‘Next chapter’ begins at Big 12 Tournament for KU basketball sophomore KJ Adams
Kansas sophomore forward KJ Adams says he learned a lot while playing limited minutes for Kansas’ basketball team during the 2021-22 season, one that culminated in a national title.
“Just the mindset from everybody. They had a different mindset that a lot of teams didn’t have. They were really focused and really on to the next thing,” Adams said of the main rotation players on KU’s (34-6) NCAA title squad. “I think if I can take the mindset and the power they did from last year I’ll be in good shape.”
He’s hoping for a spectacular finish to an already successful campaign.
Adams — a starter at the 5-spot who averages 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 27.1 minutes a game (he logged 4.8 minutes per game in 37 games during the 2021-22 season) — on Sunday was rewarded for his production by being named the Big 12 Most Improved Player.
The 6-foot-7, 225-pound native of Austin, Texas is an integral part of a 25-6 KU team that hopes to follow its regular-season Big 12 crown with repeat Big 12 tourney and NCAA titles.
“I think everybody is just grateful I got this award. Any award in the Big 12 is a really amazing thing to happen. It was good to tell my family I won that,” Adams said of the trophy as handed out by the league’s coaches.
Adams — he also was tabbed honorable mention all-league — realizes awards are something to savor more during the offseason than right now, the start of the all-important postseason.
No. 3-ranked KU will take on the winner of Wednesday’s West Virginia-Texas Tech game at 2 p.m. Thursday at T-Mobile Center. It’ll be shown on ESPN2.
“Going into practice, coach (Bill Self) congratulates everybody who wins the awards (then) gets ready for practice like it never happened,” Adams said with a smile. “We’ve accomplished some things, now it’s on to the Big 12 tournament and of course March Madness. We need to flip it, get ready for bigger things,” Adams added.
As the No. 1-seeded team in the Big 12 tourney, the Jayhawks enter as favorites to win the event, which runs Wednesday through Saturday.
KU, however, is coming off a 75-59 blowout loss to No 2-seed Texas on Saturday in Austin.
“Just that we need to go to the next chapter,” Adams said of the message of Self to the team after the game that snapped KU’s seven-game winning streak.
“That was a tough game for everybody. It’s not how we wanted to end our conference regular season. It’s one of those things you’ve got to flip to the next (chapter). We might see them (Longhorns) again and I hope we do. We’ve got to get ready for it.”
As locks for a No 1 seed — and likely the current leader for the overall 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament — KU may not be as desperate for a victory Thursday as say its tourney quarterfinal foe.
“Obviously a lot of teams are playing for different reasons. Ours is just as important as playing for a bid in the tournament,” Adams said. “We have the same intensity they do because I feel what we can do and move up to the No. 1 (overall) seed is just for better odds. That’s all you can ask for when it gets to March and it’s crazy.”
He said the Jayhawks’ mindset entering the Big 12 tourney is “just to play as hard as we can. We played all these teams before. They know what we can do. We know what they can do.”
KU forward Jalen Wilson said the motivation Thursday and then hopefully in the 6 p.m. semifinals Friday and 5 p.m. finals Saturday would be to secure the overall No. 1 seed on Selection Sunday.
“Last year, getting to be the all-time winningest program was great,” Wilson said of passing Kentucky for first place on the all-time wins list. “Now that we have the opportunity to win and get the No. 1 overall seed and being able to play in Iowa (Des Moines first and second rounds) and Kansas City (Sweet 16, Elite Eight) would be great. It’s lining up perfectly for us to do those things.
“If you asked yourself before the season for everything to line up like this and be in a position to cut down nets in Kansas City to go to the Final Four, I think we’d all want that. It’s right in front of us, time to go get it.”
Wilson believes KU having a nation’s best 15 Quad 1 wins will help KU’s case for a No. 1 overall seed.
“I spoke to Dick Vitale at the (Texas) game. He said this was one of the best conferences he’d seen in his entire life. For coach Self to (also) say it, he wouldn’t say it just to say it He’s been around some tough Big 12 conferences,” Wilson said.
“For us to be ahead by a game (in the league standings) I think it shows we have what it takes to be overall No. 1 seed. ... Houston (another likely No. 1 seed) is a great team but their conference doesn’t compare to the Big 12 I don’t think, especially this year with the competition we have.”
Self said Wednesday at T-Mobile Center the Jayhawks have likely not yet secured the overall No. 1 seed.
“I think we can help or hurt (by winning or losing games at the Big 12 tourney), I do,” Self said. “I think that (nation’s best 15 Quad 1 wins) in itself has been impressive for the committee but I don’t know that in itself is enough to lay claim we should be in Kansas City. I still think there’s work to be done. I do think there’s an opportunity for us to enhance our position by playing well here.”
