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KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | THURSDAY, FEB. 2, 2017
Bill Self on Josh Jackson: 'He's beyond his years'
Missy Minear/KANSAN
Freshman guard Josh Jackson puts up a shot against Baylor on Feb. 1. The Jayhawks defeated the Bears 73-68.
► JORDAN WOLF
@jordanWolfKU
Kansas coach Bill Self is grateful to have a player like freshman guard Josh Jackson. The freshman continues to turn in high-level performances, and after his 23-point, 10-rebound showing in the Jayhawks' 73-68 win over No. 2 Baylor on Wednesday, Self commented on the growth and level of play of his star guard.
"He's beyond his years," Self said. "He's a freshman, but he's not really a freshman."
The claim doesn't come unearned. In Kansas' last three games, all against ranked opponents, Jackson has put up a total of 65 points and 24 rebounds. He's stepped up for the Jayhawks on multiple occasions, showing the confidence and late-game prowess typically exhibited by upperclassmen, not freshmen.
"Everything that he does is not a surprise to me," Self said. "We've gotten to the point where we expect it. And he would be disappointed in us if we did not."
As possibly the best freshman he's ever had in his time at Kansas, Self has grown to expect such strong performances from Jackson.
Jackson is aware of the
expectations surrounding him from Self and others. As the season has worn on, he's been consistently involved as one of the team's top options on offense. In the team's nine conference games, he 's been the leading scorer in three, including five 20-plus-point outings.
As his first real ever tough mid-season grind, the pressure mounted on Jackson to keep up the high level of play in the threegame stretch. His game was unaltered, however, thanks to a conscious effort to stay cool.
"I can't really feel any nerves, because I feel like
it would really affect my play," Jackson said. "The thing I've just been trying to do is just go out there and play."
Jackson's success hasn't come easy, and he's surely had his share of struggles. He turned the ball over five times against the Bears, and continues to shoot poorly
These problems are fixable, and Self understands that. And for being a freshman that is playing at such a high level in almost every other area, he's not worried.
from the free-throw line after going 5-of-9.
"The one knock on him right now is he makes the
game harden than what it should be because he's not a good free throw shooter yet—he will be," Self said.
According to Jackson, there's no better time to improve your game than against tough opponents. Such opportunities come frequently in the Big 12, and he believes his team has had its share of tests.
The challenge doesn't stop with Baylor.
"I don't feel like you would get better if you're playing against a bunch of guys who don't really want to compete or want to win," Jackson said. "It's even harder being Kansas, because everybody just wants to beat you so bad. It's always a great game no matter who we play in the Big 12."
Kansas still has several tough games ahead of it before the end of the regular season, including a trip to Waco for a rematch with the Bears in February. Despite now being alone in first place and riding high off the confidence of a strong past few games, Jackson and his teammates are keeping their eyes on the prize, and not stopping and coasting.
"We're glad to be in first, but we all know that it's not over," Jackson said. "Our job isn't complete yet."
Kansas basketball news affects fans' perceptions
► AMIE JUST
@Amie_Just
Allen Fieldhouse turned up the juice.
With an All-Star rendition of the national anthem and a video board pep talk from former Kansas standout Sherron Collins, the Phog was the loudest it had been all season.
Sophomore guard Lagerald Vick plays defense against Baylor. Kansas defeated Baylor 73-68.
If Kansas fans had any reservations about their Jayhawks, they checked them at the door.
It's been an intense stretch for the Jayhawks, as Kansas had a year's worth of off-the-court news come to light over the course of a week.
The local — and national perception of the team is not good.
On Jan. 24, reports came out that an alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl had been reported at McCarthy Hall — the residence hall in which the basketball team resides. The following morning, five basketball players — senior guard Frank Mason III, freshman guard Josh Jackson, sophomore guard Lageral Vick, freshman forward Mitch Lightfoot and junior guard Tucker Vang — were listed among the witnesses by KU Police in the Dec. 17 incident.
When the news came out, fans had mixed responses.
"I know we all want to win," said Justin Zellers, a 1999 University graduate from Overland Park. "But it's not at all costs."
"I was kinda
Miranda Anaya/KANSAN
disappointed really," said Anna Donovan, a sophomore from Oklahoma City. "Because you cheer for these guys multiple times a week and they do something off the court that puts the team in a really uncomfortable position."
On Jan. 26, sophomore forward Carlton Bragg Jr. was suspended by coach Bill Self for a "violation of team rules" for his second suspension of the season. Four days later, Bragg was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. According to police records obtained by the Kansan, police confiscated two glass smoking devices on the night of the alleged rape. Bragg was granted diversion on Feb.1 for the charge.
Bragg's first suspension back in December followed an arrest and a battery charge that was eventually dropped. After the charge against Bragg was dropped, a battery charge was filed against Saleeh Soofi.
"He's been suspended twice," said Scott Wellhausen, a senior from Broton, Illinois. "Regardless of how serious you think it is, two suspensions is detrimental."
"I think Carlton gets a bad rep," said Bryce Dieker, a junior from Westphalia. "He was accused of an assault that got dismissed."
Several students, including Wellhausen, cited that first incident with Bragg as something to learn from.
"The original Carlton
Bragg issue shows just how problematic it can be to leap to conclusions early," Wellhausen said.
But the off-the-court news wasn't over.
On. Jan. 30, the Kansas City Star reported that a University investigation found that Vick had likely committed domestic violence and that the recommended punishment for said offense was two years of probation. In the Star's report, Vick allegedly hit a female student multiple times and kicked her in the face.
All of it together has snowballed, and some fans don't know what to think.
"The news comes out and
with the environment that's around domestic abuse, honestly those are some serious issues," Wellhausen said. "We need more first. ... As far as the stuff off the court, I think you gotta wait until you hear more to make a decision. That shouldn't downplay Lagerald Vick's problems or Carlton's problems. I hate to leap to judgement before I know stuff."
When asked about the Vick report after the game, coach Bill Self delivered a prepared statement in front of members of the media, various Kansas Athletics officials, the Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Tim Caboni and
"I have been told that I cannot comment on a University investigation or whether one is or is not taking place or has ever taken place," Self read. "And due to previous practice by the University and by the athletic department, I would not be giving any details of such investigation. What was reported was reported. I haven't been made aware of anything. That's where that is and that's the last time and the only thing I will say concerning that because I am basically been told that's all that can be said."
the University's Director of Strategic Communications, Joe Monaco.
Regardless of fans waiting for all the facts, some of the damage has already been done. Perception isn't necessarily rooted in fact. It's rooted in belief.
Kansas fans may have checked their feelings of their Jayhawks at the door, but there's doubt in their minds, albeit a small amount.
"I am a stickler for rules," Zellers said. "I think they should be followed. [The] University needs to come down on them, but they need the evidence to prove it."
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