Nick KrugWith three starters back and the top-rated freshman in the country added to a team that reached the Elite Eight a season ago, the expectation from many was that the 2016-17 Kansas basketball team would pick up right where it left off and perhaps look even a little bit better than it did during last season’s 33-5 run.
While that still might come in time, the Jayhawks themselves were not necessarily expecting overly smooth sailing in October or November, nor did they believe that anything would come easy this season because of the accomplishments of last season’s crew.
“No. I knew (it wouldn’t),” said junior guard Devonte’ Graham following KU’s 104-62 victory over Emporia State in Sunday’s exhibition finale at Allen Fieldhouse. “It’s always a process, especially this time of the year. This is what these games are for, to figure out how to play, how to get guys open and guys trying to figure out their roles. These games are much needed.”
KU’s exhibition victories over Washburn and Emporia State provided plenty of fodder for the coaching staff to use in preparation for back-to-back games against Top 12 opponents to open the regular season, which begins Friday.
The Washburn game provided the lowlights and identified areas that need work. And the Emporia State game proved that this group that is willing to listen and work on whatever KU’s coaches deem necessary of attention.
It’s that last part that has Graham feeling good about his team heading into Friday’s Armed Forces Classic showdown with No. 11 Indiana in Honolulu.
“I know we’re good learners,” Graham said. “Last game, I felt like we didn’t come out with energy, guys weren’t ready to play and I felt like this game (ESU) we had a totally different mindset. We got better. I like that we’re getting better over the weeks.”
KU coach Bill Self would not dispute Graham’s claim. But whether the Jayhawks have improved enough to give Self a quality read on what this 2016-17 team is about remains up for debate.
“I don’t know where we’re at,” Self said. “I hope that we’re ready, but I don’t know if any team knows or not if they’re actually ready until they play somebody else. Indiana could do some stuff that we’re not prepared for and I guess we could say the same thing that we could do….You guys know us and know me; I’m not gonna get funky in the first game to try to win one game. I want the guys to believe in the principles that we’re trying to put in now.”
That, according to Graham, is where KU’s veteran presence will help most. So many current Jayhawks know what it takes to play for Self and to win at Kansas. And even though they all would have liked to hit mid-season form right out of the gate, they’re embracing the process of building this team and figuring out the ways it will have success, which may or may not resemble what worked in years past.
“We’re getting there,” Graham said. “We’ve just gotta keep taking it day by day. We’re still trying to figure out our identity, figure out our roles and what each one of us can do to help the team win. We’re gonna figure it out.”
