TOPEKA — Kansas basketball coach Bill Self provided an offseason update about the Jayhawks during the Topeka Jayhawk Club’s Otto Schnellbacher golf classic event.
Here are some takeaways from what Self had to say.
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Does Bill Self expect everyone to be healthy when the season starts?
At the moment, Self came across confident in the current health of his team’s roster — including when it came to two names to know in that regard in guard Elmarko Jackson and forward Bryson Tiller. Self said Jackson, who missed his sophomore year due to injury, is 100% right now. Tiller, who enrolled early as a freshman but didn’t play, won’t be 100% until around July 1, but has been cleared to resume basketball activity.
Is Kansas done adding to its 2025-26 roster?
Kansas conceivably has a few roster spots to work with ahead of the start of the upcoming season. Self said they are primarily looking internationally, alluding to part of the reason why that hasn’t developed as quickly being because that pool of talent has more time to decide than those locally. What the Jayhawks are looking for, overall, is a big man who can provide more depth and a guard who can shoot the ball effectively.
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As things stand, Self noted he doesn’t know the identity of the team yet, but outlined KU is more athletic and has good pieces to put around high-profile freshman guard Darryn Peterson. Self also pushed back on the notion that Kansas’ recruiting class, including the transfer portal, might not be as good as it has been in recent years. But he thinks the three commitments the Jayhawks have through the transfer portal fit the team perfectly.
Self also reiterated his praise for the progress Tiller and Jackson have made. Self described Tiller as someone who will be a professional athlete. Self also said people might not fully understand just how talented and athletic freshman forward Samis Calderon will be.
What does Bill Self think about adding Jacque Vaughn to coaching staff?
Self made sure to note that he doesn’t view the coaching staff losing assistant Norm Roberts (retirement) and director of basketball operations Fred Quartlebaum (departure) as positives in any way. However, replacing Roberts with new-assistant Jacque Vaughn is something Self thinks everyone is excited about. Vaughn, a former NBA head coach at multiple stops who also starred in college for Kansas, is someone Self envisions being a significant asset for the program.
What does Bill Self think about the players returning from last season’s team?
It’s clear Self is excited about coaching Peterson, as he said it’s not very often you have a chance to coach a generational talent like him. Peterson is someone who’ll do what it takes to be the team’s hardest worker, as well as a leader. But what about the handful of players back from last season’s team?
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Self said not only is Jackson healthy, but as he finds his rhythm he’ll be someone who can make a big jump. Moving past Tiller, who has high potential as well, Jamari McDowell — a guard who redshirted last season — is someone Self said has made significant improvements and has leadership qualities like Jackson. Self added forward Flory Bidunga is coming off of a good spring after his freshman year and is someone who probably needs to take the biggest step forward among the group.
How is Bill Self dealing with the changing landscape of college athletics?
As everyone around college athletics awaits a settlement that’ll set a new chapter, one thing that’s on Self’s mind is how roster limits will be handled. A roster limit, in and of itself, didn’t come across as something Self viewed as much of a challenge. What he pushed back on is making someone leave the team because their status isn’t grandfathered in.
Self further explained that walk-ons are allowed to practice right now. When it comes to not knowing for certain if there’s room on the roster for them, he added they don’t have to decide on the roster until after school begins in the fall. Walk-ons will be a part of the team through the summer, and he’s hopeful the final ruling will allow them to remain.
Jan. 25, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas; Kansas basketball coach Bill Self talks with forward Flory Bidunga (40) during a game against Houston at Allen Fieldhouse.
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.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas basketball notebook: Coach Bill Self updates his team’s health
