Bill Self isn’t a big fan of playing nonconference college basketball games during the conference season.

But that’s what his first Kansas University team will do Thursday when the University of Richmond (9-8) visits Allen Fieldhouse for an 8 p.m. tipoff.

“I would normally say no, unless it’s a huge game that brings national exposure,” Self said Monday night on his Hawk Talk radio show.

“The thing about the Richmond game is, it brings national exposure, too. It’s an ESPN game against a quality opponent, a team that’s 55 in the RPI (ratings), a bubble-type NCAA Tournament team that just won at Temple by seven.”

The Atlantic 10 Conference school won, 75-62, Dec. 31 at Colorado.

“The reason we did this,” Self said, “is with the Big 12 schedule, we had nine days off (between Colorado and K-State games), then we played two games and had eight days off (between Texas A&M and Colorado game). That’s too much.

“This was something we were able to work out with (Richmond coach) Jerry Wainwright to play Thursday and fill a TV spot, too. It worked well for us … (we) kind of got bailed out, to be honest.”

Following the Richmond game, KU (11-2 overall, 3-0 Big 12) again will play Colorado and KSU successively.

“I never could understand it,” Self said. “In the Big Ten we opened the season with one team, and the last game of the season was against the same team. This isn’t quite as dramatic.

“I don’t know the computer program. I know there are many things they had to make adjustments for regarding television. It seems strange to me a team you play once in a conference season you play in late February and a team you play twice, you play twice in a two-week period in January. I would hope it’s something in the future that can be improved.”

6Sports video: Jayhawks up in poll following A&M win Hear Bill: Jan. 19 Big 12 coaches teleconference

For example, KU plays Texas and Oklahoma once, and each of those games will be played the last week of February.

Self noted at least one good thing about playing KSU and Colorado so close together.

“The scouting is easier the second time because the guys are familiar with it, or at least they should be,” Self said. “The disadvantages in playing a team the first game and last game is you need to come up with two different scouting reports because things change so much.”

¢

Wheaties fan: Self agreed with a Hawk Talk caller it was a shame the NCAA won’t allow KU’s band to play the “Wheaties” song after opposing players foul out in games.

“I don’t see how … that’s negative,” Self said.

Larry Keating, KU’s senior associate AD/administration, called the show to explain the NCAA’s ban.

“It’s in the rulebook the band can only play during time-outs and intermission. It has nothing to do with live ball, dead ball. It has to do with time-outs,” Keating said.

Self had the suggestion KU play a CD of the Wheaties jingle when an opposing player fouls out.

“I think the suggestion that the fans sing the Wheaties song is the way to do it,” Keating said.

¢

Recruiting: Malik Hairston, a 6-foot-5 high school senior guard from Detroit, has a final five of KU, Michigan, Ohio State, UCLA and Oklahoma. KU would have to lose a player off its current roster to have room for Hairston, who tells Shay Wildeboor of rivals.com he hasn’t heard from the KU coaching staff in about a month. … Joe Krabbenhoft, a 6-7 junior guard/forward from Sioux Falls, S.D., will make an unofficial visit this weekend to Wisconsin. KU, Minnesota, Notre Dame and Wisconsin are his finalists. KU coach Self, who has yet to see Krabbenhoft play in person, wants to attend one of his games later this month. Krabbenhoft, who has just healed from a stress fracture in his foot, has said KU was his dream school.