Bill Self Praises Kansas’ Star Player After Thrilling Win Over Arizona
Hunter Dickinson delivered an impressive 33 points and 10 rebounds in his final game at Allen Fieldhouse. The regular season for Kansas came to a close with a thrilling 83-76 victory over the 24th-ranked Arizona Wildcats at home, with the unranked Jayhawks relying on their senior leaders for a strong performance. Dickinson stepped up in a big way, providing exactly what the team needed in this crucial matchup.
Bill Self Reflects on Hunter Dickinson’s Standout Performance
Dickinson’s remarkable performance, which included a game-high 33 points and 10 rebounds, was crucial for Kansas. After the game, head coach Bill Self praised his senior leader, emphasizing that it was the type of performance the team had been counting on.
“They played great. That was one of the best performances I can recall from seniors on Senior Night. They really carried us. It was exactly what we needed. We needed our best player to lead us, and we needed everyone else to step up and play well, and that’s exactly what happened. Hunter was unbelievable,” Self said.
Bill Self on Kansas’ Recent Improvement
Self also addressed the team’s improvements in recent weeks, noting that after some tough losses at Utah and BYU, the Jayhawks have shown positive signs. While their performance isn’t yet perfect, the team has made significant strides, especially over the last two and a half weeks.
“We didn’t play poorly against Texas Tech; we just didn’t guard the arc. They played well. At Houston, we didn’t play badly either, but we had a couple of costly turnovers in the final minutes. For the most part, we’ve been better, particularly in games against Colorado, Oklahoma State, and today,” Self said. He added that while this game may not be monumental in terms of the season’s overall success, it was still a significant win due to the struggles the team had faced.
Kansas’ Big 12 Tournament Outlook
Looking ahead, Kansas will head into the Big 12 Tournament as the sixth seed. The Jayhawks will face the winner of the first-round matchup between No. 11 Utah and No. 14 UCF, who will play on Tuesday, with Kansas set to begin their tournament run on Wednesday.
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