Bill Self was correct to assume his Kansas basketball players would be fired up for Friday night’s regular-season opener against Tennessee State.
Self, the Jayhawks’ 15th-year coach, who maintained his No. 4-ranked squad “should be jacked and excited” about playing in a real game after an unusually long three-game exhibition season, saw his Kansas team blast the Tigers 92-56, just four nights before Tuesday’s Champion Classic showdown against Kentucky in Chicago.
Big 12 preseason player of the year Devonté Graham, who set the tone in the opening seconds by cashing a three-pointer and flushing a breakaway dunk off a steal, had a stellar season debut for Kansas.