Kansas

Notebook: Self on Kansas’ shooting, mindset, play of offense and defense

Published

11 months ago

February 13, 2025

Notebook: Self on Kansas’ shooting, mindset, play of offense and defense

Kansas will embark on a two-game Utah road trip, taking on the Utah Utes and BYU Cougars. Bill Self met with the media on Thursday to preview the trip and discuss various aspects of where the Jayhawks stand. He talked about getting Kansas’ shooters going, the team’s mindset, and what he sees out of the offense and defense.

Kansas’ shooters need to be less reluctant

The Jayhawks’ three-point rate sits near the bottom of all Division One teams, with 33% of the team’s shots coming from beyond the arc. Kansas hasn’t shot it great from downtown (34.2%, 147th nationally), but Self thinks the shooting issues lie with the shots that his team isn’t taking. He said that when guys are struggling to knock down shots, they can become reluctant.

“A lot of times it’s them being reluctant, and I think that what I would want to eliminate from that is them being reluctant,” Self said. “So you don’t have to shoot more, but you got to shoot it when the situation requires you to shoot it.”

Self said Kansas turned down “between 8 and 10 wide-open looks” in the game against Colorado. The Jayhawks have struggled from three, but Self values shot selection more than whether they are made.

“I’ve always taken the approach that it’s a good or bad shot when it leaves your hand, not if it goes in or not,” Self said. “If this is the shot we want you to shoot and we’re telling you to shoot it, why would you ever hesitate shooting it? If it doesn’t go in, that’s my fault. I’m the one telling you to shoot it.”

Self’s current message to his team

Self has often described the 2024-25 Jayhawks as inconsistent. On Thursday, he once again reiterated that message.

“The thing I would probably say to them as much as anything is, you know, you’ve teased us all, and we’ve all known what your ceiling is. Anything operating under that ceiling is not good enough,” Self said. “It’s an impossible standard to live up to always be at your ceiling. But it is more probable that you get closer if you have the intangibles that allow you to get there in the first place. And we just haven’t been operating with those same tangibles consistently.”

His current motivation is getting to the root of who Kansas is as a team. Self said it’ll take a collective group effort to stay at a high level.

“We have to get to the core root of who we are and what we do, and this is what we believe in. And we have to all be at this level,” Self said. “And hopefully, collectively they want to do that as a group because the best thing about competing is winning. And winning is, you know, obviously something that brings as much joy or more joy to anybody that’s participating. And what allows you to win should be the motivation on what we all try to get to.”

Defense has been limiting factor in Kansas’ losses

Kansas remains in the top five in KenPom’s defensive efficiency. However, when you look at most of the Jayhawks’ losses, defense has been the main factor why they’ve faltered.

The Jayhawks allowed 60 points in the second half to Baylor and gave up a lot of easy looks against Kansas State. On the other hand, Kansas has been at its best this season when it puts together strong defensive performances.

“The problem is in the games in which we haven’t been successful, defense has been really the reason why we haven’t been,” Self said.

Self mentioned a couple of areas that can make the Jayhawks a better defensive team – shrink the floor on ball screens, tighter switches, better one-shot defense, and better on-ball defense in late-clock scenarios.

“I think that will have as much to do with us playing better moving forward as anything,” Self said.

Kansas struggling to finish possessions, but patience has been a positive

Self said the Jayhawks have struggled to finish off great possessions. In years past, Self’s teams have been able to cap off possessions about “80 percent of the time.” However, that changes when things aren’t going well.

“It seems like to me when things don’t go well, that same way to cap it off, we miss a wide-open three or something happens where it doesn’t cap it off the same way,” Self said. “I think we’ve had many more of those this year than what we’ve had in years past, which doesn’t mean our offense sucks, it means we just got to finish the dang possession.”

One positive Self mentioned is Kansas’ poise in late-clock scenarios. He said teams often panic with under 10 seconds on the clock, and it’s easier to defend, but the Jayhawks have remained patient.

“in many situations, I think what we’ve actually got better [at] is not panic in many situations,” Self said. “Okay, it may be late in the clock, but we may get Juan to turn the corner and shoot an uncontested layup with three left, which in many ways isn’t bad offense – in many ways that’s actually patient enough to give the offense a chance to work.”

