Why did Bill Self sub out five starters early in the second half against FHSU?
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- Bill Self replaced five starters 2:10 into the second half after a dull start.
- KU responded with a 5-0 run and outscored FHSU 38-19 in the second half.
- Self cited defensive lapses and lack of physical play from bigs as key issues.
Obviously displeased with his starters’ play, Bill Self substituted five players for another five just 2:10 into the second half of Kansas’ 71-35 exhibition victory over Fort Hays State Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse.
The group of Jayden Dawson, Elmarko Jackson, Melvin Council Jr., Bryson Tiller and Flory Bidunga was pulled for Tre White, Samis Calderon, Kohl Rosario, Jamari McDowell and Paul Mbiya.
KU wound up waking up courtesy of a 5-0 run and outscored the NCAA Div. II Tigers 38-19 the final 20 minutes. KU had led 33-16 at the break.
“I didn’t think it was great by any stretch,” Self said of the start of the final half. “I thought we were dull, boring, not a lot of pace, energy, except for one guy (Council, 16 points, six assists, two rebounds) obviously, and he was really good. But no ... we started different guys the second half and it was only because of the minute distribution for the most part and then that group didn’t do very well to start the half, so we just subbed them.
“It was not a big deal one way or another, but certainly tonight, there were some things defensively that we were OK, but we also didn’t create havoc. Our bigs didn’t play big. You can see we missed Darryn Peterson (who missed game). Other guys have got to make some shots. It wasn’t great by any stretch, but we got through it. We probably needed something like that.”
To begin the game, Self went with a starting five of Jackson (for Peterson), Bidunga, White, Rosario and Council.
White, a 6-foot-7 senior transfer from University of Illinois, scored 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting (2-of-3 3s) with six rebounds. He played 20 minutes total, eight the final half.
Asked by a reporter if White figures to play more minutes during the regular season, Self said: “Yes, it’ll be more. He hunted a few shots. He tried to post up and faded away. It was soft a couple of times. So I actually thought he and Flory (six point, nine rebounds, 0-for-5 from line) shied away from playing stronger and so that was the reason why he (White) came out. He’s a good player, but he’s got to be more of a physical presence for us.”
Self on Tuesday saved most of his words of praise for Council, a 6-4 senior transfer from St. Bonaventure.
Council led the fast break on several occasions and showed intensity on the defensive end, shadowing his man.
“It’ll be infectious for our fans. He’ll be a fan favorite when you play that hard and play with pace and energy,” Self said of Council. “And he’ll make some mistakes, but most of the mistakes that he makes are out of being aggressive and trying hard. Doesn’t he remind you guys of Tyshawn (Taylor, former KU guard). I mean, not only physically but just the way he plays and everything. I see a lot of similarities. I thought Tyshawn was great.”
Council told the media Tuesday he first looks at his rebound totals on the postgame stat sheet. White said he looks for assists versus turnovers.
“First of all, they’ve got it twisted. Melvin should be worried about assists and turnovers and Tre should be worried about rebounding. So maybe that’s a conversation that we need to have, if that’s what they think that’s going to really help us win, because Tre’s got to rebound the ball,” Self said. “He had six (rebounds), but no offensive rebounds on a team that only made four 3s. He’s got to do a better job with that.”
KU will open the regular season Monday against Green Bay. Tip is 7 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
This story was originally published October 29, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
