KU Jayhawks basketball begins training for Texas game

Lawrence

Kansas’ basketball gamers, who returned from a 4-working day Christmas holiday Sunday afternoon, collected Sunday evening for their to start with work out in progress of Saturday’s KU-Texas game.

“All our fellas were being back in town at 4 (p.m., Sunday). We commenced getting just after it final night time with a 7 o’clock follow,” KU assistant coach Norm Roberts stated Monday night time though subbing for KU head mentor Monthly bill Self on Self’s weekly Hawk Converse radio present.

“Most guys have been really winded. It is incredible how out of shape men can get so quickly,” Roberts claimed. “Just obtaining up and down the court we experienced pretty a few fellas huffing and puffing.”

Self, who had the gamers back again on the Allen Fieldhouse court docket Monday night time for the next workout of the working day, reiterated in a text concept to The Star Monday night time that all the gamers built it again properly from a break that started right after Tuesday’s 79-65 household earn over West Virginia.

“They could have absent to get the job done out, possibly in their homes or maybe go for a jog. (But) there is practically nothing like enjoying basketball. We understand that,” Roberts claimed of the players not getting ready to get a lot achieved conditioning-wise all through their time in their hometowns, or hometowns of friends.

“The excellent detail,” Roberts mentioned, “is we’ve acquired five or six days below to get our bodies back again in condition, get in tune and get our rhythm prior to we enjoy Texas.”

KU (8-1, 2-), which remained No. 3 in the Linked Press poll on Monday, will satisfy No. 8 Texas (7-1, 1-) at 11 a.m., Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

“The massive detail,” Roberts reported of the just-finished Xmas getaway, “is a ton of these kids experienced been in this article due to the fact August. They hadn’t observed their mothers and fathers and beloved kinds in a lengthy time. Coach thought it’d be superior for them to go house a couple of times.

“We talked to mothers and fathers. We sent memos to the dad and mom and text messages. We just informed ‘em, ‘Please really do not invite Uncle Bob in excess of if you have not observed Uncle Bob or if Uncle Bob has not been tested.’ Make guaranteed our players stay absent (from all those who have not been tested) and mask up,” Roberts included. “Hopefully everyone followed that protocol.”

Braun named Huge 12 player of week

Kansas sophomore Christian Braun on Monday was named Significant 12 Participant of the Week. The award is picked by media customers who include the league.

Braun, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound wing out of Blue Valley Northwest, scored 22 details in KU’s 79-65 acquire in excess of West Virginia Dec. 22 at Allen Fieldhouse. He hit a job-substantial tying 6 threes. He also experienced a profession-significant 7 assists with four rebounds in opposition to the Mountaineers.

“We want him to shoot it every single time he has his feet set and an open glance, equally he and Ochai (Agbaji). Christian was unbelievable,” Roberts reported Monday night.

Braun is averaging 11.9 factors per game in 9 game titles. He’s built 22 of 51 threes for 43.1%. Agbaji is 24 of 54 from three for 44.4%.

Texas’ game Tuesday termed off

The Texas Longhorns (7-1, 1-) saw their Tuesday recreation against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi called off since of COVID-19 troubles involving the Corpus Christi staff.

Texas’ final recreation right before the KU recreation will have been the Longhorns’ 77-74 acquire over Oklahoma State on Dec. 20 at the Erwin Centre in Austin.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is pausing all routines for 14 days thanks to COVID-19 protocols.

Texas’ primary Significant 12 opener from Baylor scheduled for Dec. 13 was postponed because of COVID-19 challenges involving the No. 2-ranked Bears workforce.