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Selby unlikely to be in Kansas’ starting lineup vs. USC

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Bill Self isn’t too high on how Kansas is playing right now, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to shake up the starting lineup just yet. Even with prize freshman Josh Selby waiting in the wings.

The 6-3 point guard is set to make his college debut this Saturday against USC, but it’ll probably be off the bench. Not because Selby’s slacking, but because the other guys have earned their starting spots.

“He’s getting all the reps with the first group now,” Self during Monday’s Big 12 coaches teleconference, per the Lawrence Journal-World. “I don’t think I’m going to start him, even though I don’t have a made-decision positively. But I don’t think I will (start Selby), because he has to beat somebody out. He needs to perform well in the games, not just practice, but he’s going to give us some scoring punch. …

“We are certainly excited about it. I know he’s excited. I think expectations should be tempered somewhat, not from a talent standpoint, just from the role we’ll have him play. He will be one of five. He will not be ‘the guy’ just like we won’t have ‘the guy’ this year. We haven’t really had ‘the guy’ when we’ve had our best teams here.”

Give it a few games, though. Selby’s too good not to start. He’s a natural point guard who can create for others or create his own shot, much like Sherron Collins did the last two seasons.

When Selby does start, Self said it’ll likely be alongside junior Tyshawn Taylor, whose assist-to-turnover ratio deserves attention and respect. Still, even Self says Selby will play the point eventually. (Say, by Dec. 29 at home against UT Arlington. Ease into it.)

He’s just not going to force it.

Want more? I’m also on Twitter @BeyndArcMMiller.