Nick KrugAs expected, freshman big man Udoka Azubuike returned to the court for today’s first true practice of the 2016-17 season, which Kansas coach Bill Self dubbed a success.
“It was pretty good,” Self said following Wednesday’s session, which freshman forward Mitch Lightfoot missed because of a fever. “Because of myself, there probably wasn’t enough rhythm to practice. We didn’t get up and down quite enough because there was a lot of teaching today.”
As expected, returning starters Frank Mason, Devonte’ Graham and Landen Lucas set the tone for Day 1 and both Self and Lucas said they were pleased with the effort turned in on Wednesday.
“It was great,” Lucas said. “I think everybody came out here focused and ready to go and eager to learn.”
Added Self: “I thought our guards were pretty good. Everybody showed flashes … The guys did pretty well and when they had an opportunity to play, they did pretty good. I think we are about two practices away from getting in a groove where we can probably truly evaluate.”
Lucas, now in his fifth season with the program, was particularly pleased with the way Azubuike and fellow-freshman Josh Jackson elevated their focus.
“The freshmen came prepared to learn the new stuff and listen to the coaches and get better,” Lucas said.
Although KU’s first official practice came last Saturday at the annual Late Night in the Phog — one day after the NCAA allowed the Jayhawks to begin — Self took four of the 12 mandatory days off at the beginning of the month so his squad could more quickly get into its regular, in-season routine.
The Jayhawks will have to take eight more days off between now and the season opener — Nov. 11 vs. Indiana in Honolulu — but Self has talked often about how taking the chunk up front will keep KU from having to take a day off every couple of days as it did in the past.
The Jayhawks are scheduled to practice every day through the rest of this week and will open the 2016-17 season with an exhibition game against Washburn on Nov. 1 at Allen Fieldhouse.
KU will follow that up with its final exhibition on Nov. 6 against Emporia State before traveling to Hawaii for the second November in a row. Last November, Kansas won the Maui Invitational with victories over Chaminade, UCLA and Vanderbilt.
This year’s trip to the islands will feature just one game, the Armed Forces Classic against Indiana at Stan Sherrif Center, but also will include various off-day activities, including a kids clinic and destroyer tour near Pearl Harbor.
