LAWRENCE — Read between the lines, and Bill Self appears to still be trying to send a message to his young players.

Following Monday’s 87-60 victory over Rider, the Kansas coach became philosophical a few times in the postgame press conference.

One particular point of frustration came when asked about his starting lineup, which included two new players in Svi Mykhailiuk and Landen Lucas.

"I’d like to see us settle in on a starting five, but I have a hard time starting guys who are late to tutoring," Self said. "I can’t do it, and that’s kind of where that is right now. Hopefully we’ll tighten some things up because if we let them go now, I know it’s going to be something that will haunt us later because we’ve got to eliminate those things. We’ve got to become more responsible as a group."

Self also shared that he isn’t happy with his players’ mindset. Though he didn’t call out players by name, he hinted that many guys were more interested in themselves than the team.

"Over the 12 years or 11 years prior to this when we won some big games, guys get the stat sheet and the first thing they look at is, ‘OK, my guy had 13 (points) and he only had four at half?’ That’s the first thing they look at as opposed to, ‘What did I do?’ and that'’ the mindset we’ve got to get if we’re going to be a really good team," Self said. "I don’t feel that yet. I don’t feel guys sitting around talking about, ‘Hey, yeah, when you do this — hey, if we switch this, this will work better.’ I don’t see us thinking like that.

"I see us just going out there and having fun and just doing our deal and not paying attention to what really gives your team the best chance to win."

Based on playing time alone, it stands to reason that Self remains disappointed in talented freshmen Kelly Oubre and Cliff Alexander.

The two players — both ranked in the top six in Rivals’ recruiting rankings last year — have averaged just 11 and 15 minutes respectively through KU’s first three games.

"You know, the most talented guys don’t give your team the best chance to win. The guys that play the best together give your team the best chance to win," Self said. "We’ve got a lot of talented guys I feel that if we can just buy in and if we can just hunker down a few things, tighten a few things up, I think this could be a really fun team to watch and coach. But everybody has got to be on the same page, so that’s the thing that’s — and I do think this, and I’m rambling now — but if you’re playing less than 20 minutes a game and you’re a young kid, don’t you make the most of every minute you’re out there and play it like it should be played?

"And I don’t think that we did that (Monday). I think we definitely took the foot off the gas."

For now, the tug-of-war continues. Self wants his guys to play a certain way. And if they don’t, those players will continue to see reduced playing time.

Self was asked if it was difficult for young players to understand that he wasn’t going to change his ways.

"I think it’s really difficult for guys to understand that. I think it’s difficult for guys that have been here two or three years to understand that, too, because the whole thing is to me there’s a right and a wrong way to play every possession regardless if the ball goes in or not," Self said. " ... Some of the most frustrating things to me is people equate playing well to actually scoring points, and to me that’s the most ridiculous thing ever."

Self also gave instances of his team not having high basketball IQ against Rider. One example was the scouting report against 7-foot center Matt Lopez, who was best scoring over his left shoulder.

His first three baskets against KU came from his turning to his left.

"To me it’s just as important to play without the ball as it is with the ball, and maybe more so, and I don't think everybody totally understands that yet," Self said. "We’ll get there, but we’re just really young right now in that line of thinking."