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Wayne Selden to be given more freedom to attack the rim as Kansas retools offense

Denny Medley / Reuters

Kansas sophomore Wayne Selden will be afforded more freedom to attack the rim this upcoming season, as the Jayhawks' coaching staff seeks to re-energize the team's sluggish offense following another early exit in the NCAA Tournament.

"I think it'll just free Wayne up," assistant coach Kurtis Townsend said of the move, according to Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star. "Where he doesn't have to handle some of the so-called ball handling duties. He'll just be able to attack the rim and go score and play with more of a free mind."

Head coach Bill Self and his staff zoned in on the 6-foot-5, 230-pound guard in postseason discussions following the highly touted Jayhawks' third-round loss to Wichita State.

Seeing Selden as a potential standout wing who had regressed last season, the coaching staff decided that pushing smaller guards Frank Mason and Devonte Graham to the backcourt could make the offense more dynamic and dangerous.

Selden would then be free to be his imposing self, without being saddled with the responsibilities of being the team's secondary ballhandler – a role he assumed in his first two years with the Jayhawks.

"My biggest thing is trying to use my body more this year," said Selden, who averaged 17.5 points on 11-of-21 shooting at his new spot in two exhibition victories over Canada last week.


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