Bill Self’s take on KU basketball vs. Cal Baptist & matchup of two elite guards
Bill Self met the media in an unusual location for a pre-NCAA Tournament game news conference Thursday afternoon at Viejas Arena on San Diego State University’s campus.
“I think this is the first time I’ve done a media room or center outside the arena. So that’s nice,” Self, Kansas’ 23rd-year men’s basketball coach, said Thursday.
The interviews for the first- and second-round East Regional games have been held in a tent area connected to the arena with idyllic 80-degree temperatures the norm in Southern California this time of year.
“We’re thrilled to be in San Diego. We’re thrilled to be in the tournament. We obviously didn’t finish the way that we hoped we would, but still it’s a new lease for everybody. We couldn’t be more excited being here and having an opportunity to move forward,” Self added.
His No. 4 seed Jayhawks went 1-1 at last week’s Big 12 tourney, suffering a 69-47 loss to Houston in the quarterfinals. KU will take on No. 13 seed Cal Baptist (25-8) at 8:45 p.m. Friday in the 11,559-seat arena.
Winner will meet either St. John’s or Northern Iowa on Sunday with a spot in the Sweet 16 in Washington, D.C. at stake.
All 16 players on the roster practiced at an undisclosed location Thursday, then went through a 40-minute open shootaround at Viejas on Thursday afternoon.
“We had a really good, spirited workout just a little bit ago offsite. They seem to be in a very good frame of mind right now,” Self said right before the shootaround.
He’s hoping the Jayhawks last longer than they did a year ago, when Arkansas knocked off KU in the first round in Providence, Rhode Island.
“I think talent-wise, we’re definitely more equipped,” Self said. “We’re more athletic, those sorts of things. We’ve got a player that is a true potential difference-maker. Unfortunately, we haven’t had him at full speed the vast majority of the year.”
That would be Darryn Peterson, who has missed several games because of cramping and illness.
“He tells me — and I believe it and I see it — that he’s moving and this is the best that he’s felt all year,” Self said. “I’m excited about moving forward with our full complement of guys closer to 100%.
“The end result (after treatment) is he’s good now. So the biggest thing is, ‘Hey, Darryn, you’re going through some stuff, and you’re going to go through more stuff in life and in your future,’” Self added of conversations through the season. “’There’s still an opportunity to get the last laugh, but you have to prepare every day for that later on down the road. And this is the later on down the road.’”
Peterson said he’s ready to go.
“I’m super excited. This is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid. To be a part of it this year is huge for me and my family,” the freshman from Canton, Ohio said.
To beat Cal Baptist, KU likely will have to contain Dominique Daniels Jr., a 5-10, 185 senior who enters with a scoring average of 23.2 points per game.
“Well, he’s good. And he can score on anybody, any level. He’s capable of getting 30, 35 any night,” Self said of the Compton, California native. “You’ve got to limit his touches. The thing that I think is so interesting about him is he is so downhill and he’s a good shooter, without question. But his speed and strength and shiftiness make it hard to switch, make it hard to hedge without being split. He can just put a lot of pressure on the defense every possession.
“We’ve played against some good scorers this year. And obviously he’s different from a size standpoint from A.J. (Dybantsa) or something like that. But he’s a real guy. He can score the ball.”
Of Daniels, Peterson said: “Dominique Daniels is a great player. Just be prepared to guard everybody. I think we’re watching film and watching the scout. Just be prepared.”
Self said he had heard of Daniels even before Selection Sunday.
“No question,” Self said. “You look up stats, the best scorers in the country (he’s fifth in the NCAA in scoring) and all that, and certainly he is on that list. But after studying him and knowing coaches in the league, his league, that have competed against him, it’s very impressive what he’s done. He is a competitive pit bull that can score the ball.”
Self admires the fact Daniels did not enter the portal after a stellar junior season.
“Well, I think Cal Baptist obviously, I’m sure, loves his presence on campus. But that’s probably understated on how much he’s meant to that particular program and school, because what you said, you just don’t see it very often,” Self said. “And I don’t know, from an NIL standpoint, where he’s at or whatnot. But certainly loyalty was very, very important to him, or he could have gone somewhere else and probably, at least from an NIL standpoint, got a bigger paycheck. I think it’s very admirable.”
