LAWRENCE — The workout is just a few minutes old when a scream halts play in the Kansas practice gym.
A scowl on his face and anger in his voice, Bill Self storms toward one of his players.
“Cheick,” he yells, “the least you can do is play hard!”
Cheick Diallo might only be a 19-year-old freshman forward, but that means nothing to Self. The Kansas coach is not going to let one of his best players slide.
The message immediately is received. On the next possession, Diallo outhustles a teammate for a defensive rebound, gets the ball to a guard, races down the floor, then catches a pass and finishes with a dunk in transition.