Bill Self on Kansas' defense: 'There’s times that we can’t guard our shadow'

Bill Self is a legendary college basketball head coach, and if there's anyone who can get the Kansas Jayhawks right, it would be him.

The issue is, in his estimation, the Jayhawks lack the type of consistency to be a dominant team. That's not to say that they can't be there eventually and it's worth noting that even with these ups and downs they are 16-7 and ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll.

A big win against then-No. 8 Iowa State was just followed up this past weekend with a tough 81-73 loss to unranked Kansas State, though. For Self, what it comes down to is energy, or a lack thereof from his team.

"It's been very difficult for us, for whatever reason, to string games of superb energy back-to-back or ever consistently at all,” Self told the media after the loss to K-State (h/t On3).

“I mean, you guys have seen us,” he continued. “There are times, against elite teams? We can lock anybody down. And there’s times that we can’t guard our shadow.”

That's a scary trend for Kansas heading into March Madness because a lack of consistency will doom an otherwise talented team in a one-and-done setting. Kansas 

Kansas does have a chance to build some momentum back, though, and make an opponent play up to its standard rather than the other way around. Up next is 9-14 Colorado on Tuesday night, and the Buffaloes are riding a 12-game losing streak — all against Big 12 opponents.