Big 12 Media Day recap: Jayhawks eager to get basketball season started

Update: 2:05 p.m.

The Big 12’s coaches and players have all packed up and left, so we will, too.

Before we get out of here, check out this video interview with Kansas junior forward Jamari Traylor. Being at Sprint Center, around all those other players, had him wanting to get on the court and play instead of sitting around doing interviews.

You can hear from KU’s other Big 12 Media Day representatives, too, at our podcasts page:

Kansas University men’s basketball coach Bill Self discusses the style he expects his team to play this season and addresses broader issues in college athletics, such as autograph signing.

Kansas University junior forward Perry Ellis talks with KUsports.com’s Benton Smith about leadership, scoring and what he expects out of the Jayhawks in the months to come.

Kansas University sophomore guard Wayne Selden Jr. talks with KUsports.com’s Benton Smith about KU’s versatile backcourt and how he tries to teach young freshmen.

Gary Bedore and Tom Keegan also bounced around, from interview to interview Wednesday, so check back in at KUsports.com later in the day, and tomorrow for plenty more from Big 12 Media Day.

Update: 12:44 p.m.

After spending the past couple of hours around the Big 12’s coaches and players, it is evident that KU obviously has the respect of every program out there.

But that doesn’t mean the competition is gun shy. Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, West Virginia senior guard Juwan Staten, said the past few years KU has always had that particular player — an NBA lottery pick type, such as Ben McLemore, Andrew Wiggins or Joel Embiid — that gives Kansas a decisive edge.

“This year, they have a lot of pieces,” Staten said, “but I don’t know if they have that special, special player like they’ve had in the past. And that definitely makes it a lot easier to play with them. It does a lot for a team’s (opponent’s) confidence.”

Junior Iowa State forward Georges Niang wouldn’t go as far as to say KU is more “gettable” this year, in terms of dethroning the Big 12 champions for 10 years running.

“They’re extremely talented. We prepare for them extremely hard, because they’re so successful, everybody wants to beat them,” said Niang an All-Big 12 preseason first-teamer.

Update: 10:56 a.m.

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins is bored with practices and ready for the season to start.

“It can’t get here soon enough,” Huggins said dryly.

The WVU coach expects some changes to his team this season, too, which might explain his inner excitement.

“We’re finally gonna try to guard somebody, which would be something new,” Huggins said.

Ideally, West Virginia would like to get the same production — without as many minutes — out of Big 12 preseason Player of the Year Juwan Staten this season.

Huggins would like to have Staten more fresh at the end of games: “When we needed him to just go get the ball, he just couldn’t,” the coach said of last year.

“He’s shooting it with so much more confidence,” Huggins added of Staten.

Update: 10:42 a.m.

Texas coach Rick Barnes’ Longhorns were picked by the Big 12’s coaches as the No. 2 team in the league, behind Kansas.

Along with returning stars Isaiah Taylor and Jonathan Holmes, UT has one of the top freshmen in the country, Myles Turner, who chose the Longhorns over the Jayhawks.

“We have high expectations for all of our players. Certainly Myles is a player we’re excited about having,” Barnes said.

The coach elaborated, saying Turner has embraced his situation at Texas. Barnes said Turner didn’t want to be “the program,” but preferred to be around other players who wanted to have a great team and meet individual goals by buying into each other.

Last year, UT got hurt in transition and part of that was shot selection. This year, Barnes has no concern about whether they can shoot it, he is only worried only about taking smart shots.

Update: 9:58 a.m.

Bill Self expects this year’s team to look a little different than KU teams of the recent past.

“We’ll be a fun team to watch play,” Self said, noting the speed on the roster will give the style a different feel.

Now and throughout every season, it is fun to watch players get better. KU’s coaches take a lot of pride in getting each Jayhawk to reach his ceiling.

As a team last season, Self said Kansas was as poor defensively as it has been in a while. This year’s team might be physically more capable of playing a better brand of defense. The biggest difference will the the lack of a rim protector in the lane.

There is a lot of competition for minutes in KU’s backcourt. That makes practices a little more heated. Wayne Selden Jr. will play a lot, but there are plenty of other guys jockeying for playing time. It will be two or three weeks before that shakes out, and the lineup for the start of the season could look very different from the one on the floor in March.

Update: 9:10 a.m.

TCU coach Trent Johnson has heard some similar questions the past few days.

“Why am I so happy? Why am I so excited?”

