Fort Worth, Texas ? Dismayed after a “soft” rebounding effort on Wednesday against Kansas State, Kansas University coach Bill Self singled out some of his veterans in practices leading up to Saturday’s TCU game.
“He challenged me to be more energetic. He said I wasn’t bringing it,” KU senior forward Jamari Traylor said.
The 6-foot-8 Chicago native responded with seven rebounds and six points while playing 15 minutes in the Jayhawks’ 75-56 win in Schollmaier Arena.
As a team, KU out-rebounded TCU, 46-25 after being out-boarded by KSU, 36-21.
“I tried to respond by being more active the last couple days at practice,” Traylor added.
He admitted Self knows how to bring out the best in him.
“I’ve been here five years. He knows how to push my buttons. I know how to push his, too,” Traylor added, laughing. “I don’t know what he has to say, but he knows how to do it.”
Of Traylor, Self said: “I thought Jamari was our best big next to Perry (Ellis, 23 points, 10 boards).”
Of Cheick Diallo and Carlton Bragg, who had five boards apiece, Self said: “I thought Carlton did good on the glass. Check did some good things. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Cheick is not the best passer. We’ve got to do a better job of keeping him close to the basket in certain situations.”
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