Of late, in KU’s previous three games, Lightfoot is averaging 5.3 points and and 4.7 rebounds in 15.3 minutes. An uptick in playing time — the junior big averaged only 6.6 minutes through the first seven games — coincided with starting center Udoka Azubuike’s unavailability due to injury.

Regardless of whether Azubuike returns to the lineup for top-ranked Kansas Saturday night at No. 18 Arizona State, Lightfoot understands his minutes don’t come with any guarantees.

And the 6-foot-8 junior often thrives within his role, because he has a “make the most out of it” mindset when checking in off the bench.

“Being at my position it’s kind of hit and miss,” Lightfoot said of his minutes load. “You never know when you might play more, when you might play less. That’s how the game goes. You’ve just got to try to be ready. It’s an everyday grind — just getting prepared and watching film, listening to the scouting report. There’s a bunch of things you can control. If you control what you can control the rest will take care of itself.”

Nick Krug

Inside Wells Fargo Arena, in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday night, there will be a delegation of Lightfoot supporters hoping to see him play closer to his season-high 18 minutes (against New Mexico State) than his season-low two minutes (versus Louisiana).

Though Lightfoot grew up a KU fan, he did so in Arizona, and played as a high schooler in Gilbert, just down the road from Tempe.

“Oh, man. I couldn’t even tell you,” Lightfoot replied, when asked how many fans would be at the game cheering him on. “Hopefully upwards of like 25 to 30. But there’ll be a lot there — a lot of friends and family there.”

While the Jayhawks (10-0) enter their first true road game of the season unbeaten, there have been times when they lacked bench production. Just this past week against Villanova, KU’s reserves — Lightfoot, Charlie Moore, David McCormack and K.J. Lawson — combined to contribute 4 points, six rebounds, two assists and one block in 46 minutes between them.

Then came Tuesday’s home victory over South Dakota, which proved to be the bench’s most effective outing to date. Lightfoot had 7 points and six rebounds (three offensive), Moore finished with season-highs of 18 points and four assists, and McCormack had the most impressive night of his freshman season, with 12 points, six boards and two blocks.

Nick Krug

The KU bench, outscored by opposing reserves in three of the first nine games, put up a season-best 40 points, more than doubling the unit’s previous high of 17.

While reproducing those types of numbers every game isn’t realistic, Lightfoot thinks he and his fellow backups can become more consistent with how they contribute.

“I think that has to be more of a mentality. You’ve got to go out there and be a threat. You’ve got to stay aggressive, like coach would say,” Lightfoot explained. “It’s important for our team to have that same intensity whenever we sub. You can’t have a dropoff when you go from the first unit to the second unit. We’ve just got to realize that’s what we need and go out there and do it.”

The only member of KU’s bench rotation players who entered this season with experience playing for Self in games, Lightfoot’s active approach allows him to have an effect on the game.

Against South Dakota earlier this week, with KU’s offense in a first-half funk, Lightfoot twice turned an offensive rebound into an and-one layup, converting an old fashioned 3-point play each time.

And he did so never expecting any form of congratulation from his head coach at halftime or after the game.

“That’s kind of what I’m here to do. That’s what I’m supposed to do: bring energy,” Lightfoot said, when asked whether Self saluted him for those timely baskets. “But, nah, it was important that we got some points on those possessions and I’m just glad I got the opportunity to convert it.”

Lightfoot, who started seven times as a sophomore and averaged 14 minutes a game during KU’s 2017-18 season, thinks his experience has a lot to do with him finding ways to impact the game, whether that’s by converting a putback, blocking a shot or taking a charge.

“You realize things are going wrong and there’s some certain things I’ve learned you need to do to get it on the right track,” Lightfoot said of excelling when KU needs him. “So it’s just doing that. Being able to give your team a little jolt and get it going again.”