Kansas Basketball: Bill Self’s USA team embarrasses Panama 118-26

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 25: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - MARCH 25: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Kansas basketball head coach Bill Self is having some fun with his USA team this summer. Against Panama on Monday, everyone was having fun.

From time to time, you come across a headline that makes you think a while before you click on it. That’s exactly what happened Monday night when Team USA played Panama. Kansas basketball coach Bill Self has that team making history.

Taking a mild break from Lawrence, Kansas and his Kansas basketball squad, coach Self is leading the next wave of dominant college players in the Fiba World Cup. It’s been a breeze so far for coach Self and his team.

Against the Dominican Republic in the opener, Team USA won nicely 105-73. It was the kind of game where his best coaching decision was calling a timeout when the USA lead was cut to 15.

Panama probably wishes the score was closer to that, but what Team USA did on Monday night was outright insane.

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By the end of the first quarter, USA led 43-0. That’s right, 43-0. That’s 43 points for Bill Self’s squad and zero points for Panama. Panama found some momentum by halftime as they found themselves down 70-8. By the end of the contest, the final score was a whopping 118-26.

For those counting on your fingers at home, that is a 92 point victory. As Jenna West mentioned in her article at si.com, all 12 players scored for team USA.

Quentin Grimes, an incoming freshman for the Kansas Jayhawks, scored nine points on 4-6 shooting. He also had a steal and dunk worth a SportsCenter Top 10. Armando Bacot scored 17 points to lead the way for Team USA, Tyrese Maxey had 14.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl scored eight points, brought down 13 rebounds, and dished out five assists in 13 minutes. Robinson-Earl is being highly recruited by the Jayhawks, among other local schools like Mizzou and Kansas State.

If Bill Self continues to have this type of success with Team USA, it could be a huge recruitment advantage for not just next season, but the season after as well. Good publicity is always great publicity for the Jayhawks.

Next: All-time starting five for KU

Look for at least a couple players on this USA squad to join coach in Lawrence next season.