Bill Self lauds KU’s depth, flexibility at media day

photo by: John Young

Photographers gather around to take pictures while Kansas junior guard Brannen Greene shoots around during media day on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Bill Self kicked off his 13th season at Kansas Thursday afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse with KU basketball media day.

After players posed for photos and answered questions from reporters, Self sat down for a Q&A. Here are some of the highlights:

• Self is impressed every time he goes over to the new dorm, McCarthy Hall, which players should move into next week. Every time he is in there it looks better.

• Perry Ellis should be as good as or better than any player in the Big 12. He played at an All-American level for a stretch last season and he could do that all season long as a senior.

• “We’ve kind of got a crowded house” in the backcourt. But NBA people think Svi Mykhailiuk is as good as anybody on the team from a prospect standpoint. Self expects Mykhailiuk to challenge for a starting position and be as good as any reserve in the country if he doesn’t start. The Ukraine native, now in his second season at KU and living in the U.S., has far more maturity and strength now.

• Now that former KU point guard Aaron Miles is a part of the program as the new assistant director of student-athlete development, it will be really good for Devonté Graham and Frank Mason III. Self knows players respect him and Miles will be nothing but a huge positive.

• Wayne Selden Jr. played really well in Korea by using his athletic ability and strength. He drove and didn’t rely on jump shots, and that will make him a more impactful player if he continues in that style his junior season.

• Freshman big man Cheick Diallo (6-foot-9) has a wingspan of 7-foot-5, and has a motor, but he doesn’t know how to play yet. Diallo will keep balls alive and do important things, and he should be a good rim protector. Surprisingly, he’s a good shooter, too, which is exciting.

• KU struggled to score inside last year, and the coaches need to do a better job. But guards need to improve at feeding the post and playing angles. The Jayhawks should be a better passing team and better at scoring inside because of that.

• Freshmen Carlton Bragg and Lagerald Vick are a lot better off having traveled to Korea and being a part of KU winning gold at the World University Games. Bragg ia a “Marcus Morris type” offensively. He has a chance to be a “special” guy.

• This KU team is deeper than what they’ve had recently. “It’s gonna be hard this year figuring out who to play.” KU has 12 pretty good players and the 12th man isn’t going to play. The 10th-best player might not be in the rotation. Hopefully they’ll be much better defensively and tougher because of that depth and the flexibility it gives Self. There’s gonna be more competition at practices.

• Senior big man Hunter Mickelson has learned to compete more. He plays hard in a manner that uplifts his teammates and creates energy more than he used to.

• They haven’t even talked about red shirting right now in terms of what first-year guard Vick will mean for the team. He could be as good a defender as they have with his athleticism.

• Diallo’s situation isn’t complicated. He has been cleared to practice. It doesn’t mean that it’s permanent. KU is still waiting for a ruling on his eligibility. Self is excited he can practice, because that means he won’t fall behind in terms of conditioning and learning.

KU is still gathering information for the Diallo case to present to the NCAA. It’s frustrating for Diallo. He has goals and dreams based on playing this season. There’s a lot of stress involved for him because of that.

— Hear the complete press conference: Bill Self discusses upcoming season, Cheick Diallo’s situation