LAWRENCE — Kansas basketball coach Bill Self met with reporters Monday, ahead of Friday’s Late Night in the Phog event, and shared a number of details about his team this season.

What’s stood out to Self more than anything, is the Jayhawks likely have more options than they did a season ago. They look different physically, have more players and more athletes and can shoot it better. As they develop, he thinks there are a lot of things they do well.

Although sophomore guard Elmarko Jackson will miss the season due to injury, otherwise Self noted the team isn’t in a bad spot physically. Graduate guard Shakeel Moore is recovering well from his injury, and within the next few weeks they are hopeful he’ll be full go. Self didn’t name anyone else on this topic.

3 intriguing newcomers to keep an eye on as Kansas basketball’s season opener nears

Here are some more takeaways from what Self had to say:

Bill Self is eager for Late Night in the Phog

Self is excited for Late Night in the Phog, and thinks his players will be more excited for it this year because they’ll be getting back into Allen Fieldhouse after the renovation. He doesn’t think the pictures that have been released do it justice. He thinks the fans will really appreciate the changes that have been made.

Kansas could redshirt a player

Self acknowledged they could end up redshirting someone, but don’t know exactly how it’s going to play out. He’s not saying freshman guard Rakease Passmore will, but he is saying freshman forward Flory Bidunga won’t. Overall for the roster, Self alluded to the possibility they could reach their exhibition game against Arkansas later this month and still not have made a final decision.

Dajuan Harris Jr., KJ Adams Jr. will be 2 of the faces of the program

Self noted graduate guard Dajuan Harris Jr. and senior forward KJ Adams Jr., who have spent their entire careers at Kansas, will be two of the faces of the program considering how long they’ve been with the Jayhawks. He explained the fan base can identify with them, in large part because those fans helped raise them over the years. They’re also two guys who can help their younger teammates acclimate to playing against much older competition.

Flory Bidunga’s scoring style will compliment Hunter Dickinson’s

Bidunga doesn’t score at the level graduate center Hunter Dickinson does yet, but Self highlighted how the styles the two have when they score compliment each other. Bidunga, who’s improving each day, scores by putting pressure on the rim. Dickinson scores through skill.

Bill Self highlights what will impress people about Zeke Mayo

Self said Kansas is fortunate guard Zeke Mayo decided to transfer from South Dakota State to KU for his senior year, and that he will be a factor for the Jayhawks. From early summer to now, the case can be made he’s been their best overall performer day in and day out. What people who understand the game will be impressed with, Self explained, is how Mayo’s understanding of the game — time, score, momentum, reads — allows him to make it easier for others.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas basketball coach Bill Self on Late Night in the Phog, more