Bill Self assesses Kansas' first half lead against Kentucky

Kansas–Kentucky was dubbed the primetime showdown of the Big 12/SEC Challenge, with the hype living up to it. Head coach Bill Self will see his team heading into the locker room with a seven-point lead at Rupp Arena, hoping to break a three-game losing streak. Twenty minutes of basketball are still ahead but the Jayhawks are in a good position.

Kentucky started out with all of the momenta, dominating in the early parts of the game. Self said John Calipari had his team ready to go down in the paint, doing most of their work there.

“I think we kept them out of the paint,” Self said to ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “I think they scored 20 of the first 22 in the paint. I think we did a better job keeping them out of the paint.”

When discussing Kentucky playing down low, the first thought immediately goes to Oscar Tshiebwe. He had not lit up the score sheet but Self is not diminishing what he has done for Kentucky. Assisting a few buckets can be just as important as getting your own.

“He’s really played better than that because he’s got three assists,” Self said on Tshiebwe’s six points. “When we’ve tried to post-trap him, it’s been ineffective. We’ve got to try to tighten that up.”

Kansas themselves do not have a traditional big name, with KJ Adams playing the five for the majority of the season. The double-teaming will most likely continue in the second half, making somebody other than Tshiebwe beat them.

Kansas working high ball screen on the offensive end

The plan for Self seems to be a simple one on the offensive end — get high pick and roll going and make Kentucky decide who to guard. Kansas has been successful thus far, hence the lead heading into halftime. Plan is to continue for the second half and get a win.

“We just want to throw them in as many ball screens as possible,” Bill Self said. “I don’t know if it will keep working but it’s worked good so far.”

Jalen Wilson continues to play incredible basketball for the defending national championship, leading the game with 10 points. Alongside point guard Dajuan Harris, they have been initiating the pick-and-roll for Kansas. Self will continue to call their number down the stretch as the program hopes to get back to its winning ways in Lexington.