KU coach Bill Self recalls last year’s blowout loss to TCU: ‘It was a beatdown’
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self informed his squad’s newcomers — and reminded the returnees — of one of the lowlights of KU’s 2022-23 Big 12 Conference season — really, any conference season in the history of the tradition-rich school in Lawrence.
“I remember that game. We came out sluggish, never got the crowd involved. Quite frankly, coach reminded us about it today at practice,” KU senior guard Kevin McCullar said of the Jayhawks’ 83-60 loss to TCU on Jan. 21, 2023 at Allen Fieldhouse.
“We know what they came in and did here last year. We have to have a chip on our shoulder and play hard,” McCullar added of Saturday’s home rematch versus the Horned Frogs.
Chances are Self will refer to last year’s loss to TCU a few more times leading up to the 1 p.m. matchup between No. 2 KU (12-1) and unranked TCU (11-2).
“It was a beatdown,” Self said Thursday, reflecting on the second-worst home loss he’s had at KU. The Texas Longhorns defeated the Jayhawks by 25 points, 84-59, on Jan. 3, 2021.
“They dominated us on the glass, dominated us defensively. Offensively they dominated us and they shot the heck out of the ball. They were ranked 14th in the country (and KU No. 2). They had a really talented group last year. TCU’s team is different. A lot of the same faces though, but no (Damion) Baugh, no (Mike) Miles.
Self quickly mentioned talented TCU returnees in Micah Peavy, Emanuel Miller and Chuck O’Bannon.
The Frogs also have former KU big man Ernest Udeh, who transferred to TCU after his freshman year at KU.
“We tried to prepare for their transition offense last year and they ran us out of our own gym,” Self said of TCU’s highest-ranked road win in school history.
“It’s a lot easier said than done,” he added of stopping TCU transition. “They do play fast. Jamie (Dixon, coach) has done an unbelievable job of having their mindset — to play at a pace that is different from anybody we’ve played this year.
“Peavy is about as good as I’ve seen, period,” Self said, “as far as getting the defensive rebound and being two steps ahead of everybody else. He’s really good creating numbers.”
KU did bounce back from the blowout loss a year ago to defeat TCU 63-58 on Feb. 20 in Fort Worth. The Jayhawks then went on to win the Big 12 regular-season title. It marked KU’s 16th title in the 20-year Self era. Actually KU won 17 titles on the court, but one has been stripped (2017-18) because of the program’s use of an ineligible player.
Saturday’s game is the league opener for both teams.
“These guys winning or tying 17 out of 20 in a league like this probably will be something that none of us ever sees in our lifetime again. It’s a remarkable streak,” Self said.
“My dad (the late Bill Self Sr.), he’d never say much, but he thought that was far more impressive than anything else we’ve done or accomplished since we’ve been here, because (winning a league title is done) over a 2 1/2-month period (versus) a weekend (that it takes to capture a national title at a Final Four).
“That’s something obviously more difficult. You can get lightning in a bottle for a week. It’s hard to keep it for 2 1/2 months. It’s a good run. It’ll be as hard or harder to win it this year than it’s ever been.”
Saturday’s game is the first of 18 league contests for KU and TCU.
“I don’t remember this many teams being this good in our league (than prior years),” Self said of the 2023-24 race. “In the past we played everybody twice. A lot of these teams we are only going to play once. I don’t think anybody did us a favor on the teams we play twice: Iowa State, sixth in NET; Houston one in NET; Baylor top 15 team in America; K-State and Oklahoma State. K-State will always be a monster both (in Manhattan and Lawrence).”
McCullar said the Jayhawks are ready for the Big 12 grind.
“Another year in the Big 12, us older guys know what’s coming,” he said. “The younger guys, we’re trying to get them prepared, tell them it will be a battle every night, no off nights, come out, start strong and finish the last four minutes, take care of the ball and play hard defense.”
Message received, said freshman guard Johnny Furphy.
“It’s an expectation. We know there will be an Increase in intensity coming into the Big 12,” Furphy said Thursday. “The real season starts now. Forget the last 12, 13 games. There will be a jump in intensity.”
