Bill Self addresses Kansas’ rebounding struggles vs. West Virginia

Kansas suffered its first loss at home this season in a 91-85 upset loss against West Virginia on Saturday.

The Jayhawks were out-rebounded 31-22 during the contest — including nine offensive boards for the Mountaineers — which helped put Kansas away on its home floor. After the loss, head coach Bill Self explained how WVU’s rebounding edge hindered the Jayhawks for the entire game.

“I think [RaeQuan] Battle made an unbelievable play [on his offensive rebound]. And then of course [WVU’s Quinn] Slazinski made a great play on the free throw,” Self said postgame “Johnny [Furphy] blocked him out and then he froze and he went around him on the long rebound on the free throw. But whenever Johnny is your leading rebounder with six or whatever, the first half and your second leading rebounder had one. I mean, that tells you a lot right there.

“Now granted, [West Virginia] didn’t miss many shots. But that tells you a lot right there. We didn’t come as turned up as we needed to be.”

The Jayhawks’ leading rebounder, star big man Hunter Dickinson, averaged 11.3 rebounds per game this season heading into Saturday’s matchup. Not only did that rank first in the Big 12 coming in, but was good for fifth in Division I college basketball through mid-January. WVU held him to one board in the first half and he ultimately finished with five rebounds on the afternoon.

Overall, rebounding has been an issue for Kansas this season. They rank eighth of 14 in the Big 12 Conference in total rebounding with 37.3 per game — compare that to BYU‘s 42.4, which tops the conference — and rank dead last in offensive rebounding with 8.7 per game. They had five against West Virginia on Saturday.

Following the loss, the Jayhawks have Sunday to rest before hosting Cincinnati on Monday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET and will be aired on ESPN. KenPom gives Kansas a 71 percent chance to win the game inside Allen Fieldhouse.

“Let’s get back, get them off their feet and watch tape and have a 30-minute practice tomorrow and hopefully a good scout and try to get as much rest as we can,” Self said. “Rest is probably as important as anything else when you play these quick turnarounds like that.”

After Monday’s matchup, Kansas will have the rest of the week off to prepare for a tricky road test against No. 24 Iowa State. The Cyclones are coming off a 73-72 win at No. 19 TCU on Saturday but led by as many as 19 points during the contest. KenPom gives the Jayhawks a 35 percent chance to walk away with a win over Iowa State on the road.