Why Bill Self says Kansas ‘(stinks) right now’ — and what can be done to fix it
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas off to 1-2 start in Big 12 play after two straight disappointing Big 12 seasons.
- Defense has slipped in conference play; opponents shot efficiently and rebounded.
- Self assigns shared blame, calls for toughness, attention to defensive detail.
For the third straight season, the Kansas men’s basketball team finds itself in a familiar position.
Like clockwork, Kansas started the season strong with signature wins in nonconference play ... before struggling in Big 12 play.
Kansas didn’t come close to contending for a Big 12 title the last two seasons, finishing sixth in the conference last year and tied for fifth a year prior.
This time, Kansas (11-5, 1-2 Big 12) could even be in trouble with NCAA Tournament seeding, particularly if these struggles continue.
After KU’s disappointing loss at West Virginia on Saturday, coach Bill Self didn’t sugarcoat his squad’s performance.
“We suck right now,” Self said. “But it’s right now.”
Meaning?
“Everyone goes through ebbs and flows in the season,” Self explained. “The last three games we haven’t played well. We’ve got to flip it, because the thing about it is, the three teams that we’ve played thus far, the common denominator is they’ve all played really well. So that tells me that we are not doing something to make them play poorly.”
To Self’s point, KU’s defense has fallen off since the start of conference play. KU ranked as one of the best defenses nationally in nonconference play, but Big 12 opponents have seemed to crack the code.
West Virginia shot 48.2% overall, 42.3% from 3 in Saturday’s 86-75 KU defeat. TCU, a game earlier, scored 100 on KU in an overtime loss, while shooting 42.9% from 3.
The Jayhawks did hold UCF, in the conference opener, to 43.8% shooting, but forced only six turnovers and allowed 13 offensive rebounds.
Through three Big 12 games, KenPom lists KU as the No. 14 defense in the conference — out of 16 teams.
It also doesn’t get easier for the Jayhawks, who host No. 3 Iowa State on Tuesday and play six additional top-15 games after that contest.
So what’s going on with KU’s defense? Self was asked that question by a KC Star reporter after Saturday’s game.
“I don’t know,” Self said. “Today, we didn’t switch near as much. We actually did some things a little bit different, and our attention to detail ...”
He interrupted himself, saying that if it sounds like he’s blaming the players, he’s not.
“I’m placing fault with all of us (coaches included),” Self said. “But we have not consistently gotten everybody to understand that your value to our program and our team is being a junkyard dog more so than it is being a skilled player.”
There’s still time for KU to figure that out, with 15 games left until the Big 12 tournament.
KU guard Tre White, who finished with 18 points and five rebounds, cautioned that the loss isn’t indicative of the season to come.
“I don’t want to say I’m glad we lost, but I’m glad we got slapped in the face early,” White said. “You don’t want to play your best ball in January. So we’re trying to peak at the right time. But we do have some issues we want to address.
“I still feel like we are one of the best defenses in the country, so we’ve got to come together on all cylinders.”
History supports White’s statement. The last time KU was 1-2 in Big 12 play was during the 2005-06 season. The Jayhawks tied with Texas for the Big 12 Title.
Recent history hasn’t been as kind. While the past two teams were very different from this year’s squad, KU hasn’t dominated the league in the same way it did in the 2000s and 2010s.
This year’s league, Self continued, is tough.
“First of all, our league is a (monster),” Self said, using an expletive to emphasize his point. “Secondly, the way that I see this isn’t that we can’t have a terrific team, isn’t that we can’t get it flipped. The one thing we have to know — and it’s much like last year’s team and the year before too — ... is the margin for error isn’t like it used to be.
“We’re not bringing pros in off the bench, let’s just call it like it is. That’s not an excuse because the guys out there are good enough, but the margin for error is (lower). If Markieff and Marcus (Morris) want to take a couple of possessions off and give up a couple of 3s, you know what, you’ve got to play a lot harder than that, but our ‘Jimmys’ were better than your ‘Joes.’”
Asked about that difference, Self said it’s the way college basketball overall has changed.
“Make no mistake when I am saying this — not an excuse, we’ve got good enough guys — but the margin for error isn’t one that we can let teams believe that they can beat you,” Self said. “We give other teams that confidence and next thing you know, they’re playing at home and when they get cooking ... you look up and now you’re playing from behind.”
The issue with that? If the Jayhawks aren’t ”mentally tough enough and physically tough enough and know how to grind,” Self said, they won’t control the game.
“And playing from behind,” Self said, “a lot of good things have to go right.”
