How KU basketball responded to Bill Self’s absence in win at Colorado
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Acting coach Jacque Vaughn led Kansas to a 75-69 road win over Colorado Tuesday.
- Bill Self monitored the game remotely after medical treatment; staff executed strategy.
- Tre White and Darryn Peterson provided key rebounds and scoring contributions.
Jacque Vaughn left an important group phone call in the visitors’ locker room in order to fulfill media obligations after Kansas’ 75-69 men’s basketball victory over Colorado on Tuesday night at CU Events Center.
“He texted, yes, and then we were talking. I left as he was talking to the whole coaching staff,” Vaughn, KU’s acting head coach, said of 23rd-year KU head coach Bill Self, who phoned the coaching staff from his home in Lawrence after KU improved to 14-5 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play. CU fell to 12-7, 2-4.
“We were talking about the game a little bit, and so he definitely was watching the game,” Vaughn added. “And we didn’t play as well as we could have or wanted to, but he’s excited that we got a W.”
Vaughn, a 1997 KU graduate and former head coach of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic, filled in for Self, who had a medical issue Monday that forced him to head to LMH Health for IVs. A KU official said before the game Self was looking to return to practice this week in advance of Saturday’s game at Kansas State.
“I think just reflecting back on it pretty quickly since the game has been over, I told the guys that the best part of team sports is everyone has a part. And my part was to fill in for Coach, and you do the best that you can,” Vaughn said. “You do it in your way. But I think at the end of the day, mission accomplished. We came here to get a win. We’ve got a great group who showed some resilience tonight, and we’ll go home with the W.”
KU showed some toughness in defeating the Buffs, who went 9-of-31 from 3 to KU’s 8-of-19 mark.
Senior Tre White had 15 rebounds to go with 17 points. Melvin Council Jr. had 18 points, 10 in the second half, including back to back buckets (one off a layup; the other after stealing the ensuing inbounds pass and laying it in to give KU a 64-59 lead). Flory Bidunga had nine points and three blocks the second half, while Darryn Peterson had 16 points and six rebounds while playing 32 minutes.
Peterson did not have to leave the game because of cramping and in fact continued to play despite tweaking an ankle in the second half.
“Melvin was great. He got it in his head he would not allow us to lose,” Vaughn said.
Of White, who played 36 minutes, Vaughn said: “It was hard to take him out of the game. I’m not sure we win without Tre.”
And of Peterson, Vaughn said: “He did (tweak his ankle), but not to the extent where he didn’t finish the game, which was great. So he showed a lot of resilience and being out there and finishing with our group. So it’s good to see.”
The players, as it turned out, were in it to win for Self and Vaughn.
“For sure, most definitely — win one for coach Self and one for coach Vaughn, you know, one for the team as well,” White said. “... We definitely had an extra chip on our shoulder.”
Council, who hit 7 of 13 shots with seven rebounds and two steals, said of playing without Self: “I mean, it was kind of different, but we knew he was with us, you know, in a huddle, sideline. Like, we knew that he was on us regardless, even if he wasn’t.”
Vaughn, 50, was asked if Self said on the phone he was proud of the former KU guard for directing KU to victory.
“When we talked initially, it was … he knows I’ll do anything that he asks,” Vaughn said. “And so my role tonight was to, I guess, stand up a little bit.
“But collectively, we’ve got a great coaching staff. This wasn’t me at all,” Vaughn added. “We’ve got a great group. Coach (Jeremy) Case, coach (Kurtis) Townsend, coach (Joe) Dooley. The scout was done by coach (Tony) Bland, coach (Doc) Sadler. Our group is pretty high level, and they allowed me to stand up and yell some plays out today.”
A reporter suggested that former KU point guard Vaughn picked up where he left off in the 90s, getting an “assist” in filling in for Self.
“I like it. Nicely done,” he said to a reporter from Colorado. “Do my part? Yeah, nicely done.”
Vaughn went 4-0 in Boulder as a KU player. KU back then had a lot of fans at CU Events Center and did again Tuesday. The crowd of 8,356 included at least 1,000 KU fans who performed the Rock Chalk Chant in the final minute.
“Good memories for me,” Vaughn said. “I think our record overall during my time at KU was pretty good, old Big Eight days. So I don’t mind continuing that. This is a great place. I think Tad (Boyle, CU coach and former KU guard) is doing an unbelievable job with this group. Boulder is a great place. I love walking and getting some crisp air and a good coffee. So it’s been good memories coming back for sure.”
Of the KU fans, he said: “Love it. Why not? We travel, which is a good thing. And proud to be back at my alma mater and be at a place where we do (have fans travel for road games).”
Asked if he expected Self back for KSU, Vaughn said: “Coach sounded extremely excited about the win. I don’t know about the timeline of this thing. Like I said, I’ll do my part, whatever it is, but he’s excited. And I’m looking forward to seeing him when we get back.”
Whether he leads the team as head coach again, the full-time KU assistant had a lasting memory in going 1-0 as a college coach.
“We definitely celebrated with (Vaughn) tonight He definitely got wet on today. We drenched him,” Council said of the locker room celebration.
