RCW: Welcome to Boot Camp

For two weeks prior to Late Night in the Phog, KU basketball coach Bill Self becomes drill sergeant by putting the men’s basketball team through 60 minutes of intense, non-stop conditioning drills early each morning. The mettle of even the fittest players is tested, but the results leave the team bonded and steeled in the pursuit of their 13th consecutive Big 12 Conference title and a National Championship. 

Assistant coach Kurtis Townsend greeted the players at 6:20 on the morning of Wednesday, September 21, as the team stretched in the practice gym before beginning an hour of intense conditioning drills.

Photo by Jeff Jacobsen

Players continued their warmup by jumping rope in a series of intervals with only a short rest after each round.

Photo by Jeff Jacobsen

Senior Landen Lucas and teammates moved quickly through each drill designed to mimic play on the court.

Photo by Jeff Jacobsen

Foot speed was honed as junior Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk shuffled in a triangle pattern around a portion of the court with sharp changes of direction.

Photo by Jeff Jacobsen

Coach Bill Self watched his son, senior Tyler Self, defend junior Devonte’ Graham.

Photo by Jeff Jacobsen

By the end of the third intense Boot Camp session, senior Tyler Self gathered himself before heading to the locker room.

Photo by Jeff Jacobsen

Even as junior Dwight Coleby recovered on the court, managers already were mopping up the sweat that drenched the court after each drill.

Photo by Jeff Jacobsen

To cap the morning workout, sprints back and forth across the court had to be finished in a set time by every player or another round was required.

Photo by Jeff Jacobsen

Freshman Josh Jackson, who led the team throughout each sprint, relaxed after completing another day of his first Boot Camp.

Photo by Jeff Jacobsen