Kansas Coach Self Reviews 71-59 Victory Over Utah
Kansas head coach Bill Self delivered measured remarks following his team's 71-59 home victory over Utah on Saturday, extending the Jayhawks' winning streak to seven games.
The No. 11 ranked Jayhawks secured another conference victory behind standout performances from key players, though Self maintained a critical assessment of the overall team effort.
Bidunga Leads Defensive Effort
Flory Bidunga emerged as the game's standout performer, recording a career-high seven blocks alongside 17 points and 10 rebounds. Self praised the young player's comprehensive contribution to the victory.
"I thought Flory was our best player by far," Self stated in his post-game remarks. "What'd he have? 17 and 10 and seven and three assists? So yeah, he was good, but other than that, I just thought we were average at best."
The coach emphasized that despite the victory, the team's performance fell short of expectations in several areas, particularly offensive execution and energy levels.
Team Performance Assessment
Self provided a frank evaluation of his team's display, noting deficiencies in shooting and overall intensity. The Jayhawks struggled from three-point range while maintaining their reputation as one of the nation's top defensive units.
"Not the same energy, not the attention to detail. We shot it miserably from beyond the arc," Self observed. "Defense wasn't bad, but it wasn't a great effort by any means."
The veteran coach acknowledged that while the team secured the necessary result, improvements remain essential for upcoming challenges.
Looking Ahead
Self turned attention to Monday's upcoming contest, describing it as potentially the most significant game of the season to date. He outlined the tactical adjustments required for success against their next opponents.
"Monday is the most fun game that we would've had so far this year," Self noted. "They're men. They dominate people 12 feet and in. We got to play bigger, tougher, stronger, and smarter."
The coach emphasized the need for his team to demonstrate greater maturity in handling situations where motivation might naturally wane, particularly following a successful stretch of results.
Kansas continues its strong conference campaign with this latest victory, though Self's comments suggest ongoing work remains necessary to achieve the team's ultimate objectives this season.