Midwest No. 1 seed? Jalen Wilson as Big 12 Player of the Year? What Bill Self thinks
KU basketball players and coaches tuned into ESPN2 from the comforts of their own apartments and homes late Wednesday night to watch TCU defeat Texas (75-73) and eliminate the Longhorns from Big 12 title contention.
“I think basically everybody in the country was watching that plays in the Big 12,” KU junior point guard Dajuan Harris said Thursday.
His Jayhawks (25-5, 13-4), who assured themselves a tie for the league regular-season title by defeating Texas Tech on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse, claimed the outright crown Wednesday night by virtue of the TCU victory.
Texas dropped to 22-8 overall and 11-6 in the league. That’s two games back of KU with just one game to play — Saturday’s 3 p.m. UT-KU game at Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
“Everybody (on KU’s team) was probably celebrating laying in bed,” Harris said. “We celebrated after we won the game (Tuesday vs. Tech). We got together (after the game).
“I’m not disappointed they (Longhorns) lost. I knew it’d be a hard game for Texas going down to TCU to their home court,” Harris added. “I’m happy we clinched it for ourselves and we did it the right way (Tuesday). It would have been better if Texas would have won and we would have won there on their Senior Night and they not get a share of the Big 12. (But) it really doesn’t matter. We’ve just got to take care of our own and handle business.”
KU coach Bill Self, who has led the Jayhawks to 17 conference titles in 20 seasons in Lawrence, said he “did not celebrate at all” after the final horn sounded in the Horned Frogs’ victory.
“I texted the fellas (players) and the staff. That was about it,” Self said. “My reaction is I’m happy. I’m hoping something happens like last year with us. Last year we played TCU and Texas back-to-back at home (to close regular season) and labored to win both games. The ball didn’t go in the basket. Guys were trying too hard, very similar to West Virginia and Tech (games that KU won at home to conclude the home slate). Then after we did enough to get a piece of the championship (last year), it seemed to me the pressure was off a little bit. We played much freer after that. I hope that’s the case beginning with this particular team as we go to Austin.”
Self was asked if he has considered resting his starters Saturday, considering KU has already wrapped up the league title and a No. 1 seed in next week’s Big 12 postseason tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
“In a word — no,’’ Self said. “This is a huge game. There are lot of things to play for. There’s seeding (for NCAAs). It certainly can’t affect our Big 12 tournament (seeding). If you have that attitude (of resting players), I think you are minimizing what’s most important. It’s not like an NBA playoff, where you already know who you are going to play and it’s going to be a best-of-seven and you want everybody fresh. We’re still playing to put us in the best and most favorable position come tournament time. As long as we’re playing we’re going to try to win.”
The Jayhawks, who have a nation’s best 15 Quad 1 victories, likely have wrapped up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament after winning a league that Dick Vitale says is the best college basketball has seen in 20 years.
Asked if KU could be the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, Self said: “I would feel better if we had one less loss on our resume. I think if somebody were to ask me what would be a perfect scenario, I think a perfect scenario would be go to Des Moines (Iowa for first and second round) and go to Kansas City (for Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Midwest Regional). I’m not sure that’s the sure-all thing. We went to Kansas City before (in NCAAs) and got beat. You’d think (KU would win) in theory, (but) the games aren’t played in theory.
“I’d like to think we could get to Des Moines and then whether or not we have a chance to go to Kansas City is strictly based on how we do and how other teams do (the rest of this season).”
Self continued.
“There’s still a lot of ball left for that. Do I like our chances of being a No. 1 seed? Yes, I do,” Self said. “We put ourselves in a very favorable position to be a 1 seed somewhere. Obviously we just don’t know where. Nothing’s done by any stretch. Being a 1 seed doesn’t guarantee success but I think you work all year long to be the highest seed as possible. Hopefully we can finish what we started.”
Harris said: “I feel we still need to finish out strong, to still let the country know we still want to be the best team in the country. We just want to keep adding to the win column trying to get the 1 seed or something. That’s what we plan for.”
Self on Big 12 Player of the Year
Self says he believes junior forward Jalen Wilson should earn the league’s top individual honor.
“I feel like he is player of year in the conference,” Self said Thursday. “I don’t think I have (ever) campaigned for my guys to win an award in which the other nine coaches vote on. I don’t think it’s the right thing to do. Coaches in their own way have their own perspective and what they value most. I know for me what he does I value most. I believe he is (league’s top player). There’s still another game before coaches are required to have their vote in there.”
Coaches are not allowed to vote for his players on their own teams.
“I cant vote for Jalen and it’s my job as I see it to vote for the guy who should be player of the year if it’s not Jalen, not to vote for somebody that won’t be player of year to help Jalen,” Self said. “Sometimes the way this award is done can skew it a little bit. In in my mind he is. I can’t vote based on what’s in my mind. (I vote on) excluding him totally.”
