Kansas forward K.J. Adams Jr. (24) and the Jayhawks leave the court following their 68-54 win over Harvard during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Already celebrated with a spot in the Hall of Fame and a whole bunch of college basketball victories, Kansas coach Bill Self has spent the past few seasons showing a willingness to adjust that wasn’t always there.

A few recent KU teams have shot more 3-pointers than teams in the past and others have used four-guard lineups more than ever before.

But none of those have been the poster child for Self’s flexibility quite like his usage of 6-foot-7 sophomore KJ Adams at the 5 this season.

It’s not just that Adams has roared out to a terrific start that makes the move stand out, with the forward scoring in double figures in eight straight games. It’s also the fact that Self, throughout his coaching career, has always relied on having a big body down low that he could throw the ball to, come hell or high water, and now he’s scoring inside in a different way than ever before.

Asked Monday if he agreed that he has shown more willingness to change his approach in recent years, Self smiled and included a disclaimer with his answer.

“We’re always in our minds a heck of a lot (more) adaptable than what other people actually think we are,” he said. “I think we all do that. You can say, ‘Oh, I was so friendly to that person today.’ And that person would say, ‘No you weren’t; you were a jerk.'”

Interactions with others notwithstanding, Self agreed with the idea that he has become more flexible.

“We used to recruit the best players in the positions that we wanted them to be,” Self said. “So, recruiting guys that could play high-low, recruiting guys that (in the last) 10 seconds could switch a ball screen but not until the 10 seconds, recruiting guys that fit the offense we tried to run. Now, I think it’s our job more than ever, especially with the flexibility of the roster, to coach the personnel even if it makes you get out of your own comfort zone.”

Self continued: “The way we play now, we need to recruit four guards and one of them needs to be tall and one of them needs to be a point guard. That’s the only limitations that we have, and then hopefully all four can shoot. That’s kind of where we’re at right now and it didn’t used to be that way.”

Self said finding ways to put each of his teams in the best position to succeed has always been the goal. He’s just less worried about what that looks like today than he was in the past.

“Give me the five best guys and then we’ll try to massage it to work it out,” he said, summing up his current philosophy. “Rather than, I’ve got to recruit a 4 man.”

Adams is the perfect example of that adjustment coming to life.

This past summer, Self and Adams were on the same page about the sophomore playing more on the perimeter this season than he did during his limited minutes as a freshman.

“I practiced KJ predominantly on the perimeter up until November,” Self said. “I kept telling our big guys, ‘Guys, if somebody doesn’t start rebounding and defending the way we want and those sorts of things, I’m going to move KJ to the 5.’ And that eliminates a lot of opportunities for folks.”

As the season started, the big men on KU’s roster were slow to develop, and Self found the Jayhawks leaning on Adams at the 5 day after day and week after week. It didn’t take him long to make good on the warning he handed out to the others.

Adams said Monday he didn’t think much about it and tried to keep his mind focused on playing hard and helping the team win.

“Well, with coach Self there’s really not that many conversations about playing time or rotation,” he said. “He just kind of puts you there and expects you to do the best you can.”

Adams has done just that, much to the delight of Self and the rest of the roster. Self said Monday that the attitudes of the other bigs on the roster about sitting behind Adams have been great, “a 10,” even. He also said both he and Adams remained hopeful that at least one of those others — Zach Clemence, Zuby Ejiofor, Cam Martin and Ernest Udeh Jr. — would still emerge as an important part of the rotation.

“This is not how I envisioned it going,” Self said of relying on the undersized Adams at the 5. “Although the other guys have been fine, they haven’t been as good as KJ. And in that regard not close. They’re not going to have a chance every day if KJ’s playing 30 minutes a game. I have been very pleased. KJ’s put himself in a position (where) he’s hard to take out.”

More than that, KU’s reliance on Adams and the absence of a true low-post scoring threat has been an enjoyable part of the challenge of this season.

“Yeah, I’m having fun,” Self said. “We have potential to attack it in a variety of ways maybe to get the same conclusion, and that, to me, has been fun to try to get there, without question.”

Rice to return?

Freshman guard MJ Rice was expected to practice on Monday and Self said the back spasms that knocked him out of last Saturday’s win at West Virginia likely would remain an ongoing issue.

“It’s something that will continue to possibly affect him because of the type of injury he’s had in the past,” Self said. “I anticipate him practicing today. He may not (have been able to Sunday) but he was a lot better after three or four treatments.”

Rice has struggled to get going so far this season, missing four games total and averaging 8.7 minutes per game in the 11 contests he has played.

OU up next

No. 2 Kansas will welcome Oklahoma to town on Tuesday for an 8 p.m. tipoff at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Sooners enter the game at 10-5 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 play, but Self noted that both of OU’s losses came down to the wire.

“They’re just a couple of possessions away from being 3-0 and we’re just a couple of possessions away from being 1-2,” he said. “That’s how this league’s going to be all year long.”

The Sooners are led by transfer guard Grant Sherfield, who Self called “a great addition.” The 6-foot-2, 201-pound senior is averaging 16.9 points per game and shooting 46.4% from 3-point range.

OU also still has forwards Tanner and Jacob Groves, who played against KU at Eastern Washington and are both averaging just under 10 points per game for second-year coach Porter Moser.

The Sooners are 31st overall by KenPom.com, with a pretty balanced attack that features the nation’s 38th most efficient offense and 46th most efficient defense.

Kansas (14-1, 3-0) is listed as a 9-point favorite per KenPom, with an 80% win probability. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

Probable starters:

No. 2 Kansas

G – Dajuan Harris Jr., 6-1, 175, Jr.

G – Kevin McCullar Jr., 6-6, 210, Sr.

G – Gradey Dick, 6-8, 205, Fr.

F – Jalen Wilson, 6-8, 225, Soph.

F – KJ Adams, 6-7, 225, Soph.

Oklahoma

G – Grant Sherfield, 6-2, 201, Sr.

G – Milos Uzan, 6-3, 183, Fr.

F – Jalen Hill, 6-6, 218, Sr.

F – Jacob Groves, 6-9, 216, Sr.

F – Tanner Groves, 6-10, 235, Sr.