The Kansas basketball fanbase is fuming after the team opened Big 12 play with a home loss to West Virginia. Trailing by as many as 18 points, KU looked out of sorts against an average Mountaineer squad and embarrassed the Allen Fieldhouse crowd with its performance.
While Zeke Mayo and Flory Bidunga were the only players who showed up, head coach Bill Self made it a mission to single out AJ Storr and Rylan Griffen in his postgame press conference. Despite an abysmal showing from senior forward KJ Adams ― who posted two points and one rebound on 1-for-5 shooting in 28 minutes ― the transfer additions took much of the blame from Self.
Bill Self criticizes AJ Storr and Rylan Griffen in postgame press conference
"So I didn't really see much. I mean, they both had chances, but timid, non-aggressive. I didn't really see much. Our ball screen coverage to start the game, wow, it was so bad that we allowed zero to roll in there and get six points off ball screen coverage and Small was able to find him. And you know, a lot of those were situations where AJ probably could have done better in those situations."Bill Self
Granted, Storr did not score in 15 minutes and Griffen only hit one 3-pointer during his time on the floor. However, the offense lacked rhythm throughout the game, relying heavily on Mayo to create shots. Storr thrives when driving downhill attacking his defender at the rim 1-on-1, but his opportunities are limited when Adams and Hunter Dickinson clog the paint.
Self acknowledged Adams' struggles, but this issue has persisted over several games. Adams' inability to stretch the floor and limited post moves make him an extreme liability on offense. Unless Kansas changes its rotations and offensive approach, the team appears unlikely to make a deep postseason run.