Gameday Breakdown: No. 5 KU basketball vs. UAB

Kansas head coach Bill Self gets the attention of his players during the second half, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016 at Allen Fieldhouse. With Friday's win, Self became the winningest coach in Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas Jayhawks (2-1) vs. UAB Blazers (2-1)

Time: 8:30 p.m. | Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri

TV: ESPN2 | Radio: IMG Jayhawk Radio Network

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Keys for Kansas

1. Lucas must respond

KU coach Bill Self all but called out senior big man Landen Lucas following the Jayhawks’ victory over Siena for focusing too much on the wrong things during his slow start to the 2016-17 season.

Included among the specifics that Self mentioned were Lucas’ ineffective offensive game and focus on the officiating instead of the game. Self called Lucas’ antics “ridiculous” but also added that the veteran forward was smart and would figure it out.

No time like the present for that to happen. Through three games, Lucas, who emerged as one of the key pieces to KU’s Elite Eight run a year ago, has recorded 19 points, 13 rebounds and 11 fouls in the team’s first three games this season. There have been good moments, but they’ve been inconsistent and overshadowed by Lucas sending his attention elsewhere. With Self watching closely, tonight’s game is a great opportunity for Lucas to prove he heard him and he gets it.

2. Three-point shooting

After opening the season with a respectable 7-of-23 showing from behind the three-point line against Indiana, the Jayhawks went just 5-of-29 from distance in their next two games, both victories. KU is shooting just .213 for the year from three-point while allowing its opponent to hit at a .437 clip.

While the Jayhawks’ struggle to find their shooting touch from long range has not hurt the team’s ability to put up big point totals on offense, it has kept the KU offense from running as smoothly and efficiently as it is capable of.

Asked if he were worried about his team’s mini shooting slump, Self shrugged it off and said simply, “I know we’re better shooters than what we’ve shot it.”

Like Kansas, UAB, which enters the game shooting 18-of-51 (35 percent) from downtown, has had difficulty guarding opponents’ three-point shots thus far this season, so the team that shoots it better in this one could have a real advantage.

3. Play fast

The Jayhawks have been at their best so far this season when they’ve been in transition, getting easy buckets and putting the pressure on opponents.

Given KU’s depth and talent advantage at the guard position in this one, the Jayhawks should come out looking to run as much as possible against the Blazers.

In addition to pushing the ball whenever possible, the Jayhawks likely will look to take advantage of a UAB team that turned it over 18 times in its most recent game against Troy and has coughed it up 47 times in three games thus far.

The Jayhawks, meanwhile, have forced 45 turnovers in their first three games, setting the table for KU to use its defense to kickstart its transition offense in this one.

Mega Matchup

The Jayhawks vs. The Whistle

Although Kansas improved its overall performance in the foul department during Friday’s home-opening win against Siena, a couple of KU players still are struggling with foul trouble and the Jayhawks continue to commit at least a few silly fouls per game. While cleaning up the contact is something Kansas would need to work on against anybody, it is particularly important against UAB because of the Blazers’ ability to get to the free throw line. UAB has shot 30 or more free throws in its last two games and enters tonight’s meeting with Kansas shooting 80 percent from the free throw line as a team, with six players shooting 80 percent or better individually.

Jayhawk Pulse

After back-to-back thrillers against Top-10 teams Indiana and Duke to open the season, the Jayhawks fell a little flat during their home opener against Siena.

Enough players made enough plays in that one to ensure victory, but Self said after that game that star guards Frank Mason III and Devonte’ Graham were just “average” and looked tired and added that he was not overly pleased with much his team did in the win.

That alone should be enough to inspire the Jayhawks to get back on track against UAB but they’ll be asked to do it in a building that historically has lacked energy, especially during KU’s regular season games there.

Playing their first of what could be as many as eight games at Sprint Center this season, expect the Jayhawks to come out with something to prove in this one, even though the name on the opponent’s jersey does not read Indiana or Duke.

Looking to add its third win in a row after dropping the season opener, the Jayhawks’ main focus right now appears to be discovering its identity and putting all the pieces together on a team that could wind up contending at the highest level. That complete effort is going to come one of these nights.