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Kansas

Kansas football transfer portal tracker: Jan. 4 developments for KU

Published

5 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Kansas football transfer portal tracker: Jan. 4 developments for KU

LAWRENCE — The Division I transfer portal window for college football is open from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16, and that means Sunday is another chance for the Kansas football program to shape its roster.

The Jayhawks already gained one public addition earlier this offseason in Grand Valley State transfer Jibriel Conde — whose signing was announced Dec. 4. Conde, who is making the jump up from Division II, is a 247Sports-rated three-star defensive lineman in the portal and is listed by KU as a defensive tackle. On Saturday, a number of current Kansas players — including redshirt freshman quarterback Isaiah Marshall, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Keaton Kubecka and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Blake Herold — also outlined in social media posts on X that they are locked in with the program for the 2026 season.

Marshall is set to compete for the starting quarterback job next season. Kubecka has the chance to step up into a more significant role at wide receiver. Herold is in line to be a key part of Kansas’ defensive line.

Those positives, though, don’t outweigh the fact that there has been a sizable group of players who have revealed their intentions to transfer away. Looking overall, when it comes to those whose decisions became public before and after the portal opened, the significant names to know include redshirt senior safety Lyrik Rawls, redshirt junior linebacker Trey Lathan and freshman quarterback David McComb. Lathan led KU in tackles in 2025.

Check in here for more updates during this transfer portal window about a KU team that finished 5-7 during the 2025 season, with transfer ratings as outlined by 247Sports.

Kansas football transfer portal additions

Jibriel Conde (3-star defensive lineman from Grand Valley State) — KU lists him as a defensive tackle

Kansas football transfer portal departures

Joseph Sipp Jr. (linebacker)

Jacoby Davis (cornerback)

Dylan Brooks (defensive end)

Jaidyn Doss (wide receiver)

Carter Lavrusky (offensive lineman)

Trey Lathan (linebacker)

Tyler Mercer (offensive lineman)

Harry Stewart III (running back)

Caleb Redd (3-star edge) — KU lists him as a defensive end

Aundre Gibson (3-star cornerback)

David McComb (3-star quarterback)

Kene Anene (3-star interior offensive lineman) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman

Laquan Robinson (3-star safety)

Jameel Croft Jr. (3-star cornerback)

Logan Brantley (3-star linebacker)

Greydon Grimes (3-star offensive tackle) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman

Jon Jon Kamara (3-star linebacker)

Lyrik Rawls (3-star safety)

Damani Maxson (3-star safety)

Jaden Hamm (tight end)

Bryce Cohoon (wide receiver)

JaCorey Stewart (linebacker)

Johnny Thompson Jr. (running back)

Efren Jasso (punter)

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.

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Kansas

Hundreds celebrate Kwanzaa at Kansas City’s Gem Theatre

Published

6 days ago

December 29, 2025

Press Room

Hundreds celebrate Kwanzaa at Kansas City’s Gem Theatre

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Hundreds of people packed the Gem Theatre over the weekend to celebrate Kwanzaa.

The celebrations run nightly through January 1. Each night highlights a different core value, including unity, cooperation and faith.

The event features local vendors and performances. Organizers say it’s a great way to start the new year.

The Kwanzaa celebration is free and open to everyone.

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Kansas Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for Dec. 27, 2025

Published

1 week ago

December 28, 2025

Press Room

The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 27, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

05-20-34-39-62, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

Midday: 9-8-9

Evening: 6-5-8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

Red Balls: 01-23, White Balls: 12-15

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

08-12-24-26-42, Lucky Ball: 17

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

08-10-20-47-50, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 05

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Super Kansas Cash numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

03-07-17-20-27, Cash Ball: 24

Check Super Kansas Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Kansas Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at select Kansas Lottery offices.

By mail, send a winner claim form and your signed lottery ticket to:

Kansas Lottery Headquarters

128 N Kansas Avenue

Topeka, KS 66603-3638

(785) 296-5700

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a claim form, and deliver the form along with your signed lottery ticket to Kansas Lottery headquarters. 128 N Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603-3638, (785) 296-5700. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Kansas Lottery.

When are the Kansas Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3 Midday/Evening: 1:10 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
2 By 2: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Super Kansas Cash: 9:10 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Kansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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