Dedric Lawson spoke to reporters following KU's 74-71 win over Villanova Saturday afternoon in Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks scored 41 points in the second half to take down the Wildcats in a rematch of last year's Final Four. It is the third time Kansas had defeated a ranked foe to start the season, improving to 9-0 overall.

"I think we did great," Lawson said. "At the same time, we have to improve."

KU plays host to South Dakota at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Dedric Lawson, Lagerald Vick and Marcus Garrett spoke to reporters following KU"s 74-71 win over Villanova Saturday afternoon in Allen Fieldhouse.

"I just wanted to win one for coach, win one for the guys and the fans out there," Lawson said. "They got up at 11 and came to a college basketball game."

Vick scored a team-high 29 points on 9-of-15 shooting, while Lawson scored 28 points behind a 10-for-15 effort from the floor.

KU plays host to South Dakota at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Kansas coach Bill Self talks to reporters following a 74-71 win over Villanova Saturday afternoon in Allen Fieldhouse.

"I don't think we played great by any stretch, but we played a lot better today than we've been practicing," KU coach Bill Self said. "I'm optimistic knowing there is a gear we can get to."

Lagerald Vick scored a team-high 29 points on 9-of-15 shooting, while Dedric Lawson scored 28 points behind a 10-for-15 effort from the floor.

KU plays host to South Dakota at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Mitch Lightfoot spoke to reporters Thursday afternoon in Allen Fieldhouse.

Last season, the Jayhawks suffered a season-ending loss at the hands of the Wildcats in the Final Four. Villanova drilled 18 3-pointers in the 95-79 win over KU en route to winning the 2018 national title.

This year, though, KU is sporting an undefeated record through eight games. Villanova, meanwhile, has dropped three of its first 11 games to start the season.

No. 1 Kansas will play host to No. 17 Villanova at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Dedric Lawson spoke to reporters Thursday afternoon in Allen Fieldhouse.

In his first season at Kansas, Lawson is averaging 19.1 points per game with 10.6 rebounds per contest. Lawson has five doubles-doubles this season, which leads the Big 12 and is 15th nationally.

KU (8-0) is looking to go 9-0 for the first time since the 2010-11 season, when the team opened the year with an 18-0 record.

No. 1 Kansas will play host to No. 17 Villanova, the defending national champions, at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Kansas coach Bill Self talks to reporters Thursday afternoon in Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks and Wildcats are meeting for the eighth time with the last meeting in the 2018 Final Four. Villanova, which posts a 4-3 advantage in the series, claimed a 95-79 win over KU win in San Antonio last season.

"There are some similarities in how they lost some key starters, but also return so much," Self said. "Like us, we lost a lot in Devonte' (Graham) and Svi (Mykhailiuk) but we have Lagerald (Vick) and Doke (Udoka Azubuike) back."

No. 17 Villanova is the third ranked team that Kansas will face in 2018-19.

No. 1 KU (8-0) will play host to defending national champion Villanova (8-3) at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Dedric Lawson and Devon Dotson spoke to reporters following KU's 63-60 win over New Mexico State Saturday night at the Sprint Center.

Lawson scored the final 14 points down the stretch, ending New Mexico State's chances of an upset bid. Lawson, who had just two points in the first half, finished with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting.

"It’s just about the rhythm," Lawson said. "Once you get into a rhythm you get into the flow of the game."

No. 2 Kansas is now 8-0 to start the year for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

KU plays host to Villanova at 11 a.m. Saturday.

KU coach Bill Self spoke to reporters following a 63-60 win over New Mexico State Saturday night in the Sprint Center.

"It's hard to get too excited," Self said. "We're not very good right now."

New Mexico State led for much of the game before junior Dedric Lawson scored the final 14 points down the stretch to deny the upset bid. No. 2 Kansas improved to 8-0 with the win, which marks the team's first 8-0 start since the 2010-11 season.

KU plays host to Villanova at 11 a.m. Saturday.

KU freshman Quentin Grimes spoke to reporters Thursday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse. Grimes talked about KU's tough schedule to start the season among other topics.

The Jayhawks already have a pair of wins against top-10 teams this season, and have been tested in nearly every contest.

"I think it is good," Grimes said. "It just builds you mentally, it just shows every possession really matters."

No. 2 KU (7-0) faces New Mexico State at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Sprint Center.