Self still seeking rebounding help as KU prepares for top-ranked Duke

By Matt Tait     Nov 13, 2016

Nick Krug
Kansas center Udoka Azubuike (35) misses a rebound to Indiana guard Robert Johnson (4) and Indiana center Thomas Bryant (31) during the second half of the Armed Forces Classic at Stan Sheriff Center, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

A little less than two weeks ago, Kansas basketball coach Bill Self spent 40 minutes watching his team struggle on the glass in an exhibition victory over Washburn at Allen Fieldhouse and followed it up by proclaiming simply, “I think we’re a pretty poor rebounding team right now.”

Last Friday night in Hawaii, that fact reared its ugly head again and cost Kansas in a 103-99, overtime loss to No. 11 Indiana in the Armed Forces Classic.

Indiana, which generally is known to be more of a wide-open, push-the-pace type of team than one that digs in and wins a battle on the boards, out-rebounded Kansas 50-39, including a 24-16 advantage in the second half and overtime.

The fact that the game went to overtime at all was a tribute to KU’s toughness and never-say-die mentality. But that came mostly on the offensive end, where Frank Mason willed his team back from a large deficit in the final 90 seconds to force the extra five minutes.

“We competed hard down the stretch,” Self said. “But, you know, physically, they just beat us on the glass and that was the difference in the game…. There were some decent things that we did, but not very many defensively or rebounding.”

KU’s struggles on the glass against a quality team like Indiana did not surprise Self, who said during the exhibition tests that rebounding was an issue throughout the preseason. Furthermore, he’s been around long enough and seen too many times that it takes time to truly improve in any one area to expect KU’s rebounding issues to be fully cured in time for the opener.

“I don’t think you can just, you know, turn the switch on and automatically get a lot better at a lot of things,” Self said. “But it’s something that we have actually labored with the entire preseason, getting our guys, big guys, especially, to look athletic and go after the ball. So I think that we will get better on it and that’s on me to do a much better job of demanding it and emphasizing it more.”

With No. 1 Duke looming in the Champions Classic in New York City on Tuesday night, the Jayhawks will need to be much better on the glass to have a chance, but Self left Honolulu with a clear understanding of what his team needed to work on before Game No. 2 and also valuable knowledge from past experiences that an early-season result, good or bad, does not make or break a team.

“One of the great things about basketball is you can actually use a game to educate you on where you are as a team and have it not totally crush you,” Self said. “We got hammered by Kentucky not too long ago in the second game of the (2014-15) season and that team (wound up being) a 2 seed. We’ve lost in the Champions Classic and went to the national championship game.”

Four players from that Kentucky crushing are among the top six players on this year’s squad and you can bet that similar thoughts will be on their minds when KU and Duke tip it off Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

Fatigue not a concern

Self said Sunday evening, on a conference call with media members, that the team had done a good job of catching up on its rest after the long travel day and had not seen any signs of jet lag or fatigue taking its toll on the players.

“I think the state of the team is pretty good,” Self said. “We had a good workout and practice was spirited, good and competitive. Guys were tired yesterday (Saturday) and probably a little bit tired today (Sunday), but I can’t see a reason why we shouldn’t have our legs back underneath us by (Monday) and for sure by Tuesday.”

Senior guard Frank Mason backed his coach’s claim and said the Jayhawks were not focused on fatigue and instead were eager to get back on the floor for another tough challenge.

“Everyone feels pretty good,” Mason said. “No one was tired. I think everyone rested on the plane to New York and we’re excited for the next game. We’re staying off our feet as much as we can.”

Injury update

Senior forward Landen Lucas, who battled a sore foot in Hawaii and junior guard Devonte’ Graham, who continued to have issues with cramping, both appeared to be in good shape over the weekend, Self said.

“Landen practiced some,” Self said. “He was limited, but he practiced. And he was limited by design. Regardless of how he (felt), he was gonna be limited.”

As for Graham, Self said team doctors and nutritionists continued to try to find a quick fix for the cramp issues that have plagued him so far this season.

“Devonte’ said he felt good,” Self said. “Whether or not it affected him or not, he said from about the 15-minute mark of the second half (vs. Indiana) he started the beginning stages of the cramping and stuff like that. I’m not sure he was totally himself over there. He struggled with that and we’ve got medical experts and people like that working with him now and hopefully there’ll be some things that can be done that’ll actually make him feel better the longer he’s doing those things.”

Self said Graham began taking steps to improve his leg cramps the day before KU played in Hawaii but added, “I’m not sure it had a total chance to take effect. I think he’ll be fine.”

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.