Here is the Cliff’s Notes version of Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self’s comments at his weekly press conference today.
• Kansas State is one of the most physical teams KU will play. The Jayhawks will have to play physical to have a chance. KSU plays clean, but it likes to get after it.
• Fans want rhythm in games. Coaches want rhyhtm, too, as long as it’s in their favor. This is how you learn to win hard games. If your goal is to make the other team play poorly — if you have a defensive mindset — that’s what muddies games up.
• The most aggressive teams usually get the benefit of calls from the officials, because they created the style of play. One big key is if significant players get two fouls early.
• From Self’s perspective, there are a lot of teams out there that can play tougher. KU is one of those teams. The Jayhawks’ toughness level needs to be a 10 Saturday. KU is tough, but it could be tougher.
• KSU’s Jamar Samuels has gotten better because he is a better scorer this season.
• KSU has an excellent backcourt. Denis Clemente is as fast as anyone in college basketball. Jacob Pullen is a good scorer.
• Cole Aldrich has a freer mind. He’s unique in that he acts like nothing ever bothers him, but things do weigh on him. His grandmother’s health bothered him.
• Self doesn’t care one bit if KU becomes the new No. 1. To him, it’s irrelevant. Teams are going to lose on the road in the conference, so there will probably be multiple No. 1s the rest of the way. There are no upsets from here on out with conference play starting.
• Self thinks Sherron Collins should be one of the candidates for Big 12 player of the year. He also thinks he’s a candidate for first-team All-American. But to be in the conversation for national player of the year, Collins needs to finish shots better.
• Self joked that one way Frank Martin has changed through his years as KSU coach is that he’s mellowed (laughter followed). Self and Martin are good friends. Martin has done a good job at Kansas State. Self thought Martin’s hire was a good hire and that it made sense. He thinks Martin has put KSU on a level where it’s here to stay.
• Self likes competition. He thinks everyone who is in this sport loves to compete. Having KSU around the top 10 generates interest. Self wants Wichita State to win, too. It’s good for this area. It’s more fun when rivalry games are played and both teams are ranked. KU is benefitting from increased exposure nationally for this game with KSU being good.
• Self says only two atmospheres rivaled KSU’s at Bramlage Coliseum in 2008 — at Indiana and at Oklahoma State in Self’s first year at KU.
• Self hasn’t talked to ESPN’s Digger Phelps lately, but Self thought his impersonation of Phelps at Late Night in the Phog was pretty good.
• A win on Saturday — for both teams — would be huge. It would put either team in a favorable position in the Big 12 race. KU’s schedule just now is starting to get tough.
• Sherron is a smart player, but he likes to compete. As far as getting into a potential duel with another Chicago native like KSU’s Jacob Pullen, Sherron is more likely to do whatever his team needs for him to do to win.
• This is an important game for Tyshawn Taylor, because his speed and quickness can match up with KSU’s guards.
• When Tyrel Reed first got here, he was a good player, but people viewed him more as a shooter than a player. Tyrel can help you in lots of areas now. His ball-handling, defense and understanding of the game have all improved.
