Slumping Frank Mason must ‘get it back,’ KU’s Bill Self says

Here is the thing about Kansas guard Frank Mason. His coach says he is healthy. Mason insists he is, too.

If there is something bothering the slumping Mason, Kansas coach Bill Self says, it is probably limited to basic soreness or fatigue. But Self knows better than anyone: If there was some ailment or injury hampering Mason’s play, he’d probably never hear about it anyway.

“I would hope that he would (tell),” Self said Thursday. “But the reality is, is that he wouldn’t.”

Mason’s health has been a prime KU talking point in recent days, as coach and players re-evalulate themselves following a January lull. The Jayhawks (15-3, 4-2 Big 12) are coming off an 86-67 loss at Oklahoma State on Tuesday. Mason has been a shell of his usual productive self during a three-game swoon.

As Kansas has lost two of three, Mason is averaging 12 points, two assists and three turnovers while shooting 36 percent from the floor. Mason is not the only struggling Jayhawk; junior guard Wayne Selden has also regressed in recent weeks. But Self traces some of Mason’s struggles to a triple-overtime victory over Oklahoma on Jan 4. Mason played 53 minutes that night, spending most of the game chasing Oklahoma star Buddy Hield around the perimeter.

“Since then, it almost seems like he’s been worn out a little bit from that,” Self said.

“And I don’t know if that’s true or not — it could be a coincidence. But he’s got to get it back. But you can’t put it on Frank. I think the whole team looks that way. I think we look pretty lethargic right now.”

The lack of energy has manifested itself on the defensive end, especially on the perimeter. In the loss at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys used the same formula as West Virginia did in its victory over KU, breaking down the Jayhawks’ defense with dribble penetration. The dribble-drives led to open looks from three, and the Cowboys feasted from the perimeter.

On Thursday, Self lamented his team’s on-ball defense, but he did so by pointing out his team’s three-point defense. In six Big 12 games, opponents are shooting 40 percent against the Jayhawks from inside the three-point line, a solid number. In the same span, opponents are also hitting 40 percent from three.

That number must change, of course, but as No. 3 Kansas prepared to return to the floor against Texas on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse, Self sounded an optimistic tone. Mason will get back to being himself, he says, and so will the Jayhawks.

“I’m very positive,” Self said. “I think we’re addressing those issues, and we’ll be much better moving forward.”

Diallo likely to get second start – Cheick Diallo’s first college start could have gone better. The freshman forward finished with four points and two rebounds in 13 minutes during Tuesday’s loss at Oklahoma State. He took a seat early in the second half after twice failing to execute one of Kansas’ staple offensive sets.

On Thursday, Self said Diallo would likely remain in the starting lineup against Texas.

“Probably,” Self said. “I don’t know. We’ll see how practice goes. But he did OK.… He wasn’t a big reason why things went well, but he certainly wasn’t the reason why when things didn’t go well. So yeah, I don’t think it was a marquee-type performance, but I don’t think you could really say that about anybody on our team that particular night.”

Greene feeling OK – Junior guard Brannen Greene is expected to return to the floor Saturday after missing Tuesday’s game with a knee injury. Greene bumped his knee on Monday and wasn’t available the next day. Self said Bill Cowgill, the Jayhawks’ trainer, expected Greene to practice Thursday.

This story was originally published January 21, 2016 at 9:10 PM with the headline "Slumping Frank Mason must ‘get it back,’ KU’s Bill Self says."