Johnson said he finally has a full compliment of players. They have established themselves and how they handle themselves socially and academically.

Johnson said he’ll remain happy at least until the Horned Frogs play their first game.

Johnson doesn’t think there is a benefit to being under the radar. In the Big 12 there are a lot of guys who know what they’re doing and a lot of guys with talent.

TCU has a couple of key transfers in 6-foot-5 guard Trey Zeigler (Pitt) and 6-8 power forward Chris Washburn.

“We’re in a position… that this team can rebound and defend at a high level.”

Update: 8:51 a.m.

Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg said he is very excited after a “special year” last season.

ISU lost two great players in De’Andre Kane and Melvin Ejim. They’ll miss their leadership. The Cyclones now have a group that will try and replace those two by committee.

The Cyclones, Hoiberg said, have the versatility to play big or play small.

“We’ll continue to do what’s made us a successful offensive team,” the coach said. ISU will spread the floor. Right now they’re just trying to determine how they will flow and recognize mis-matches. The players have picked up on those things well so far.

Update: 8:40 a.m.

Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford said his team has depth and balance, even if it doesn’t have a preseason All-America player.

“There doesn’t seem to be any egos on this basketball team, and that’s been fun to work with.”

Ford said this team has pieces, they’re just not proven. He sees OSU as hungry, with a great mix of seven returning players and seven new guys.

Andrew Hickey, a transfer from LSU, might be the best defensive player he has coached. Hickey is a three-year starter who led the country in steals two seasons ago.

Update: 8:24 a.m.

Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said last year about half the team was new, which made it a tough transition, after having a very experienced team the season before.

“I don’t think we’ve arrived by any means,” Weber said, adding staying healthy, and developing point guards will be important, as will be dealing with their schedule.

Last season, K-State had so many injury issues the Wildcats had trouble going five-on-five at practices.

Update: 8:10 a.m.

Texas Tech coach Tubby Smith praised the league for its depth and talent, and said all seven teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season are teams that can get back there next March.

“It will be a very challenging league again, if not the best league in the country,” Smith said.

Original post: 7:40 a.m.

With each passing day, the 2014-15 college basketball season keeps getting closer.

Today at Sprint Center, in Kansas City, Missouri, the upcoming Kansas University men’s basketball campaign seems even more immediate, as the Big 12’s coaches and players congregate for Media Day.

We’ll have updates throughout the morning and early afternoon, so keep checking back in at KUsports.com for what the Jayhawks — and their competition — are saying about the season ahead.

Here’s a look at who will be talking, and when, today at Sprint Center

• 8:00 a.m.: Tubby Smith, Texas Tech

• 8:15: Bruce Weber, Kansas State

• 8:30: Travis Ford, Oklahoma State

• 8:45: Fred Hoiberg, Iowa State

• 9:00: Trent Johnson, TCU

• 9:15: Curtis Shaw, Big 12 coordinator of men’s basketball officials

• 9:45: Bill Self, Kansas

• 10:00: Lon Kruger, Oklahoma

• 10:15: Scott Drew, Baylor

• 10:30: Rich Barnes, Texas

• 10:45: Bob Huggins, West Virginia

• 11 to noon: One-on-one interviews with head coaches from all 10 Big 12 schools

• Noon to 12:45 p.m.: One-on-one interviews with players from all 10 Big 12 schools

The following student-athletes are here representing their programs at Big 12 Media Day:

• Baylor: senior guard Kenny Chery and senior forward Royce O’Neale

• Iowa State: senior forward Dustin Hogue and junior forward Georges Niang

• Kansas: junior forward Perry Ellis, sophomore guard Wayne Selden Jr. and junior forward Jamari Traylor

• Kansas State: sophomore guard Marcus Foster, senior forward Thomas Gipson and senior forward Nino Williams

• Oklahoma: junior guard Isaiah Cousins, junior guard Buddy Hield and junior forward Ryan Spangler

• Oklahoma State: senior forward Michael Cobbins, junior guard Phil Forte and senior guard Le’Bryan Nash

• TCU: senior guard Kyan Anderson and senior guard Trey Zeigler

• Texas: senior forward Jonathan Holmes and sophomore guard Isaiah Taylor

Texas Tech: junior guard Toddrick Gotcher and senior guard Robert Turner

• West Virginia: senior guard Gary Browne, senior guard Juwan Staten and sophomore forward Devin Williams