Bill Self evaluates his ‘crap’ job of keeping players engaged in first half, explains second-half push

Kansas head coach Bill Self said it was a little bit of a night-and-day situations with his players in the first and second half of Saturday’s 87-71 win over Baylor. The Bears hopped out to a 45-32 lead at the break and led by as many as 17 points before the Jayhawks started their comeback.

“I did a crap job the first half,’ Self said. “We weren’t very engaged.”

The second half was a totally different ballgame for Kansas. The Jayhawks scored 55 points in the final 20 minutes while giving up only 26 to Baylor.

“They didn’t get a lot of good looks,” Self said after the game. “But the good looks they got, they didn’t make over the bad looks they got the first half, the hard books. Kind of law percentages prevailed but Dajuan Harris, Kevin McCllar — they set the whole tone defensively. Then of course, you worry about the right things you shoot the ball better. Jalen Wilson was much better second half. Our pace was better. They guarded the first us the first half was switch, stay between the man and the basket, play gaps and tendency is when you’re open is to stand. That’s the worst thing you can do against defenses that are sagging like that. Our movement or ball moves so much better second half. To me, that’s the biggest difference offensively.”

Bill Self says players brought energy in the second half

Jalen Wilson led the way for Kansas with 21 points and 13 rebounds for another Big 12 conference game double-double. All five Jayhawks starters had at least nine points.

The team as a whole shot 19-for-30 in the half and added another 12 points on 13 attempts.

“Energy — we were turned up,” Self said. “The thing about it is in this building. Our fans are great. Great. They played a huge role in us winning today. But you got to actually do something to get the fans to have something to be excited about. That usually comes from energy. You don’t have to make shots to get people excited. You get people excited about playing with unbelievable energy and playing the right way and unselfish.Today when we got punched in the mouth we didn’t fight back I didn’t think the first half. The second half we delivered most of the blows.”