Here are 3 things to think about after Kansas basketball’s trip to Puerto Rico

Kansas basketball coach Bill Self said his Jayhawks had a good week, as he reflected Monday on the team’s trip to Puerto Rico.

Self, speaking on the livestream broadcast on KUAthletics.com after the third exhibition game, said that for the most part the players had opportunities to enjoy themselves away from basketball. The weather cooperated. And then he noted that it was time to get back.

Here are a few things to think about as Kansas continues its preseason preparation in Lawrence:

Dajuan Harris Jr. has an appreciation of the leader he needs to be

Veteran guard Dajuan Harris Jr. has been on Kansas teams with leaders such as Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack, who are now playing professionally. Harris watched them every day. He said on the broadcast leading like those two did, from his perspective, is the most significant thing he needs to do for this team.

Harris said that’s especially true, because of how many new faces there are on the roster. There’s been a lot of talk about how much chemistry Harris and his teammates have been able to develop so soon, but when it comes to scholarship players there are still going to be seven new faces on the team this season. Nine left after the end of last season, either to turn pro or find a new college to play for.

Bill Self doesn’t intend on making too big a deal of the three games

Kansas beat a Puerto Rico Select Team with ease during the first game, and then split two close ones against the Bahamian National Team. The Jayhawks showed a lot of promise, while also struggling at times in different areas. But when it comes to reviewing the tape, Self downplayed how significant that’ll end up being.

“I’ll watch it, but I don’t know if it’ll be a big deal,” Self said. “I mean, we’ll be correcting guys on things we haven’t taught them yet. A lot of that stuff. So, it’s not their fault. So, we can certainly tighten some things up. And (senior advisor) Doc Sadler, just in the locker room, he said, ‘God, can we be good defensively.’ And I actually agree, but we’re not yet.”

Self noted a couple of veterans, guard Kevin McCullar Jr. and forward KJ Adams Jr., are good individual defenders. Self included Harris in that group, too. But it’ll take everyone figuring it out for them to reach that level defensively.

Self also said Kansas needs to get Michigan transfer center Hunter Dickinson the ball in the low post more often.

Dajuan Harris Jr. is excited by the offensive weapons he has to work with

Prompted to talk about some of his teammates, Harris started to rattle off their attributes. Kansas’ point guard is excited about what he has to work with offensively. And it’s not hard to understand why.

Harris said Dickinson makes things really easy for him, because Dickinson is someone with size who has a soft touch around the rim and the ability to hit 3s. Harris added Dickinson is one of the best screening big-men he’s ever played with.

Harris described Adams as a playmaker. Harris compared Adams to Draymond Green, who plays in the NBA for the Golden State Warriors.

Then there’s McCullar, who didn’t shoot it well in the third game but is still someone Harris said needs to keep at it. There’s Texas transfer guard Arterio Morris, who didn’t play in the third game but is someone Harris said is one of their best scorers. And there’s freshman guard Elmarko Jackson, who’s still learning but is someone Harris said will be good.

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Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: 3 things to think about after Kansas basketball’s trip to Puerto Rico