KU’s Bill Self reveals his Big 12 poll vote, discusses Friday’s Late Night in the Phog
Bill Self isn’t offended that his fellow Big 12 coaches on Thursday voted Baylor ahead of his Kansas Jayhawks atop the conference’s preseason men’s basketball poll.
“That’s probably a good place for us to be,” KU coach Self, who has led the Jayhawks to 16 league titles in his 19 seasons in Lawrence, said Thursday afternoon at his pre-Late Night in the Phog news conference at Allen Fieldhouse.
The 38th annual Late Night will begin at 6 p.m. Friday in KU’s tradition-rich building.
“I voted for Baylor to win it. We can’t vote for our own team,” Self explained, “but certainly I think they (the Bears) have a great team returning. I also think other teams in our league are capable of winning it, too, whether it be Texas, TCU or whomever. One through 10 it looks like a pretty darn good league again.”
Baylor received five first-place votes, runner-up KU four and third-place Texas one. After that it was TCU, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech (tie), Oklahoma, Iowa State, West Virginia and Kansas State.
Self did express surprise that KU redshirt junior point guard Dajuan Harris did not receive some sort of mention on the Big 12’s preseason all-league team, which was announced Wednesday. KU’s Jalen Wilson was selected preseason all-conference and Kevin McCullar honorable mention, but Harris’ name was nowhere to be found.
“Anybody that has seen us play or seen him play that doesn’t believe he is one of the best players in our league is nuts,” Self said. “He is a terrific player and he’s gotten so much better since last year (when he started at the point for national title team).
“You could make a case he has been our best player (during KU’s first 2 1/2 weeks of practice). He and Jalen (Wilson) for sure have been our best two. He (Harris) has had a really good fall.”
Self noted that Harris has three years of college eligibility remaining, counting this season.
“I tell you he’s a good guard,” Self said of the 6-foot-1 Columbia, Missouri native. “I even tell our recruits this: ‘You are going to be playing with him because there’s not going to be too many people beating this dude out.’’’
Self was asked how KU’s four scholarship freshmen are faring entering Friday’s Late Night men’s scrimmage.
“Gradey (Dick, guard) has done really well. The two bigs (Ernest Udeh, Zuby Ejiofor) have done well, too,” Self said, “We didn’t recruit those two bigs to be stars as freshmen, but they are ahead of schedule. They are better than what we thought they’d be at this particular time.
“Stil,l though, it’s not fair to them to compare them to David (McCormack) or Doke (Udoka Azubuike). I think MJ (Rice, guard) has a gear in him he hasn’t quite gotten to yet that and he’s going to be a really good player, but he’s probably a little bit behind the perimeter guys right now, even though he’ll play. But he can certainly improve as he gets more comfortable.”
Self said he does not envision redshirting any of the four freshmen.
“Just so you know moving forward, I don’t really see redshirt candidates, so you guys (media) can save that question, at least right now,” Self said.
As far as starters … “Right now I will say this, there’s a good chance Jalen and Juan will start,” Self said, smiling as he referred to the two returning starters from last year’s NCAA-title team.
Self is not close to choosing starters in the frontcourt.
“I told them the other day we’ve got four bigs that could all play. If you throw KJ (Adams) in there, that’s five that can all play ample minutes and split time and all those things,” Self said of Adams, Udeh, Ejiofor, Zach Clemence and Cam Martin. “I’d rather have one that is getting backed up rather than have five that are just playing a little bit. Hopefully one of those guys will emerge.”
Self said he is looking forward to visiting with one Hall of Fame big man at Late Night — Shaquille O’Neal, aka DJ Diesel, who will DJ a set at the conclusion of the hoops portion of Late Night.
“I don’t know Shaq,” Self said. “K.T. (assistant Kurtis Townsend) knows him pretty well.
“I’m excited to spend some time with him. I’ve talked to people that had him perform or do his DJ stuff at different events. They said he’s great. I’m sure he’ll add a lot to what is going on.”
The highlight of the night figures to be the players and coaches off the 2021-22 national championship team receiving their title rings, and the dropping of KU’s 2022 NCAA title banner in the north rafters.
“It will be the best Late Night we’ve had since 2008,” Self said, referencing KU’s first national title during his tenure. “It should be fun and a great way to honor last year’s team and introduce this year’s team as well.”
Self said two former Jayhawks and recent NBA Draft picks, Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun, wouldn’t be able to make it back for Late Night, but four players off last season’s championship team will: presumably, he meant Mitch Lightfoot, Chris Teahan, Remy Martin and Jalen Coleman-Lands.
Self said sophomore guard Bobby Pettiford (tweaked hamstring) is the only current Jayhawk battling injury and thus questionable for the Late Night scrimmage.
“He hasn’t really practiced yet this year. He’s the one guy who has struggled with injuries more than anybody else,” Self said. “He can’t catch a break right now. It’s been bothering him about three weeks. Even though he’s practiced some, it’s been primarily halfcourt.”
