Kansas Jayhawks arrive in Rhode Island for NCAA Tournament game against Arkansas
If all had gone according to plan, the Kansas basketball team would have taken a short 2-1/2 hour bus ride to Wichita on Tuesday afternoon in advance of a Wednesday NCAA Tournament open practice, which would have attracted thousands of KU supporters to Intrust Bank Arena, site of first- and second-round tourney action.
Instead — the preseason No. 1 Jayhawks, who were handed a No. 7 seed in the Big Dance following a 21-12 regular season — arrived Tuesday evening at their team hotel in Providence, Rhode Island, after flying 1,400 miles.; the Jayhawks on Wednesday at 1:45-2:25 (Central time) will have an open scrimmage in Amica Mutual Pavilion.
That’s the site of Thursday’s opener between KU and No. 10 seed Arkansas. Tipoff is set for 6:10 p.m., Central time, with a live telecast on CBS.
“I think this is fine. Selfishly I’d rather play in Wichita or Kansas City or whatnot. Since we’re not, we’re not going to spin it that it’s a big deal,” KU coach Bill Self told reporters Tuesday afternoon in Rhode Island.
“Truthfully, sometimes being closer to home brings more distractions too. You’ve got more ticket issues and different things. You certainly have the home crowd which is good. Being the favorite with the home crowd a lot of times provides a little bit more pressure too,” Self added.
The Jayhawks practiced in Lawrence on Tuesday before the flight to Providence.
“Good,” Self said, asked about how practice has gone since the Jayhawks’ Big 12 quarterfinal loss to Arizona on Thursday in Kansas City. “I’ve said this other weeks, too, but we had a really good day today. We were off yesterday, but we met and did scout and did all that stuff. And so we’ve had three good sessions of practice since we came home from Kansas City and had an off-day that we got some stuff done, so hopefully, we’ll be prepared.”
Senior guard Shakeel Moore, who has a lingering foot injury, did practice some on Tuesday, Self said. Moore hasn’t played in a game since mid February.
“He practiced a little bit on Friday and Saturday, and today, he practiced less,” Self said. “I’d like to see him get out there. Hopefully, he can go some tomorrow (at practice) and be available to us at least. We maybe could have put him in against Arizona and the game doesn’t go well, you may have lost him for the season just by putting him in there.
“I told him I’d rather him play this weekend, but we don’t know how it’s going to be,” Self added. “It’s day-to-day.”
Self has watched a lot of tape of the Razorbacks (20-13) lately. It’s a team KU played in an exhibition in the preseason. KU, which played without Hunter Dickinson, Rylan Griffen and Moore, lost to Arkansas, 85-69, on Oct., 25 in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
“They’re playing so fast, and it’s pretty much the same team,” said Self. “Obviously Boogie (Fland, guard, thumb injury) hasn’t been playing. I guess he is going to, which will be a bonus for them, but to me, Richmond (Billy, freshman forward) is just, athletically, he just provides a different gear and then Aidoo (Jonas, senior forward) didn’t play against us and so he’s obviously a low post presence.
“Brazile (Trevon, junior forward). Oh gosh almighty. Trevor has been really good, and he shot the heck out of it of late. But he’s just so active and so big and certainly gives smaller wings a big problem.”
Self said he hasn’t spoken to Arkansas coach John Calipari this week. The two are long-time friends. Calipari had his start in coaching working for Ted Owens and then Larry Brown at KU.
“I will (speak to him) before the game. He doesn’t have me on speed dial nor vice versa,” Self said. “It’ll be a tough game, one I think will certainly garner some national attention just because of the two teams going against each other.”
The winner of Thursday’s KU-Arkansas game will play St. John’s or Omaha at a yet-to-be-determined time on Saturday.
