Kansas basketball’s Bill Self talks Melvin Council Jr.’s persona, more
Check out some of what Kansas basketball coach Bill Self had to say Tuesday following a win in non-conference play at home against Towson
LAWRENCE — Kansas basketball won its lone game last week, at home against Towson, and in the new USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll released Monday, that victory has led to it being ranked 17th.
The Jayhawks (9-3) entered last week ranked No. 17, so there was no movement in the polls. KU’s next game is Monday at 7 p.m. (CT) at home against Davidson.
Davidson is Kansas’ final non-conference opportunity of the regular season, before the Jayhawks begin Big 12 Conference play in January. The Big 12 slate opens Jan. 3 on the road against UCF. Coach Bill Self and company have navigated the non-conference schedule well, especially as freshman guard Darryn Peterson has missed time due to injury. UCF will be the first opportunity for KU to see how those experiences have prepared them for the league gauntlet.
Outside of Peterson, sophomore forward Flory Bidunga, senior guard Tre White and senior guard Melvin Council Jr. have been the Jayhawks’ top three players. Freshman forward Bryson Tiller has also emerged as a starter. They’ll all be at their best as a group with Peterson regularly available, but at least they’ve had time during non-conference play to learn what it’ll take to win if he isn’t.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.