Two exciting Kansas basketball freshmen are putting in work, according to Bill Self

The Kansas basketball team will be young this season, with four senior transfers and the rest all freshmen and sophomores. Only one player, Flory Bidunga, played for the Jayhawks last season.

Three others have some experience, however. Elmarko Jackson and Jamari McDowell played for KU as freshmen, then redshirted last year. Bryson Tiller joined the team as a freshman last season for the second semester, but an injury sidelined him, and he did not suit up for any games. 

This KU team will need to find its identity quickly. The Jayhawks boast an incredible non-conference schedule featuring North Carolina, Duke, Notre Dame, Syracuse, UConn, Missouri, and North Carolina State. Head coach Bill Self and his staff will have their work cut out for them to figure out how this roster is going to work.

During his news conference this week, Self discussed a couple of first-year players and their current development. 

Kohl Rosario is putting in the work to improve for Kansas basketball

Rosario was a late-summer addition for the Jayhawks, and he’s evidently been willing to do whatever is necessary to improve his game and earn minutes this season. Self had these comments about Rosario and how coachable the youngster is:

“We thought he was good, but I didn’t probably really appreciate his maturity and his commitment to trying to be good. I mean, he tries ridiculously hard every day, ridiculously hard. And you can tell him what he needs to do to get better that day or that week, whatever it is, and he’ll put a conscious effort to work on that so hard until he masters that, or at least gets close. [I’ll] give you an example, you know, he’s a great offensive rebounder, and he hadn’t been doing it. So that becomes a point of emphasis. And then the next scrimmage, he’s got 24 opportunities, and he goes 24 times. Even though he doesn’t get the ball. But the point is, that’s what he can take something that you tell him to really go work on that. So, I think that’s been what’s impressed me the most.”

It is terrific to hear how a player of Rosario’s caliber is listening to his coaches and putting in the work. Rosario has a chance to earn some minutes off the bench, and he might surprise everyone with his contribution this season.

Samis Calderon's development at Kansas

A few weeks ago, ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla, who does numerous KU games each season, attended some KU practices, and Calderon stood out to him. He said that “Calderon is a steal.” 

Self might agree, but right now, the coach is worried about helping Calderon fine-tune his game further. 

“Samis is a great prospect, but right now, he’s probably a better prospect than he is a player. Just because, you know, he’s long, his run, jump, explosive, quick twitch, all the stuff. But I will say this, the drill work and everything has to be translated to the game, and he just needs to play. Even last year, he’s hurt almost the whole year and didn’t play much. So he just needs reps to me, and that will determine what his role will be, probably this year is much as anything.”

Losing a year of playing time as a prep can certainly hold a player back in college, but all the tools are there for Calderon to become a terrific player for Kansas. From these comments, you get the feeling that this might be a developmental season for the freshman. While he is sure to play some minutes throughout the season, the repetitions Self is talking about are probably referring to practice. 

Both of these young players have the tools and attitude to be great for Kansas in the future. Both should contribute this season, but it is likely going to be in support roles. That’s perfectly fine; they’ll be better players in the long run for having a season under Self to get to where they can be their best. 

Make sure to bookmark Through the Phog and follow us on X and Facebook with the username @Throughthephog