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Self still feeling out roster as team approaches Italy trip
▶ WESLEY DOTSON
@WasDotsonUDK
Missy Minear/KANSAN
Coach Bill Self kicks back on the bench during the first half against UAB in 2016.
After three practices, Kansas coach Bill Self doesn't know much about his current roster. His team is only returning only five players that played in the 2016-17 season.
While Self said the team's practices will have a relaxed approach as Kansas prepares for its four exhibition games next month in Italy, those practices will serve as an opportunity to work on different aspects.
"It's a good time to kind of get everybody together and maybe put in some meat and potato stuff, but it's not going to be an intense deal like it would be during the regular season or normal practice," Self said on Tuesday.
However, of his five returning players, Self said he still knows the talent and potential level of those players.
"I've learned that
[senior guard] Devonte' [Graham] is still pretty good and [sophomore center] Udoka [Azubuike] is still big and [junior guard] Lagerald [Vick] is still pretty athletic," Self said. "But I really don't know much about the team."
The leadership is already starting to solidify itself. This is Devonte's team."
Bill Self Kansas coach
Self
While Ser acknowledges that the games in Italy could be a chance for players to begin separating themselves, he said the trip is also a reward trip for his team.
"I can't imagine I'll be in a good mood the entire time," Self said. "So I can't imagine the players not having a good time and enjoying themselves. Even
though we're going there to play ball, it's also kind of a reward trip, too. Hopefully we'll go over there and maybe get a little bit better basketball-wise, but the getting better basketballwise is going to take place here in Lawrence."
Despite a plethora of new faces, as well as the
losses of Frank Mason III, Josh Jackson and Landen Lucas, Self does know one thing: the leadership of the roster.
"The leadership is already starting to solidify itself," Self said. "This is Devonte's team. We want other guys to be leaders and all those things, but
everybody's going to look to Devonte'."
Graham has already taken on a leadership role in the offseason, as he spearheaded welcoming junior forward Dedric Lawson and sophomore forward K.J. Lawson.
"I feel great here," Dedric said at Tuesday's
media availability inside Allen Fieldhouse. "I feel great. Guys have opened arms with us from the first time [K.J. and I] got here. Devonte' has took us under his wing, and [Kansas sophomore guard] Malik [Newman]. Those guys made it comfortable here for us."
Dedric and his brother K.J. transferred from Memphis to Kansas in April.
As the exhibition games in August approach, Self said little game plan preparation will be done for the team's competition.
"I know we're playing three different teams,"Self said. "One of the teams we'll play twice,but we won't do a scouting report, or go watch them play, or study film or anything like that. We'll just go out and play."
Kansas' games in Italy are scheduled for Aug. 2 and 3 in Rome, and Aug. 5 and 6 in Milan.
Kansas football's Dorance Armstrong Jr. chosen for Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
▶ WESLEY DOTSON
@WesDotsonUDK
The Big 12 is expecting another standout year from Kansas junior defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr.
The conference named Armstrong its Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of
the Year on Wednesday.
Armstrong was also the only unanimous selection for defense for the Preseason All-Big 12 First Team.
The selection makes Armstrong the first Kansas player to be named a preseason individual award
winner during the school's time playing in the Big 12 Conference.
The 6-foot-4 Armstrong is also the first Kansas player to be voted a unanimous selection for the Preseason All-Big 12 team.
A dominant 2016 season
saw Armstrong, a Houston native, record a team high 10 sacks (the most by a Kansas player in a single season since 2001), 20 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his sophomore campaign.
Rounding out the awards were Oklahoma senior quarterback Baker Mayfield, who was tabbed the conference's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and West Virginia quarterback Will Grier, who was selected as the conference's Preseason Newcomer of the Year.
Armstrong and the Kansas team will begin the 2017 season on Saturday, September 2 against Southeast Missouri State at Memorial Stadium.