State a year ago — has started 12 games to Coleman-Lands’ one game at Kansas.
Martin, who has played in the past three games after missing seven straight contests with a bone bruise in his right knee, said his Arizona State Senior Day at the end of last season “was tough because of COVID.
“(But) being able to be with my parents, being able to be with my family, being able to enjoy that moment at that gym (in Tempe, Arizona) was special. I never thought I’d end up here, but I’m definitely happy to be here,” Martin added. “I’m definitely happy to have another Senior Night because at the end of the day it’s a big moment. It’s the last time I’m going to be able to play in that gym (Allen Fieldhouse) which I love. It’ll be good.”
Martin said his mom and dad and some other family and friends will travel in from his home town of Burbank, California for the game.
“Tomorrow will be an emotional day for a lot of people. I can say that because for me it’s going to be emotional because I love these people here. It’s going to be a great day,” Martin said.
Martin — he has averaged 7.4 points a game with 50 total assists against 30 turnovers — said being at KU for a year “is kind of a restart, being a freshman again, being embraced in a culture, getting to know people’s ways and culture’s ways.
“I’m just happy to be here and be embraced, to learn from these guys. I’m also here to help win games. I just love being here.”
Martin said “it is a blessing,” every time he gets in a game.
“My main goal is to come in and do whatever is asked, do as much as I can for these guys to win. These guys put a lot of hard blood, sweat and tears in this game. I just want to be able to help any way possible. I came here to win. That was the main goal. Whatever my role was that was the main goal. It is still the main goal. Whatever I’m asked, whatever minutes I get … it is what it is and I’m going to try to put my best foot forward try to help. That’s what I’m here for, try to help and try to win.”
Martin said his knee has been healthy enough for him to play of late. However, he went 0-for-2 shooting and played just 3 1/2 minutes in Thursday’s 72-68 win over TCU at Allen Fieldhouse.
“It’s hard to put a percentage (on health of his bruised right knee),” he said Friday. “I’ve been practicing. It fluctuates. We’ve been doing as much as we can trying to get my knee right. It’s been challenging. As long as I’m able to play and go, I think that’s the main thing. As long as I’m OK to go out there and play, that’s good.”
KU enters Saturday’s game needing a victory to wrap up a share of the 2021-22 Big 12 regular-season crown. KU enters the day tied with Baylor at 13-4 in conference play. Baylor will play host to Iowa State in a 5 p.m. tipoff Saturday.
