Self happy Jayhawks have time to refresh

With a week between games, Kansas coach Bill Self could really mash down the pedal in practices this week.

He could, but he won't.

'It's a fine line,' Self said. 'We need to practice, but we also need a rest. Every team goes through phases where they're at an all-time high energy level and two weeks later for whatever reason they're not at the same energy level.

'I think that's where we've been the last couple of weeks. We need to practice and rest.'

Maybe not so much a physical rest as a mental one. February is the shortest month on the calendar but the longest one in college basketball.

That also goes for teams that are 24-2. At KU, where anything short of perfection is considered a disappointment, that means this month has seemed particularly long.

'I don't read or listen to the media reports a lot,' Self said, 'but you could sense, 'What's wrong with Kansas?' I made a mistake and said we played soft in the second half at Texas, so we're obviously a soft team.

'We still have the second-best record in the country. We're pretty good.'

KU followed last Monday's three-point loss at Texas with Saturday's 69-45 home victory over Colorado. But the Jayhawks could have pitched a shutout Saturday and it wouldn't have changed the thinking much.

That goes for the players.

'We've been thinking way too much about the mistakes we made at Texas,' senior Darnell Jackson said. 'That kind of stuff wears on you. You have to put it down and go on.'

That's what Self was talking about, why he thinks his players need a rest.

'That's one great thing about this place is so many people care that when something bad happens sometimes it's blown out of proportion,' he said. 'I'm not saying losing is acceptable, but certainly it's part of life in college basketball.'

Some apparently thought KU's 20-0 start was reality, that perfection was attainable. Maybe players began thinking the same thing. Self thinks he knows what led to his team's recent lull.

'We were geared up and geared up to be undefeated,' Self said, 'and then when we lost it was like, 'Whew!' The wear and tear of trying to maintain that took a toll on the guys.

'Of course, that shouldn't happen during a season, but I haven't had very many 20-0 team either. So I'm not sure it's totally uncommon for there to be a bit of a letdown. It can wear on you mentally.'

So now after a string of three Saturday-Monday swings, the Jayhawks catch a break before playing this Saturday at unpredictable Oklahoma State.

March looms. It starts with a home game with Kansas State and includes a trip to Texas A&M on the 8th before the real madness begins.

'Hopefully we can get our swagger back this week a little bit,' Self said, 'and get ready for the stretch run.'