Kansas AD Travis Goff, basketball coach Bill Self react to NCAA news
Check out what Kansas athletic director Travis Goff and men’s basketball coach Bill Self had to say this week after they learned the NCAA news.
CHAMPAIGN, Illinois — Kansas basketball’s preparation for the 2023-24 season continued Sunday with an exhibition game against Illinois.
The Jayhawks came in as the preseason No. 1 team in the nation and the favorite to win the Big 12 Conference. The Fighting Illini came into it in position to contend for the Big Ten Conference title. It was a return to Champaign for Kansas head coach Bill Self, who was the head coach at Illinois before he took over in Lawrence ahead of the 2003-04.
Who started for the Jayhawks? How did the rotation look? It was a charity exhibition game, but also an opportunity for Kansas to test itself before the season begins.
Here’s what happened inside the State Farm Center:
Kansas game time, TV channel for today’s game against Illinois
Tip-off: 5 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network
Kansas basketball against Illinois recap
FINAL: Illinois 82, Kansas 75
Illinois leads 73-70 with 4:45 left in 2nd half
Hunter Dickinson is very nearly at a 20-10 game, as at this break he’s at 20 points and eight rebounds. It’s a testament to how talented he is, that he can get off to the start he did and then still come away with a stat line like this. But, surely, he’d want that to come with a win as well.
Kansas has only led for one total minute in this game, and hasn’t led since it was up 17-16 in the first half. Illinois has led for about 31 and a half minutes. But the Jayhawks could still come away with a win.
Illinois leads 65-60 with 7:53 left in 2nd half
Kansas is in some foul trouble right now — although no one can foul out in this exhibition game. Both KJ Adams Jr. and Kevin McCullar Jr. have four fouls. Hunter Dickinson has three.
For a team that doesn’t have the depth it has in years past, this is an issue the Jayhawks are going to need to avoid as the season continues. It can’t afford to have to sit one or multiple starters for the length of time this might require at times. Look for opponents to have this be a part of their game plan.
Illinois leads 56-51 with 11:39 left in 2nd half
Illinois has regained some control in this one, but that was without some of Kansas’ key starters in the game. The Jayhawks have every opportunity to take the momentum back and go on a run. Zach Clemence was in for a stretch, and he’s set to redshirt this season.
Although this is an exhibition game, both benches clearly care about coming away with a win. KJ Adams Jr. has been one player who’s stood out in that respect on the Kansas side of things. And he isn’t alone.
Illinois leads 49-48 with 15:30 left in 2nd half
Kansas has some life now, and is on a 7-0 run. It’s been much better defensively in the second half. Hunter Dickinson has also seemed much more comfortable and confident on the floor.
Offensively, these sides are using entirely different philosophies. Kansas has 30 points in the paint, compared to Illinois’ 16. Out of the 40 shots from the field Illinois has 20 have been 3s, while out of the 35 shots from the field Kansas has six have been 3s.
HALFTIME: Illinois 43, Kansas 37
Illinois leads 31-23 with 4:39 left in 1st half
Bill Self just called a timeout as Kansas’ deficit has grown to eight points with about four and a half minutes left in the first half. He wasn’t overly animated in the huddle during the break, but certainly the Jayhawks needed a little reset. Illinois is on a 7-0 run and Kansas hasn’t scored in more than three and a half minutes.
Dajuan Harris Jr. is going to need to be more aggressive for the Jayhawks. Although the final score of this game doesn’t matter, if Harris is playing like this during the regular season Kansas can’t be at its best. Especially if other key contributors struggle.
Illinois leads 26-23 with 7:47 left in 1st half
If there was any doubt, it looks like Elmarko Jackson is going to be the point guard whenever he’s in the game and Dajuan Harris Jr. is not. This game isn’t going all that well for Kansas so far, but if Jackson can continue to develop over the course of the season in that role the Jayhawks won’t have to lean so much on Harris. Both have had relatively quiet nights.
The second-chance point advantage for Illinois is only 7-3, but the gap feels much larger. Kansas needs to be better rebounding than it has been. The Fighting Illini are shooting 50% from the field and the Jayhawks are at 55.6%, so neither needs to give the other any help on more opportunities.
Illinois leads 14-13 with 11:42 left in 1st half
Kevin McCullar Jr. has been incredibly aggressive so far tonight, something he’ll need to be all season long for Kansas to enjoy the success it wants to experience. He already has nine points on 4-for-6 shooting from the field — including a 1-for-1 mark on 3s. He leads all scorers.
Illinois has been eager to take 3s of its own early. However, the Fighting Illini are just 1-for-5 from behind the arc so far. It’s allowed Kansas to stick close, despite its own issues offensively.
Illinois leads 13-11 with 13:29 left in 1st half
Hunter Dickinson’s matchup against Illinois hasn’t gotten off to the best start. Bill Self has been talking to him routinely, and has appeared frustrated a number of times with Dickinson’s decision-making. But Kansas does only trail 13-11 about six and a half minutes into the first half.
Parker Braun is the Jayhawks’ first substitution, coming in for Dickinson. Elmarko Jackson has looked like he belongs, a good sign for the freshman. Kansas is certainly making an effort to get the ball inside and attack offensively that way.
Tip-off
Kansas won the opening tip, and this game is underway.
Pregame
Here’s each side’s starting five
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Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
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