During the past six months, Self has talked often, and at length, about how the blend of lessons from the past and fresh tricks, veterans and newcomers, should put the Jayhawks in a strong position to compete at the highest level.

However, earlier this week, at Big 12 Media Day in Kansas City, Self was asked to get specific about what excited him most about his 14th Kansas basketball team.

“I’d say speed,” Self said. “I think it’s fun to coach fast guys, and I think we’re gonna be able to play faster than what we’ve played in the past. I think we’ve played pretty fast, but I think this year we could play at a quicker clip because of those little guards.”

With experienced returning starters Frank Mason III and Devonte’ Graham leading the push and new players and new roles falling in line behind them, Self plans not only to play fast but also to use four-guard lineups with some regularity, mixing heavily into the rotation long, tall perimeter players Josh Jackson, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Lagerald Vick.

All five players are elite athletes with the ability to do multiple things and adjust on the fly and, because the leaders of the group have been in Lawrence the longest, Self has a great deal of trust in all of them. That fact, in addition to the pieces making it work, will allow the Jayhawks to open things up on a more regular basis this season.

“For the most part, just like last year’s team, I think we’re a lot better when we’re in the open court,” Self said.

Of course, none of that will matter if things are not executed properly and important details are left unaccounted for.

“I think a lot of it comes down to (the fact that) we want to play as fast as we can without compromising taking care of the basketball and things like that,” Self said.