LAWRENCE
Kansas coach Bill Self has used all the motivational ploys before.
When his team has tied for a regular-season conference crown, he’s told his players that the Big 12 Tournament was the tiebreaker. When his team has won it outright, he’s talked about it being time to validate what had already occurred.
The coach admits it might be a little bit different this time as No. 1 KU prepares to play either Kansas State or Oklahoma State around 2 p.m. in Thursday’s quarterfinals at the Sprint Center.
With a 27-4 record, Big 12 championship and top rating in nearly every ranking system, the Jayhawks have all but assured themselves a No.