Oklahoma City — No offense to Leno, Letterman, Conan or Craig Ferguson.

But when Bill Self hops in the sack late at night, he's choosing a re-run over comedy on his TV: tape of Kansas University's 75-68 national-championship victory over Memphis.

"I've watched it 50 times. It's how I go to bed," Self, KU's sixth-year coach, said, entertaining a batch of reporters at Thursday's Big 12 Media Day in downtown Oklahoma City.

"I play the first part when we're playing well. I fast forward through all the parts when we're playing bad. I've gotten to the point now I fall asleep before Mario's shot.

"My wife and kids come in and say, 'Oh no. We're not watching it again!" Self added. "I love it. I love we won, but I love how we won it. Those guys were men out there playing. I remember when we recruited those guys, they were boys. They couldn't get the ball past halfcourt against Arizona. To win it three years later, that's what I think of when I'm watching it."

He's hoping his young 2008-09 Jayhawk team copies the likes of Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, Russell Robinson, Darnell Jackson, et al., learning from some possible hard knocks this nonconference season to grow and win it all themselves someday.

The process has started.

KU has had five practices since last week's Late Night in the Phog.

"It takes us an hour to do something last year's team took five minutes to do," said Self, who returns just four scholarship players.

"But still they work hard that entire hour at it, and they are trying. So that's exciting. These guys for whatever reason are so bought in trying to please. That's so fun to coach. They don't know what they are doing, but are trying to do whatever you tell them to do."

It has been slow going in teaching the basics to KU's seven newcomers.

"On our play card last year for the national-championship game, we had 53 plays, 53 different things we can do," Self said. "We've got two in right now, and we still can't remember those two. It takes time. It takes repetition.

"I'm being dead serious. We put in press offense yesterday and oooh," he grunted. "It's a good thing we did it at the end of practice. It would have ruined practice if we did it at the beginning."

Self is pleased to report two guys with experience, Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, have led the way.

"Sherron is 'the guy' with us. It's the way I want it, to be his team," Self said.

And Cole ... "I mean he averaged two points a game last year and I'm surprised every time he misses now," Self said of the confident, active big man. "He certainly has raised everybody's expectation level of him."

Those two figure to be locks for starting positions.

"We'll probably end up starting three newcomers - two of them will probably for sure be freshmen, maybe a third, so we'll be young," Self said, not naming the three by name.

He was asked if freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor was "good enough to start from day one."

"I'm not saying he will (start), but talent wise absolutely," Self said. "He has a chance to be a really good player. 'Special' may be a little strong (word) right now because he's so young. He is different because he's so fast."

What about juco transfer Mario Little who can play small forward and power forward?

"He could (start) but he's been nicked with the stress fracture," Self said of a lower leg injury that Self said is healing. "I want to see him 100 percent. He's not been 100 percent since he's been here."

Twins Marcus and Markieff Morris?

"They are probably a little bit further along - both of them - than I thought they were," Self said. "Both are gifted skill wise. Neither one are college defenders - at all - maybe they'll get there. They have the knack for getting the ball in the basket."

Small forward Travis Releford has also been good.

"Travis is a catch it and drive it (player)," Self said. "He will be a good player. He has some things to improve on to be hard to guard. He can be a great defender."

Self said hopes to get juco guard Tyrone Appleton on the court within a week. He's been out with a hip flexor injury.

Of power forward Quintrell Thomas, Self said: "He's going to be good. He's an undersized four man. Even though he's 6-7 he's not real big. Absolutely he can play a comparable role to what Cole had last year. I can see that occurring."

To be fair ... Self also rattled off the names of KU's returning guards - Tyrel Reed, Brady Morningstar and Conner Teahan as having shots at starting slots and/or meaningful minutes. He said he's been impressed with all three.

It's still mighty early, evidenced by the interesting early practices.

"It's a lot harder this year because we have teaching. We've got to do things over, show them how to work hard. Even we are teaching," junior guard Collins said of the returning players teaching the rookies.

"It's a little different this year. Coach is more patient this year," Aldrich noted. "He's showing 'em how to do things. It can be frustrating at times. It's like me last year. I didn't quite understand it. Once things start to click and they will ... those (new) guys will be really good."