Saturday’s Kansas basketball game at Oklahoma will be the first Big 12 contest for the Jayhawks against a team not ranked in the Top 20 since Jan. 10.
Coincidentally, that was the last time KU faced a Big 12 team that was not highly ranked in the national polls, something KU coach Bill Self has referenced at least a dozen times before and after games, constantly calling the league and KU’s schedule “a monster.”
While that stretch has been a murder’s row of sorts, the only game in the past eight that has come against a team not ranked in the Top 20 came against Kentucky two weeks ago. Not exactly a week off in any way, shape or form.
That’s not to say this weekend will be either. Just because OU is not ranked does not mean they’re not capable of playing with Kansas or anyone else in the conference. They may have just two Big 12 wins to date, but they pummeled Alabama, which was ranked No. 2 at the time, so it’s clear that they’re capable of taking down just about anyone at any time.
The Jayhawks know that. Senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr. said that Alabama win by OU was enough to get their attention in case fighting to stay in the Big 12 race wasn’t enough, which it clearly is at a place like KU which has prided itself on consistently winning conference titles at a higher clip than just about any program in the country.
Asked on Thursday if he was at all concerned about a let down in Saturday’s game — or even next Tuesday at Oklahoma State — because the Sooners and Cowboys are not ranked, Self balked at the notion.
“I hadn’t even thought about that,” Self said. “Maybe the guys think about it (but) I can’t believe they do. We beat OU as bad as we possibly could the first time we played them and we were down 10 with 4 and a half minutes left and we luck out to win, basically by a possession. Same thing happened against Oklahoma State.”
Not surprisingly, Self said he did not look at the schedule that way and he does not think his players do either. It’s always been all about preparing for the next opponent, regardless of where they are or aren’t ranked, and trying to lock in on putting forth the kind of execution and effort it takes to win that particular game.
“I know (Oklahoma is) very capable,” Self added. “When they’re good, they’re as good as anybody in our league. That’s been proven.”
Kansas assistant coach Kurtis Townsend shared on “Hawk Talk” this week that the Jayhawks had an hour-long team meeting upon returning home from Iowa State last Saturday, following a 15-point drubbing by the Cyclones.
That’s rare following a road trip, but Self explained on Thursday why it took place.
“I didn’t meet with our team about technical things that happened in Ames,” he said. “I told you guys (media) I didn’t even watch tape (of the ISU game). I met with them more about team things, culture-type things.”
Self noted that he was not a huge fan of meetings but that he believed there was a time and a place where they could be effective. He thought Saturday was one of those and the Jayhawks responded two days later with a spirited effort in a crucial home win over 5th-ranked Texas.
“I had a coaching buddy of mine say, ‘Teams that aren’t as good meet. Teams that are good practice,'” Self said. “We were at a phase where we probably needed to talk some things out so there (was) no hesitation on what expectations are and what everyone’s role is based on where they are at with this particular team at this particular time.”
After beating Texas with just eight scholarship players available on Monday night, the Jayhawks may be in a similar position on Saturday at Oklahoma.
Self said the injured Jayhawks were all doing better but that he was not sure if any of them would be available on Saturday and did not necessarily expect that to be the case.
“Cam (Martin) won’t be available. Kyle (Cuffe) obviously won’t be available,” Self said of the two players out with shoulder and knee injuries, respectively. “I’ve been told there’s a chance Zuby (Ejiofor) maybe could be worked in some today.
“Zach (Clemence) I think is still day-to-day, as well as Bobby (Pettiford), too,” he added.
Ejiofor has been out with a foot injury since the Kentucky game. Clemence is dealing with a knee injury he suffered at Iowa State. And Pettiford sat out of Monday’s win over UT with a hamstring injury.
Saturday’s tipoff is slated for noon from Norman, Oklahoma. The game will be televised on CBS.
