What Kansas Jayhawks Head Coach Bill Self Thought of Tre White's Career Night

Tre White delivered the best scoring performance of his Kansas career against Kentucky, finishing with 30 points. Following the victory, Bill Self discussed White's performance, his NBA aspirations and why the senior guard has plenty left to prove.

Tre White gave Kansas fans a performance to remember Tuesday night, and head coach Bill Self believes the fifth-year senior is just getting started.

White scored a career-high 30 points to lead No. 15 Kansas to an impressive 89-69 victory over No. 24 Kentucky in the Champions Classic at the United Center in Chicago. The veteran guard was nearly unstoppable offensively, shooting 11-of-16 from the field and knocking down four three-pointers.

Following the victory, Self was asked about White's performance and what he thought of his senior guard's offensive production.

"I thought he was great, obviously," Self said.

However, Self also acknowledged that not every shot White made was necessarily an easy one. He specifically referenced a difficult corner three-pointer White knocked down with a defender closing in on him.

Self joked that the shot involved some good fortune, but that did not take away from what White accomplished throughout the evening.

The Kansas head coach also made an interesting comment about White's motivation heading into this season, particularly when it comes to his professional basketball aspirations.

"He needs to prove that he's better than what he showed them (NBA teams) last year, and so he's off to a good start," Self said.

That statement adds another layer to White's impressive beginning to the season. After spending time at multiple programs throughout his college career, White has an opportunity to showcase his development and prove that he belongs in the conversation for the next level.

Through Kansas' first three games, White has established himself as one of the Jayhawks' most important offensive weapons. His scoring ability and experience have provided valuable production as Kansas continues to incorporate its new players into the rotation.

White's performance against Kentucky was especially important with Melvin Council Jr. unavailable after suffering a broken bone in his foot during practice.

Rather than allowing Council's absence to become a problem, White stepped up offensively and helped Kansas maintain control against one of college basketball's most recognizable programs.

The Jayhawks also received 23 points and 10 rebounds from freshman Tyran Stokes, while Trey Kaufman-Renn contributed 12 points.

Kansas improved to 3-0 with the victory, giving the team another early-season statement against a nationally recognized opponent.

Self's comments make it clear that he believes White has more to show this season. While the 30-point performance was a career night, the Kansas coach sees an opportunity for his senior guard to demonstrate that he is an even better player than NBA teams may have believed last year.

For White, Tuesday night was another opportunity to make that statement. JayhawksRoundtable.