Kansas beats Pittsburg State 80-62 in exhibition opener

Kansas opened its exhibition season with an 80-62 win over Pittsburg State, giving fans an early look at several newcomers. Coach Bill Self said the Jayhawks played well during stretches but criticized their poor shooting and free-throw performance, and said he plans to reduce the rotation from 13 players to 10. Center Christian Reeves stood out in his Kansas debut, recording 14 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in 12 minutes; Self called him the team’s most effective player. Self is returning for his 34th season at Kansas after briefly considering retirement and is still recovering from knee-replacement surgery.