Kansas coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks suffered a 77-52 loss to the Temple Owls Monday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.

Kansas coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks suffered a 77-52 loss to the Temple Owls Monday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.

A week removed from his team’s second loss of the season — a poor showing at Temple — Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self hadn’t put the 77-52 “beatdown” behind him yet, when he met with the media Monday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.

Self, whose No. 13 Jayhawks (9-2) return to the court Tuesday night against Kent State (8-3), often used the pre-Christmas embarrassment as a reference point while discussing where KU is at right now, with two non-conference games remaining before Big 12 play begins Jan. 7, at Baylor.

Here are the highlights from the Q&A:

• Watching tape of Kent State, they almost won at UTEP. They’re quick on the perimeter and play around a big guy who can score.

• Frank Mason III has been KU’s best player and most consistent player to date. And the sophomore point guard still hasn’t played to his full capabilities. Mason also is KU’s best perimeter defender and because he plays so many minutes he isn’t as turned up on that end as he could be. Self is really pleased with him and his toughness.

• Coming off a one-sided loss at Temple: “Losses suck and you obviously learn from them and get better.” This loss, like the Kentucky setback, was a “beatdown.” The Jayhawks played tired and didn’t come to play in Philadelphia. There are things KU could learn from losing to Temple. Kansas didn’t play at the same level as the Owls.

• KU used to play a cupcake after Christmas, before going into Big 12 play, but they haven’t done that as much lately. It’s probably not the same formula a lot of teams have used… But, in late December/early January, you can’t determine this will be the springboard for the rest of the season. It’s too early to do that. But KU needs to be good these last two non-conference games (Kent State and UNLV, both at Allen Fieldhouse).

• Freshman big Cliff Alexander hasn’t “been active at all” of late. A lot of it is health-related. He has a bone bruise on his shin and turned an ankle, and that is slowing him down. Alexander needs to score off other people’s misses.

Kansas forward Perry Ellis gets boxed out on a rebound during the Jayhawk's game against the Temple Owls Monday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.

• By the end of the year, Alexander could be the guy KU throws it to inside to score. Perry Ellis could be that guy, too. The bottom line: Kansas has good guards, but no backcourt is going to carry you through the Big 12. The Jayhawks need to deliver inside with their big men. … KU scored two baskets on the block at Temple, and neither of those came off back-to-the-basket touches. In all the years Self has coached, his teams have played inside-out.

• On KU’s offensive sets: Basketball is an uncomplicated game. It’s about players. You run stuff and hopefully put them in places where they take advantage of their skillsets. There are a lot of little things to improve, and KU’s timing can become better. They can also tweak some things. But you can’t coach enthusiasm and energy — speaking of the Temple game, only. It’s not like it’s totally busted. KU is No. 2 in RPI. But KU was broke at Temple. Energy finds the ball. That’s where it starts. Teams that win are turned up all the time. “We played like a bunch of duds” at Temple, and the Owls were “really good.”

• Self didn’t take Mason out vs. Temple as a statement to the rest of the guys. That was his way of telling them what he thought of how everyone played. … Wayne Selden Jr. might need to play less with Mason so he can replace him as a point guard. And hopefully they’ll get some good news on Devonté Graham’s toe.

• Kelly Oubre Jr. plays with a swagger and personality even when he isn’t shooting the ball well. He should be as good an offensive rebounder on the wing as there is in the country. Oubre can get confidence on offense by playing with energy and getting deflections on defense.

• Graham can’t do anything in terms of physical activity right now, until doctors re-examine his injured toe. That will happen this week.

• There needs to be something the staff does to promote energy with this team, but the players have to get to a point where they generate that on their own, too. Self said it was his fault they played Temple two days after a game and headed into the holiday break… The thing that bothered Self most about Temple? “They’re no bigger than we are and they blocked eight shots.” And KU blocked two. Self said he has to do a better job coaching them. Kansas has talented kids, but they’re “ridiculously” young. You get off to a rough start and they’re down 11-2. “Now do we have the toughness to come back without a home crowd?” KU came back from a huge deficit vs. Florida, but the crowd won the game. “Individuals aren’t gonna beat a team any day of the week.”

• Young guys don’t remember, that’s a good thing. But coaches don’t forget. The players should be fine now that the Temple game is behind them.

• “My stress level has probably been a little higher this year,” Self said. But that’s not about the kids, that’s on him. He needs to enjoy the process and not worry about the expectations of the team. He has never understood with preseason media polls and picks if that’s where they should be right now or when the season is over. Based on right now, KU isn’t where they should be. The Jayhawks are young and going through some pains. The schedule has exposed them and prepared them for the Big 12, which is important, too.

— Listen to the full press conference here: Bill Self: Jayhawks need to play with more energy