Norm Roberts leads Kansas basketball to 4-0 as interim head coach, more takeaways

LAWRENCE — Kansas men’s basketball captured a fourth-straight victory to start the 2022-23 season with an 82-76 win Friday at home against Southern Utah.

Here are four takeaways from the No. 5 Jayhawks (4-0) contest:

Norm Roberts wins last game as interim head coach

If anyone was questioning how Kansas would fare without head coach Bill Self or assistant coach Kurtis Townsend on the sideline these first four games of the regular season, assistant coach Norm Roberts led an effort as interim head coach that quieted those doubters.

With Friday's win against Southern Utah, albeit one that was a little too close for comfort, the Jayhawks remained undefeated. Now, with the self-imposed suspension completed, Self and Townsend can return to an undefeated and top-five team.

Next up for Kansas is the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas, which will start for the Jayhawks with a game Nov. 23 against N.C. State. Two more contests will follow next week before Kansas returns home. And then Self and Townsend will be able to coach in their first regular season game at home of the current campaign Nov. 28 against Texas Southern.

Previously:Norm Roberts updates MJ Rice's availability, more ahead of KU vs. Southern Utah

Jayhawks were too sloppy offensively early

Kansas, which was without sophomore forward Zach Clemence for a second-straight game due to injury, came into the game averaging 11 turnovers per contest. The most in a game so far had been the 15 it committed against Duke. But by halftime, the Jayhawks already had 10.

Now, those 10 turnovers didn’t lead to a monumental difference in points off of turnovers between the two sides in the first half considering the Thunderbirds turned it over five times. And by game’s end, the 14 turnovers Kansas had turned into 17 points for Southern Utah, compared to 13 turnovers for the Thunderbirds leading to 14 points for the Jayhawks. But against a more formidable opponent, the rough start offensively could have proven more costly in a game where they also struggled to rebound well defensively and limit second-chance points.

Jalen Wilson, Gradey Dick continue to pace Kansas’ scoring

Jayhawks redshirt junior forward Jalen Wilson and freshman guard Gradey Dick came into the game as the team’s two leading scorers, and left that way as well. Wilson went for a career-high 33 points. Dick finished with 18 points.

Wilson is answering the call to be more aggressive this season after the departures of talents like Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun to the professional ranks. Dick is hitting shots with the regularity many would have hoped and with which the reputation he entered college. As long as Kansas isn’t relying on the two of them alone — like it seemed to too often in this one although redshirt junior guard Dajuan Harris Jr. did finish with 14 points — it can be a team that regularly puts up a lot of points.

Previously:Jalen Wilson scores team-high 21 points, more takeaways from KU basketball's win against NDSU

MJ Rice returns to action

Jayhawks freshman guard MJ Rice returned to action Friday after missing a game earlier in the week against Duke with what was described as an illness. It was just his second appearance so far during this young season, as he also missed the season opener with what was described as a back injury.  And against Southern Utah he contributed a little bit, not much, in limited minutes.

Rice has the potential to be a key member of the rotation this season for Self and company as long as he can remain healthy and available. He may not be able to crack the starting lineup, but that doesn’t mean the minutes won’t be there for him. He came in with high expectations, given he’s a McDonald’s All-American, and for the most part when he’s played he’s lived up to that.

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: Norm Roberts leads KU basketball to 4-0 start as interim head coach