Bill Self has seen the good, and bad, version of the Kansas Jayhawks this season
Bill Self is baffled, puzzled, perplexed — you name it — about one hard-to-figure aspect of his 2024-25 Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team, which takes a 17-7 record (8-5 Big 12) into an upcoming two-game road trip to the state of Utah.
“When we are good, we are as good as anybody,” Self, KU’s 22nd-year coach, said during Wednesday’s Hawk Talk radio show. “When we are not good, or bad, there is a bigger dropoff of us not being good than there has been with any other team I think I’ve coached here.”
Still seeking what he calls “consistency,” Self’s No. 17-ranked Jayhawks have been sensational in victories against Duke, Michigan State, North Carolina and Iowa State. In league play, KU has held Cincinnati to 40 points in a 14-point victory and UCF to 48 points in a 51-point win, both on the road.
Conversely, the Jayhawks suffered a 13-point loss at Creighton and nine-point defeat at Missouri in the nonconference portion of the 2024-25 season. KU has dropped road games by 17 points at Iowa State, nine points at Baylor (after leading by 21) and eight at Kansas State.
“The key to having great seasons is not winning when you play well,” Self said, “but winning when you don’t play well.”
As an example he cited Tuesday’s 71-59 home win over Colorado.
“Our teams in the past for the most part have excelled at winning games the way we won last night,” Self said. “This year we have not excelled at that as much. We go to Creighton and we stunk. We go to Columbia and we stunk.
“Those two outplayed us and were a big reason we did not play well, but why in certain situations can we make the best teams in America not play well, and then we can play against other teams and make them look like they are playing their best ball? That’s what is frustrating to me.”
Self said it’s a goal to “get guys to play at that high level and play at that level on a relatively consistent basis. It won’t it happen every night but make sure it happens more often than not. We’ve shown we can do it but not consistently.
“I know it is frustrating to people who support us. The bottom line is there is still an opportunity for us to do this. Health, togetherness, energy unselfishness, liking each other, commitment … all the things that have gone into it in the past could not have happened if the teams did not have intangibles exist.”
Self indicated this team may be out of the Big 12 race but can still make a strong showing down the stretch and into the postseason.
“When (former KU star) Danny (Manning) and the guys won it in 1988 they were 12-8 — 12-8,” Self said with emphasis. “Their 13th win was at our expense at Oklahoma State (where Self was a coach at the time).
“I remember they won that game and were giddy, excited about it. They eked out a victory over an average team, at best. Next thing you know they get on a significant run. They kept building, building and got to the NCAA Tournament and beat every one of those teams they weren’t able to beat earlier.”
That 1988 KU title squad avenged losses to K-State, Duke and Oklahoma in the NCAAs.
“I’m not saying that positively will happen,” Self said Wednesday. “We’ve seen enough good things happen that there’s no reason we can’t get on a run. Our 2018 (Final Four) team … lose to Arizona State, Washington. We have to make a shot at the buzzer basically to beat Nebraska and that’s when Nebraska wasn’t going to the NCAAs. A team gets hot at the right time and you see what happens. For us to make that a reality we have to go make a foundation to do it.”
Self noted the improvement of some of his players this season — such as Rylan Griffen, who has been making great strides on the defensive end — but said there’s room for more.
“Hunt is playing well,” Self said of center Hunter Dickinson, who averages 16.6 points and 9.6 rebounds. “There are a lot of things you look at Hunt and say you wish he’d do this more, that more. He’s made one (3-point) shot in Big 12 play for the year, 1-for-14 from 3. He is capable of making five in a row. Those are the type of things that can happen. I believe we can improve as we go.”
Of freshman big man Flory Bidunga’s continued improvement, Self said: “I think he doing really well. He has to stay relevant (both halves of games). He is so athletic, affects so many possessions with a dunk or block. He can do things more often (but) his talent to me Is undeniable.”
Self also praised senior guard David “Diggy” Coit for “three big shots for us” versus the Buffaloes on Tuesday. He made two 3-pointers and a floater in 18 minutes.
Self then shared some examples of Kansas players from the past who improved during the season.
“Malik Newman, who I was harder on than any kid I ever coached here … love him, but he drove me nuts,” Self said. “He labored all year and was MVP of the Big 12 tournament and the Midwest Regional (2018).
“Remy (Martin, 2022 title team) did not play in February, did not show up to a game in February. I said to him, ‘Why not take the month of February off? By the month of March you’ll be ready.’ He said, ‘I’ll be ready.’”
Martin reminded Self of the calendar entering March Madness, telling his coach, “It’s March.”
And Martin indeed was ready. His strong play in the NCAA Tournament, including the NCAA title game against North Carolina, was instrumental in KU’s NCAA title.
Self hopes for a successful road trip to Utah next. KU will travel to Salt Lake City on Friday for Saturday’s 9 p.m. Central Time contest against Utah; then, rather than flying home and leaving again immediately, the Jayhawks will remain in Utah for Tuesday’s 8 p.m. game against BYU in Provo.
“It’s a huge road trip. We need to be our best,” Self said. “Hopefully a road trip will benefit us in many ways, going off and being together somewhere.”
