“I think he has played really well. I do,” KU coach Bill Self said, applauding the 6-foot-3 point guard/shooting guard’s effort in exhibition routs of Washburn and Emporia State.

The Hoboken, N.J., native scored 22 points off 63.6 percent shooting while dishing eight assists against three turnovers in 21.0 minutes per game.

“He’s really trying to talk, to be a leader. He’s done a good job,” Self added.

Taylor — he’d previously drawn rave reviews from both Self and strength coach Andrea Hudy for his work last summer — cracked the slightest of smiles when informed of his boss’ positive comments.

“He hasn’t really told me that, but I don’t expect him to. I don’t feel I need to hear that. I feel this is what I’m supposed to do anyway, so I’m going to do it anyway,” Taylor said of playing hard and playing well.

“He did tell me one time on the bench I’m getting better every day so I feel that’s positive and I’m just going to keep getting better.”

Taylor — he figures to be the starting point guard for tonight’s regular-season opener against Longwood University (7 p.m., Allen FIeldhouse) — hit seven of 11 shots versus WU/ESU, mostly off layups and floaters.

He missed his only two three-point tries during a preseason in which the Jayhawks converted seven of 31 from beyond the arc. The Morris twins connected on four of six threes; the rest of the Jayhawks three of 25.

“We’ve got to knock down some shots. Like I said before, I think the shots are going to fall,” Taylor said. “I think really it’s just defense is what we’ve got to work on. I think our offense is going to flow because we share the ball. We are an unselfish team. Our offense will come. We just have to keep people from scoring.”

Taylor — he hit 19 of 56 threes for 33.9 percent last season and 43.8 percent of his shots overall — didn’t blame a right ring finger injury for his inability to ice a three in the preseason.

“I dislocated it a couple times. It’s not really bad,” said Taylor, who had two fingers taped during both practice games. “I mean it’s still a work in progress,” he added of his shot. “I feel I’m not a pure shooter by any means. I feel I can still work on it. I wouldn’t say I’m not confident in my shot. I just look for the right time to shoot it. That’s probably why I don’t go up as much.”

Self is not alarmed at KU’s three-point stats in games that don’t count in the standings.

“No. It is bad, though. We are seven for 31 so far,” Self said. “I said all along perimeter shooting will be a big key to everyone’s season, certainly our season. We have to do a better job shooting the ball, but we didn’t take many either. We took 12,” he said of a 3-for-12 effort versus Emporia State.

“We need Brady and Tyrel (Reed) probably moreso than anyone else that’s been in our program the last couple years to step up and make shots. Their performance isn’t determined on whether or not they make shots, but it certainly gives our team a much better chance when you can stretch the defense. They are the top candidates in order to do so,” Self added.

Reed went 2-for-7 and Morningstar 0-for-5 from three in the exhibition games.

“We haven’t really talked about it much. I think we’ve got capable shooters on this team. I think we’ve got proven shooters on this team,” Reed said. “Shots weren’t falling those (first) couple games, but I thought we did other things well besides shoot the three. Hopefully it will pick up in the games.”

Who will hit threes?

“I think they are all capable,” Reed said of his teammates. “Travis (Releford) put in a lot of work in the offseason. Tyshawn has gotten a lot better. Myself and Brady have to knock down shots, being guards looking to shoot a lot. The twins have been doing a good job. That’s not their forte I guess.

“When they’ve been open, they’ve been knocking it down, so why not shoot it?

“I think they (twins) would rather be facing up and going to the basket, but I think they like three points as well as anybody else,” Reed added.