Kansas basketball entered the Big 12 Media Day fray at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, ranked as the nation’s No. 1 team in the AP poll. As the start of the basketball season approaches, there are high-level expectations for the team. But for Kansas head coach Bill Self, high expectations are nothing new.
“I don’t know if we went into a year where expectations weren’t high,” Self said. “Does that put more pressure? Personally, I don’t think so, I think we still put pressure on ourselves.
Self explained that being ranked number one in the preseason doesn’t always equate to success. The other three times the Jayhawks were seeded number one early in the season, they lost in the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament.
“But in the years we’ve had (ranked number one), we’ve had some good years, but they didn’t end well,” Self said. “It means absolutely nothing and will have no impact on the quality of our team this year.”
The players feel those expectations, too, as redshirt senior guard Kevin McCullar pointed out.
“This is why I came to Kansas,” McCullar said. “I remember when I was at Tech, we were surrounding the Kansas game. So you already know that this is going to come with it.
McCullar is one of three returning starters from last year this year, along with redshirt junior guard Dajuan Harris and junior forward KJ Adams. Apart from that, there are a number of new faces. Self spoke about his thoughts on the current roster.
“I think we have a team that has a chance,” Self said. “I think it should be a fun year for us as long as we can stay healthy.”
There is uncertainty over who will occupy the fifth spot in the starting lineup behind the three returning starters and incoming Michigan transfer, senior center Hunter Dickinson. Self spoke about the competition for this role.
“I think the best teams are the ones where there’s competition, but there’s maybe separation between five and six,” Self said. “We don’t have it yet.”
Self talked about perimeter players who could potentially slide into the starting lineup. Those players include freshmen guards Johnny Furphy, Jamari McDowell and Elmarko Jackson, as well as Towson transfer, graduated senior guard Nick Timberlake.
“I could imagine starting any of those four perimeter players at some point right now,” Self said. “Marko has perhaps the most raw talent. Nick is the better shooter, Johnny’s length, and Jamari is probably best equipped to play in a college game right now.
As for who that fifth starter is, Harris isn’t too concerned about who it will be.
“Since I’m a lot older and know a lot about the game, it really doesn’t matter,” Harris said. “I’ve played with three or four of them in the last four months and I know everything they can do.”
With the expansion of the Big 12, Kansas will face four new conference teams this season: Houston, UCF, BYU and Cincinnati. Self believes the current state of the Big 12 with these new additions is positive.
“Personally, I think we’re in the best position possible,” Self said. “And from a basketball standpoint, I don’t think we should take a back seat to anyone.”
Another topic discussed during media day was the Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP) decision that granted Kansas a three-year probation due to NCAA violations dating back to 2017. Self explained how they could finally put the situation behind them.
“When you’re involved in something as stressful as this and you feel responsible for something that’s so much bigger than just one individual and everyone who supports you, you think about it between every bite,” Self said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to function with a free mind.”
Kansas will begin its season when the team takes on Illinois in an exhibition game on October 26. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the Big 10 Network.
