Kansas City, Mo. ? Projected as a certain No. 1 seed in the 2016 NCAA Tournament no matter what happens in the Big 12 championship, Kansas University’s basketball team could, in theory, face some (lack of) motivation issues today in Sprint Center.
“I do think it means a lot,” KU coach Bill Self said, countering arguments that today’s 1:30 p.m. quarterfinal versus Kansas State, a possible Friday semifinal against Texas or Baylor and Saturday spot in the finals hold little meaning for the Jayhawks (27-4).
“I don’t think it’s life and death at all. We won’t approach it that way. But we know it’s important and certainly can give you momentum going into the next one (NCAA Tourney).
“We should come over here and be hungry, but we should be loose,” Self added, speaking after his team’s shootaround Wednesday in Sprint Center.
The Jayhawks — who last won the Big 12 tourney in 2013 — could be motivated to see somebody besides Iowa State clip the Sprint Center nets on Saturday. ISU has won two straight tourney titles. And they might be inclined to at least win one game in KC to make sure, beyond a shadow of doubt, they are awarded the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA field of 68.
But would the Jayhawks like to win, by, say, spreading minutes around, so as not to get worn out for the NCAAs, which for KU figure to begin next Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa?
“I think we need to win Thursday,” Self said Monday. “Then depending how Thursday goes, I think there could be something to what you are talking about (reducing minutes of key players in Friday’s semis).
“If you don’t win Thursday, you hope you play those guys (rotation players) a lot of minutes because they need the reps for the following week. We’ll put all our emphasis in playing as well as we can Thursday. After that … it’s important to play well and those things, (but) it may be an opportunity to maybe let some other guys play through some stressful situations. I don’t want to think like that or talk like that. I want our guys to go into this with the mindset, ‘Hey, we’re going to go in there and validate.'”
The Jayhawks, remember, won the Big 12 regular-season title by two games over West Virginia.
“That’s what we’ve talked about. I think it’s a good way to put it. We want to validate what’s already taken place or at least attempt to. In order to do that, we’re going to have to have everybody play well,” Self said.
The Jayhawks have already defeated quarterfinal foe K-State (the Wildcats beat Oklahoma State, 75-71, Wednesday) twice this season. KU won, 77-59, on Feb. 3 in Allen Fieldhouse and 72-63 on Feb. 20 in Manhattan.
“K-State was a tie game with 12 minutes left at our place, then it’s a three-point game at their place with three minutes left. So, yes, it will be a tough game regardless,” Self said.
Of the league tourney in general, Self said: “We’ve had great success in our conference tournament, but great success doesn’t always equate to winning. The league is so darn good. You can have one of five or six teams get hot (and) they would definitely be the best team in our league for those three days, if they get hot. They are all talented and very comparable.”
Self hopes that no matter what, heading into next week … “I don’t know if there’s an exact science to it. Anything to have our bodies rested, playing our best and having guys unbelievably motivated and focused. Sometimes winning does that; sometimes going home sad does that. I don’t really know the formula.”
Motto: KU junior Wayne Selden Jr. said the team has an unofficial saying heading into upcoming tourney games.
“Coach has been preaching, ‘Have the pleasure exceed the pressure.’ I think that’s what we’re doing,” Selden said of the team having fun.
Selden on Wednesday was named one of five finalists for the Julius Erving Award, which goes to the top small forward in the country according to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Other finalists: Brandon Ingram (Duke), Ben Simmons (LSU), Denzel Valentine (Michigan State) and DeAndre Bembry (Saint Joseph’s).
KU vs. KSU: KU sophomore Devonté Graham spoke after Wednesday’s shootaround and before the KSU-Oklahoma State contest, on the possibility of playing K-State again: “It’d be fun — Sunflower Showdown for a third time,” he said. “I know the crowd would love it, and the fans would be juiced up for it. It would be a fun atmosphere to play in again.”
Halfcourt make: Graham sank a halfcourt shot to conclude Wednesday’s practice, assuring the team ice cream at the hotel Wednesday night.
Self had everybody on the team fire up a halfcourt shot. Five players were required to at least hit the rim, with one going in. Graham hit the shot on the team’s last attempt.
“No ice cream (if) we don’t compete hard. We’re tough. We don’t allow ’em to have ice cream,” Self joked.
Graham, by the way, said his mom, Dewanna, would fly in from Raleigh, N.C., on Wednesday night and attend the Big 12 tourney.
Ellis numbers: KU senior Perry Ellis enters the Big 12 tournament creeping closer to a huge KU milestone.
The 6-8 forward from Wichita is currently 12th in scoring and 13th in rebounding on the Jayhawks’ all-time charts. Just three players, Danny Manning, Nick Collison and Raef LaFrentz, rank in the top 10 in both scoring and rebounding in KU history.
Ellis, who has 1,667 points, needs 25 points to tie Kevin Pritchard for 11th and 86 to tie Kirk Hinrich for 10th. He needs 16 boards to tie Dave Robisch for 12th, 40 to tie Clyde Lovellette for 11th and 51 to tie Scot Pollard for 10th.
Haase honored: Former KU guard Jerod Haase has been named Conference USA coach of the year as voted by the league head coaches. His fourth UAB team (26-5) should definitely have an NCAA bid assured even if it doesn’t win the postseason tourney.
Walters canned: Former KU guard Rex Walters was fired by the University of San Francisco on Wednesday. He led the Dons to a 127-127 record, but no NCAA berths, over eight seasons. He was West Coast Conference coach of the year in 2013-14.
Probable Starters
KANSAS STATE (17-15)
F — D.J. Johnson (6-9, Jr.)
F — Wesley Iwundu (6-7, Jr.)
F — Dean Wade (6-8, Fr.)
G — Barry Brown (6-3, Fr.)
G — Justin Edwards (6-4, Sr.)
KANSAS (27-4)
F — Perry Ellis (6-8, Sr.)
F — Landen Lucas (6-10, Jr.)
G — Frank Mason III (5-11, Jr.)
G — Wayne Selden Jr. (6-5, Jr.)
G — Devonté Graham (6-2, Soph.)
Tipoff: 1:30 p.m. today, Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo.
TV: ESPN2 (WOW! channels 34, 234)