KJ Adams wasn’t 100% vs. Michigan State, Bill Self says: KU basketball injury update

Kansas senior men’s basketball forward KJ Adams, who played a team-leading 37 minutes in the Jayhawks’ thrilling victory over North Carolina on Friday night, was able to go just 27 minutes in KU’s 77-69 Champions Classic victory over Michigan State on Tuesday night in Atlanta.

Those 27 gritty minutes from Adams, who sprained his ankle against the Tar Heels, actually were more than coach Bill Self was counting on entering the contest.

“KJ hasn’t done anything since Friday because he turned his ankle and his rhythm was way off. We didn’t know if he’d play,” Self said of the 6-foot-7, 235-pound Austin, Texas native, who missed 6 of 7 floor shots but cashed 5 of 6 free throws, good for seven points with three rebounds and three blocks against the Spartans.

“He been out since Friday after the game. He shot today and said he was fine, but you could tell he wasn’t himself tonight,” Self added after Tuesday’s victory.

Self went with a lineup that at times included bigs Hunter Dickinson (28 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, 35 minutes) and Flory Bidunga (six points, one rebound, one block, 12 minutes) on the court at the same time.

“I actually thought since Michigan State played two bigs, we’d be better off playing those two together, and we did,” Self said. “We practiced it for 20 minutes one day, so we should be pretty adept at doing it, but I actually thought they did pretty well together.”

Shakeel Moore remains out of action

Meanwhile, senior guard Shakeel Moore, a transfer from Mississippi State who is coming off foot surgery in early September, made the trip to Atlanta with the team but did not suit up for the game. He’s missed KU’s two exhibition games and three regular-season outings.

“He’s not limited right now. He’s out,” Self said of Moore in a pregame interview with former KU guard Greg Gurley on the Jayhawk radio network. “He hasn’t practiced yet. I was hopeful he could practice this week and maybe be available in the next week or so. I’m not as optimistic. I really don’t know why other than the fact it just doesn’t quite feel right. Structurally, all the scans say it’s healed. … We need to get him out there.”

KU will next meet Oakland at 5 p.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.