KU’s practice, which ran about two hours, began in a smaller gym across the street from the Rainbows’ home arena and when players strolled into the Sheriff Center, site of Friday night’s 8:30 p.m. tip-off with No. 11 Indiana in the Armed Forces Classic, they showed the effects of having gone hard for an hour in the smaller, hotter practice gym.

Almost to a man, the Jayhawks were drenched in sweat and changed into fresh practice gear before wrapping up the Thursday practice.

Asked if his team got what it needed out of the practice time in paradise, Self said he was pleased but added that “you’re never prepared for your first game.”

“I wish we had a little bit more time,” he said. “But we actually got a lot of stuff in to the point where, if guys can remember, in certain game situations, we should be fairly equipped to play.”

Senior forward Landen Lucas, who had worn a protective boot on his right foot during most of the Jayhawks’ activities at Pearl Harbor on Wednesday, was a full-participant in the Jayhawks’ final preseason practice and moved around well, showing no ill effects of the sore foot.

“His foot’s a little tender, but it’s certainly not an injury yet, just a little sore,” Self said Thursday. “We’re not gonna limit him in any way during the game and hopefully he’ll feel fine after.”

Free time ahead

As promised, Self said the Jayhawks would get the rest of the afternoon Thursday to enjoy themselves and soak up all that Hawaii has to offer.

It remains to be seen if that will include any surfing lessons, though Self said he had one rule about hitting the waves.

“I love my son,” Self began, “But we’ll let Tyler (Self), Tucker (Vang) and Clay (Young) be our surfers. We’ll let them try it out to see what it’s like. I don’t think Frank (Mason) and Devonte’ (Graham) need to be out there trying something they’ve never done before.”

“They need to get off their feet. We looked tired to me. Yesterday was a long day, 11.5 hours straight.”

Bragg to start

Despite his rough exhibition stretch, Self said sophomore forward Carlton Bragg will start against the Hoosiers.

“We’re gonna start Carlton, but we’ll go small quick depending on how things go,” Self said following his team’s Thursday practice at the Stan Sheriff Center. “Offensively, we’ll be better playing big. Defensively, we may be better playing small.”

Asked how Bragg had looked during his past few practices on the heels of his sub-par outings against Washburn and Emporia State, Self said the sophomore from Cleveland had been trying hard.

“He’s had some good moments and he’s had some that (are) not so good,” Self said. “When you go through a tough deal, sometimes getting out of ’em isn’t an daily thing or in one practice you’re automatically cured. He’s gonna have to grind a little bit. But that’s good for him. He needs to learn how to do that.”

Sexton to Alabama

Despite a visit to Late Night in the Phog last month, highly coveted Class of 2017 guard Collin Sexton announced Thursday on ESPNU that he was headed to Alabama.

Not knowing what the outcome would be until the big reveal, KU’s coaching staff, including Self, stuck around the Stan Sheriff Center, checking their phones and waiting for updates on the five-star point guard’s decision.

Sexton, the No. 7-ranked prospect in the nation according to Rivals.com, made his announcement about 40 minutes into the hour-long show on ESPNU. Sexton picked Alabama over Kansas, Oklahoma State, North Carolina State, Georgia and Georgia Tech.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Sexton is expected to sign in the early period, which started Wednesday and ends next Wednesday.