Eight games into the season, Kansas University’s basketball team is in the midst of an eight-day break in the schedule.
It has been a time for coach Bill Self, who coincidentally has been on the job eight months, to spend some quality time with his family during the winter break while also reflecting on the status of his first Jayhawk squad — 6-2 entering Monday’s 7 p.m. home game against Binghamton University (4-5).
While Self says he likes the team and the Jayhawks have “made progress in a lot of areas,” he realizes the squad has some kinks to work out, especially with the half-court offense.
“We have to do some things better than we are doing now. We have to run and rebound better and defend better,” he said.
“But I do like our team.”
Self has said just one of his new players really has surprised him.
That player would be J.R. Giddens, the 6-foot-5 McDonald’s All American from Oklahoma City who has averaged 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds with four double-digit scoring games.
“I think J.R., based on where we thought he would be after a week or two into the season, has stood out in my mind,” Self said of the freshman guard, who scored 15 points in KU’s 72-52 victory Saturday over Santa Barbara and followed that with seven points in Sunday’s 75-61 loss to Nevada in Reno, Nev.
“Everybody else has been where we thought they would be.”
Giddens arrived on campus as a raw rookie who, the first few weeks of preseason camp, struggled with making the adjustment to college basketball.
“My expectations for J.R. were that when Big 12 Conference play rolled around, he would be ready to help us,” Self said.
“When I talk about helping us, I’m talking about the role he has now. I think Michael’s injury sped that up, but we need a perimeter threat in the game at all times, and he is a guy you have to guard.”
Michael Lee suffered a broken collarbone several weeks ago and has played in just two games. The Jayhawks are hoping he’ll be available for the KU-Colorado game Jan. 5 in Boulder, Colo.
Lee has helped take Giddens under his wing and give the player some pointers.
“He’s like a brother. These are all my brothers, like a big family,” said Giddens, who has bought into the family concept at KU. “I’d do anything for Mike, for any one of them.”
Giddens gives himself so-so grades for his first-semester performance. He’s made 30 of 68 shots (44.1 percent), making 13 of 41 threes (31.7 percent). He has made nearly twice as many threes as anybody on the team; Keith Langford and Jeff Hawkins have hit seven each in 28 and 29 tries respectively.
“I still make some bonehead plays,” Giddens said. “I’ll be out there and say, ‘Why do I do this bonehead stuff?’ I just want to work hard every day, listen to the coaches and my teammates, be a sponge, and continue to improve.”
Self thinks the sky is the limit for Giddens, who has shown the ability to stick the open long-range jumper and is getting a bit more comfortable taking it to the hoop.
“J.R.’s best game is catch and shoot,” Self said. “J.R. is playing to his strengths pretty well. He can always put it down and try to get his shoulders past them (defenders), but that is (more) Keith’s strength,” he added of Keith Langford.
“They are very different. J.R. should always be aggressive and try to put it down and drive it. We are also talking about a freshman still trying to figure it out.
“J.R. does not need to turn down open looks. He is a very good shooter. Throughout practice and over time he has proven he can consistently make shots. I am for J.R. shooting perimeter shots.”
Self believes Giddens is one of those players who won’t be satisfied until he’s one of the best.
“He is learning an awful lot real fast,” Self said. “J.R. wants to be a player. Everything is so fresh and new to him. He’s doing a great job.”
