Bill Self says KU must ‘get better’ in two areas after blowout win over Towson
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- KU reserves produced nine points on 4-of-19 shooting, failing to supply bench scoring.
- Towson outrebounded KU 45-43, grabbed 22 offensive boards and exploited misses.
- Self emphasized rebounding, anticipation and bench development ahead of Davidson.
After a seven-game stretch in which Kansas men’s basketball relied heavily on its starters — wins over Notre Dame, Syracuse, Tennessee, Missouri and North Carolina State, as well as losses to Duke and UConn — the Jayhawks were matched against a mid-major in Towson on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
Though KU coach Bill Self entered the nonconference clash with respect for the team picked to win the 13-team Coastal Athletic Association, he also thought maybe, just maybe, he’d be able to use more players than usual.
Though it did work out that way in a 73-49 KU victory — reserves Elmarko Jackson (23 minutes), Kohl Rosario (17), Jayden Dawson (15 minutes) and Samis Calderon (14 minutes) were awarded significant minutes as well as Gee Ngala and Paul Mbiya (4 minutes apiece) — production wasn’t necessarily there.
“I didn’t think our bench played great tonight,” Self said after the Jayhawks improved to 9-3. Towson fell to 6-5. “I was really hoping they would have a chance to play and get some rhythm and all that stuff. I tried to play them, but I think that’s an area we can certainly get better in still.”
Towson’s reserves outscored KU’s bench players 17-9.
Freshman guard Rosario scored three points on 1-of-6 3-point shooting. He’s now 3-of-21 from 3 over the last eight games. He did secure five rebounds with one assist and one steal.
“Even if he’s making shots or missing shots, he’s the hardest-playing dude in the gym,” senior starter Tre White said of Rosario, a 6-foot-6 native of Miami. “I’m excited to see him making a couple more shots.”
Senior guard Dawson scored two points off a late dunk. He was 1-of-6 from the field, 0-for-3 from 3. Dawson, a transfer out of Loyola-Chicago, had played just 10 minutes over the last five games.
Sophomore guard Jackson scored two points on 1-of-4 shooting. He was 0-for-1 from 3. He had four assists to no turnovers with two rebounds and a steal.
Freshman guard Calderon, who had not entered a game in the previous five games, did not score (he missed a 3-pointer for his only shot) while grabbing four rebounds with two assists, a steal and a block as well as two turnovers in his 14 minutes.
“Samis … he’s a heck of a player. Athletic-wise is crazy and, you know, that’s my guy,” said senior Melvin Council Jr., who followed his 36-point performance against North Carolina State on Saturday with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting (3-of-6 from 3) versus Towson.
“He’s the one that keeps me calm when Coach is on me, when I’m not doing well. So that’s my boy, and I’m glad to have him back (getting minutes),” Council added of the 6-8, 200-pound native of Brazil.
Senior guard Gee Ngala missed one shot while playing the last four minutes. Freshman big man Paul Mbiya hit a shot in the paint for two points. He had one turnover. The work of the bench added up to nine points on 4-of-19 shooting.
One of the Jayhawks’ starters, freshman forward Bryson Tiller, who had scored in single digits in three of the past four games wound up with 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting with six rebounds and three blocks in 23 minutes.
The 6-11, 240-pound Atlanta native was 1-for-2 from 3. He entered the game having gone 0-for-15 from 3 the last seven contests.
“Yeah, I’m glad he made a 3,” Self said of Tiller. “He didn’t rebound the ball, but none of us did.”
Towson outrebounded KU 45-43 and grabbed 22 offensive rebounds to KU’s 12.
“I thought (Tiller) showed some pretty good moves on the post. He’s skilled in there. Bryson is a good player, but it’s not really fair to him because he’s having to guard on the perimeter and he’s never done it before in his life,” Self added. “So it’s new, but we’re far enough along in the season that he can still keep making some major strides with that.”
Of the overall rebounding numbers Tuesday, Self said: “They got 10 offensive rebounds on two possessions. The other 60 possessions, they got 12, but I think a lot of it is, to me … we’re a half step behind. Don’t anticipate. Balls hit guys in the hands and they don’t secure it. The best rebounders are the ones that want the ball the most.
“... I didn’t think that we went after it like we need to go after it to have an all-around good defensive team.”
KU will play its final nonconference game Monday versus Davidson. Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
