Wednesday Walkthrough: Bye Week
After dropping three hard-fought games in a row and with a slew of injuries still hampering the program, the Kansas Jayhawks need a week off in the worst way. Fortunately for coach Lance Leipold's group, that's exactly what they're getting with a bye on tap for Week 9. It's an opportunity for KU to regroup physically and mentally, and hopefully to rest up for a late-season push for bowl eligibility.
It's a legitimate step forward for Kansas to have competed in each of the last three games, even when things looked especially grim early, given its recent history of getting crushed by conference foes. That's not to say it's a moral victory just to stay close, as the first five games of the year showed us that expectations are already higher than just "try hard for 60 minutes." But with a chance to clean a few things up and with the team's best player possibly returning soon, there's still reason for optimism in Lawrence.
With no game to preview, there's no need to know an enemy or pick a Jayhawks to watch this week. Still, there's plenty to get to from Leipold's weekly press conference.
LISTENING IN ON LANCE
"Obviously, we've got to get healthier, and it's been 12-plus weeks of going straight for these guys...it's an important week for us."
Even though there's no game this week for the Jayhawks, on Monday Leipold laid out that there's still plenty to get done during the week off. That includes getting healthy and doing some self-scouting to prepare for the rest of the season, plus to get going on their game plan for Oklahoma State. But, additionally, that includes getting out on the road for recruiting purposes. Rest is crucial, but there's no slowing down for the staff at this time of the year.
"What I said to them this morning was: 'If you want to have an opportunity to play in December or January, you have to play well in November. And we have that opportunity to play in one of those two months if we play well in November.'"
Kansas fans don't need to be reminded of what happened the last time the Jayhawks started a season 5-0. They're in the midst of another losing skid this year, but there's plenty of time left to earn the elusive sixth win. Leipold said the program remains committed to the process it's always had in place, and that he's continued to emphasize how important the next few games are in relation to KU's ultimate goals for this year.
"We have to get back to good things happening faster in the game because this is a team that we seem to thrive on momentum and positivity early, and then sometimes we end up with our backs to the wall."
Kansas has fallen behind early in games five times so far this season, including going down by double digits before scoring its first point four times. Along with saying that KU thrives on positive momentum early in games, Leipold went on to say you can't live with having to fight back in every game. For what it's worth, in the three games KU has struck first (versus Tennessee Tech, Duke and Iowa State) the Jayhawks are 3-0.
"Probably a little bit more on the higher side at the skill position area, the guys you guys like asking questions about."
Leipold was asked about how KU's injury status this year compares to years past in his career, and said that in terms of the players who get asked about there are a few more injuries this year. That's understandable when you consider two massively important starters, quarterback Jalon Daniels and cornerback Cobee Bryant, are still out with unknown return dates.
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