Kansas basketball's Bill Self on Allen Fieldhouse changes and more from Big 12 media days

KANSAS CITY — Kansas men’s basketball’s presence at the Big 12 Conference’s media days last week provided another chance for the Jayhawks to reflect on their national title run, while they also turn the page toward the 2022-23 campaign.

Head coach Bill Self once again compared the run to a championship earlier this year to the one he led Kansas to back in 2008. Redshirt junior guard Dajuan Harris Jr. and redshirt junior forward Jalen Wilson spoke to their roles on the 2022 championship run. And redshirt senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr. provided the perspective of a veteran newcomer who’s come in with the aim of helping the Jayhawks repeat.

But there were also a number of other topics broached. Some had to do with the team, and some more specifically the players. So, here are some more takeaways from the event:

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What Bill Self understands the upcoming upgrades to Allen Fieldhouse to be

It’s been known for some time that there will be a renovation of Allen Fieldhouse in the near future. Athletic director Travis Goff said during a podcast appearance on “From the Chair with Mike Hamilton” earlier this year he hoped construction would be able to begin during the upcoming offseason. And just as Goff provided his take then about what changes are coming, so, too, did Self last week.

Self explained he thinks he knows generally what’s coming, although not all of the specifics. He referenced a video board and new sound system, not to mention upgrades to things like bathrooms and concessions. He considers the most significant improvements being the amenities, including a more hospitable environment for donors.

Here’s Bill Self’s philosophy with the transfer portal

When it comes to how Self wants to add talent to his roster, whether by high school additions or transfers or a combination of the two, he starts with the former. If he knows he’s going to have four openings, he’ll try to sign four prospects in the fall and then bring in transfers later on if any other spots open up. He indicated he doesn’t want to save a spot for transfer portal player because it’s unclear exactly how many transfer portal players he might need in addition to that.

When it comes to fit, Self also said he thinks they can be more particular with who’s added from the transfer portal than with freshmen. With transfers, if he needs perimeter shooting he’ll just go after the best option for that. With freshmen, he’ll look for the best athletes and players and then just look to develop them further.

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How the national championship has affected recruiting, in Bill Self’s estimation

Self has talked about wanting to capitalize on the success of last season more so than his team was able to after winning the national championship in 2008. One area of that is recruiting. And with three public commitments, Self likes where they’re at so far.

Of course, there could be more than three newcomers on the roster as Self’s discussed. But Kansas is off to a good start. Its 2023 recruiting class is eighth in the nation, according to 247Sports Composite rankings. It includes a trio of four-star prospects in point guard Elmarko Jackson, combo guard Chris Johnson and shooting guard Jamari McDowell.

Kevin McCullar Jr. thinks ahead to Kansas’ game on the road at Texas Tech

Last season, Kansas brought in a transfer from another Big 12 program when it added Jalen Coleman-Lands from Iowa State. Coleman-Lands eventually started and played in the Jayhawks' game on the road against the Cyclones on Feb. 1. And McCullar, a transfer from Texas Tech, figures to be in a similar position this season when Kansas goes on the road to face the Red Raiders in early January.

McCullar — who was named to the preseason watch list for the 2023 Jerry West Award, which goes to the nation's best Division I shooting guard — thinks it’s going to be a great environment. He’s looking forward to it. And he knows it’s going to be a big game between two sides that’ll likely be in contention for a Big 12 regular season title.

Dajuan Harris Jr. thinks ahead to Kansas’ rivalry game against Missouri

As someone whose hometown is Columbia, Missouri, Harris has a little more to play for when Kansas and Missouri face off there on Dec. 10. It’s a rivalry for everyone. But Harris is playing for the Jayhawks, not the Tigers.

Harris also has a friend, senior guard Isiaih Mosley, who now plays for Missouri after transferring from Missouri State. If needed, Harris allowed, he’s willing to guard Mosley. It’ll be the first time the two play against each other in this rivalry, which saw Kansas trounce Missouri in an 102-65 win last season.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas basketball coach Bill Self explains Allen Fieldhouse upgrades