Bill Self says KU basketball is starting to bond. Here’s what he wants to see next
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- KU used the Las Vegas Players Era tournament to build momentum with three wins
- Bill Self highlights toughness and depth after heavy minutes across three days
- KU faces No. 5 UConn’s offense and depth; Peterson status will affect rotation
Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self has had some time to digest not only his Thanksgiving Day turkey but his Jayhawks’ play in the 18-team Players Era tournament held last Monday through Wednesday in Las Vegas.
“Michigan was the best team in the tournament. I think they proved that by winning by (40), 30 (and) 40. OK? They were the best team,” Self said.
The Wolverines, like KU and Iowa State, went 3-0 in the second-annual event. They were the only squads to go undefeated in their three games.
Michigan beat Gonzaga 101-61 in the title game and also clobbered Auburn 102-72 and San Diego State 94-54. KU overcame a 12-point deficit and defeated No. 17 Tennessee 81-76 in the third-place game after also beating Syracuse 71-60 and Notre Dame 71-61.
Iowa State stopped St. John’s 83-82, Creighton 78-60 and Syracuse 95-64.
“You can make a case we were the second-best team in the tournament, in a tournament which you probably have five or six teams that are capable of going to the Final Four,” Self stated. “Does that mean anything? Doesn’t mean a thing, because you didn’t get matched up with those other teams, but I think Gonzaga is so impressive, so that makes Michigan’s win to me that much more impressive.
“I think what Iowa State is doing is ridiculously impressive. I thought that we did as well as we could possibly do. We had three games. We won three games all against high-major competition and one team that’s really good and has a chance maybe to play for the highest stakes (Tennessee). So I was pleased, but it’s nothing to get giddy over. I mean, it was a good momentum push for us, though.”
Self — his 6-2, No. 21-ranked Jayhawks have lost to ranked teams in Duke and North Carolina — figures to learn even more about his squad Tuesday when the Jayhawks play host to No. 5 UConn (6-1).
Tipoff is 8 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse with a live telecast on ESPN2.
“I don’t know that I expect certain milestones. But the way these kids tried and competed three straight days with very little depth and guys playing 35-plus (minutes) a game three days in a row, to me, showed me something from a care and from a toughness standpoint,” Self said Monday.
“You can’t be good unless you have those qualities. ... We’ll grow into playing well, but the intangible bit was very important for us to see and for the players to see what happens when we do display that (playing well),” he added.
Self said the status of freshman guard Darryn Peterson, who has missed the last six games because of a hamstring injury but has practiced since KU’s return from Vegas, figures to be a game-day decision. He said senior guard Jayden Dawson, who missed two games in Vegas because of a hand injury, had returned to practice and should be available.
“I actually think the success in Las Vegas helped us bond,” Self said. “I don’t know that we’re a team yet. I don’t know if anybody in America is a team in November, but I think that we’re closer to becoming a team, having gone out there.”
UConn, which won national championships in 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023 and 2024, is expected to contend for Big East and national honors again this season.
UConn has double-digit scorers in Tarris Reed (15.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg), Solo Ball (14.3 ppg), Alex Karaban (14.0 ppg) and Silas Demary (12.0 ppg). The Huskies defeated Illinois 74-61 on Sunday in New York. UConn also has defeated BYU 86-64 on Nov. 15 in Boston and lost to Arizona 71-67 on Nov. 19 in Storrs, Connecticut.
“What they’ve done is ridiculously impressive, and what Danny (Hurley, eighth season) has done in his time there has been unprecedented almost,” Self said. ”So, yes, a lot of respect. And they’re going to be in the mix (for a national title) most every year.”
Of UConn, he noted: “They’re the best that we’ll probably play against this year as far as offensive movement (scoring 82.4 ppg to KU’s 76.3). Danny must spend 30 minutes a day running dry offense because those guys really do a good job of tight curling (and coming off various screens). ... They do a really good job of moving without the ball.
“Hopefully being fairly long on the perimeter and having some big guys that can move their feet, hopefully that will help us a little. But certainly they are a handful to guard, and then defensively they’re tough and they’re sound (allowing 61.3 ppg to KU’s 64.5). You watch the Illinois game and they make you make plays and they’re physical. And of course we’ve got to be able to jump up and make some shots, too, because you’re not going to get a ton of wide-open looks. But when you get them, you better take advantage of it.”
