Notebook: Rebounding was ‘better’ in exhibition win; Vick earns start

Kansas forward Carlton Bragg Jr. (15) gets physical with Emporia State forward Terrence Sardin (33) during the first half, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Never one to shy away from giving his honest opinion on any aspect of his team, Kansas basketball coach Bill Self did exactly that about KU’s 49-31 rebounding edge over Emporia State during a 104-62 Jayhawk victory Sunday night at Allen Fieldhouse in the final exhibition game of the 2016-17 season.

“It was better,” Self said of his team winning the battle of the boards, which it was unable to do last Tuesday night in a win over Washburn. “It wasn’t great, but it was better. First half, I thought our big guys really went after the ball, especially on the offensive end.”

To a man, the players who spoke with the media following Sunday’s victory said rebounding was one of the team’s major points of emphasis against the Hornets. And that showed from the opening minute of the game to the end.

While he was happy his team had paid attention and showed some pride in competing for missed shots on the glass, Self seemed most pleased that the Jayhawks battled hardest on the offensive glass. Kansas finished with 13 offensive rebounds and watched players of all sizes crash the rim and get a finger or two on a handful of other misses during Sunday’s whipping.

“We didn’t do that good on the glass against Washburn,” KU freshman Josh Jackson, who scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds. “That was one of the keys (tonight), just focusing more on defense. A lot our guys get caught up too much thinking about offense, but our points this year are really gonna come from the defensive end.”

Jackson’s total of seven boards tied him with two other Jayhawks (Udoka Azubuike and Landen Lucas) for the team lead on Sunday.

Five other Kansas players grabbed at least three rebounds in the win.

Vick starts

Self inserted sophomore guard Lagerald Vick into the starting lineup on Sunday night, electing to open with the four-guard look that KU played about a third of the time in the opener — and figures to play much more the rest of the way — instead of the more traditional two-bigs-three-guards look Self has used in the past.

“Just try something different,” Self said. “Carlton’s struggled and Lagerald’s been probably as good a performer as we’ve had. To be real candid, I wanted to practice playing small because we know, in the next two games, (Indiana and Duke) play (wings) at the (power forward) position. So that’s gonna be a lineup we play a lot, regardless of who the (other big man) is.”

Bragg struggled through his second straight exhibition game, finishing with two points, four rebounds and five turnovers before fouling out in 15 minutes.

“Carlton’s really a good player,” Self said. “He’s just in a funk. He’ll snap out of that.”

Bumps and bruises

KU’s veteran backcourt of Frank Mason III and Devonte’ Graham both suffered minor injuries during Sunday’s victory. But neither the players nor Self believed either to be serious.

“He jammed his thumb the other day and then he got kicked in the shin or something tonight,” Self said of Mason. “We have to get him and Devonte’ where they can stay out there. That’s a big key for us.”

As for Graham, his ailment came in the form of cramping, something that plagued hit a little in the win over Washburn and during both the first and second half against Emporia State.

“It seems like he’s cramping most every day now. Our nutritionist and almost everybody is working with him, but we have to get him to where he can play 30-plus (minutes) along with Frank.”

Graham said he was not concerned about the cramps and believed it was something he could get under control.

“I don’t know, man. I just keep cramping up,” he said after Sunday’s game, noting that cramps had not been a problem in practice. “I’m about to talk to the nutritionist. Just hydrate more, I guess. Eat some bananas. I really think it’s I’m probably not eating enough, not getting enough, whatever it is, potassium, or whatever.”

This and that…

Sunday’s game marked the 27th time KU topped the 100-point mark in an exhibition game. KU’s last time creeping above the century mark in an exhibition game also came against Emporia State, 109-56 in 2014…. KU is 80-9 all-time in exhibition games, including 47-0 inside Allen Fieldhouse since 1994…. KU now leads the all-time exhibition series with Emporia State, 8-0…. KU’s next two games will be televised on ESPN.