Kansas Basketball: Bill Self coaching USA basketball could be huge for Jayhawks

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 31: Devonte' Graham #4 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts with head coach Bill Self late in the second half against the Villanova Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Kansas basketball head coach Bill Self is leading the U-18 USA basketball team this summer. The benefits could be huge for the Jayhawks in the long run.

Bill Self doesn’t need any type of head start when it comes to coaching Kansas basketball. Especially before a season where his Jayhawks are considered the favorites for the upcoming season.

Coach Self is temporarily leaving his Kansas basketball team to coach the USA basketball team in the 2018 FIBA Americas U-18 Championship in Canada later this month. He is already in Colorado Springs, Colorado looking at 33 players trying to make the roster.

Among those 33 players is Kansas freshman Quentin Grimes. As long as Grimes makes the squad, and by all rights he should, coach Self will have an early look at what Grimes can do.

Self will also get a look at how Grimes reacts to his coaching, which is a huge part of the offseason programs going on at Lawrence. The difference is, there will be actual games being played.

More from KC Kingdom

Grimes has a chance to go into the 2018-’19 season fresh and ready, which will be a big boost for a team that already has high expectations. In just about every preseason poll the Jayhawks are picked No.1 despite only returning one valid contributor from their Final Four run last season.

Not only does Grimes get an early chance to see how the coach manages a game, but coach gets a first-hand account as to what some of the other big-name freshmen bring to the table. This is something that could come in handy deep into the upcoming season.

The Jayhawks have a deep and talented squad this season compared to the shallow and talented group that took the court last year. If the starting five didn’t have a good game, there was nothing the bench could do to help. This season the Jayhawks will be throwing waves of guys out there like nobodies business.

Another way to look at Bill Self coaching this USA team is from the recruiting point of view. It isn’t hard to recruit at Kansas, everyone knows this, but the Jayhawks may have an edge on others due to the fact that coach Self is in the national light this summer.

Next: Best seasons all-time for Kansas Basketball

The Kansas Jayhawks do not need any help this season, but the basketball gods seem to be smiling down on Lawrence, Kansas.

Home/Kansas Jayhawks