After studying rival to improve, one aspect of KU’s defense will be vital Thursday (+video)

It’s hard to remember now, with Kansas earning the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and advancing to its first Sweet 16 since 2013.

Just two months ago, the Jayhawks were trending to be the worst defensive team of the Bill Self era. One of the biggest issues was guarding ball screens, a deficiency most evident when Oklahoma State guard Jawun Evans scored 22 points with eight assists in KU’s 19-point road loss in mid-January.

Needing a fix, Self turned his team’s attention to video — and also to one of his team’s biggest rivals.

Self has long been a fan of how Kansas State coach Bruce Weber has his team guard the action, last month saying the Wildcats were “one of the best ball-screen defensive teams around.”

“When they do it, it makes it really hard for anybody using the ball screen to use it effectively,” forward Landen Lucas said. “We had to make some adjustments and focus on it a little more in practice, and we’ve gotten better at it.”

KU will have that aspect of its defense tested Thursday when its faces fifth-seeded Maryland at 8:40 p.m. in the NCAA regional semifinals.

Maryland guard Melo Trimble has a reputation of being one of the nation’s top point guards when it comes to creating off ball screens, and Self went as far as to say that Trimble is “as good as any guard in the country” when attacking.

KU assistant coach Kurtis Townsend says Trimble is dangerous because of his versatility. He can split ball screens if the opening is there. He constantly attacks big men to seek contact while trying to create foul trouble.

Trimble also is patient and has shown an ability to find either big men that roll to the basket or open players on the perimeter. Though outside shooting isn’t his forte, he’s good enough that a team can’t go under screens and dare him to shoot threes.

“I think he’s a terrific player,” Townsend said. “We’ve got our hands full.”

The encouraging part for KU is that it’s not two months ago; KU’s staff, because of recent improvement, has reason to be much more optimistic about its defense.

The biggest change? The Jayhawks have played ball screens much more like they saw Kansas State do in videos.

Self likes to call it “shrinking the floor” or “making a crowded house” — a philosophy KU works on every day in practice. The key is KU’s other three defenders when an opposing team sets a ball screen; those three should be moving off their men toward the center of the court, creating the illusion that the middle is filled with players.

“So when I’m looking at the floor,” Townsend said, “it looks like there’s nowhere to go.”

KU’s ball-screen growth also has been helped by individual improvement.

Townsend said Lucas’ emergence has been important because he’s a smart player that holds his ground on the perimeter until the guard can recover. Guards Frank Mason and Devonte’ Graham have elevated their play as well.

“I think guys have just been getting out there, more effort on the ball screens,” Mason said. “Not playing back, just more aggressive, just more intensity.”

Communication also has improved. Lucas says there are times when he’s talked with Mason and Graham in game about staying with screens longer or positioning a different way so they can be better prepared to stop dribble drives.

The Jayhawks will need to stay sound in this area even if they advance, as potential Elite Eight foes Villanova and Miami are two of the best ball-screen teams left in the tournament.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Lucas said. “We know that if we guard any of these games, we can stay in a game until our offense takes over and we can create a nice little run or a lead.

“It’s all about guarding. If we can guard, then the rest will come.”

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 7:40 PM with the headline "After studying rival to improve, one aspect of KU’s defense will be vital Thursday (+video)."