Kansas coach Bill Self has a method for choosing who will be in his starting lineup.

He isn’t drawing straws or holding a round of musical chairs at the end of practice. But even if he was, Self said it shouldn’t matter.

“I think people make way too big a deal out of that,” Self said. “I don’t think it makes one difference who starts.”

Four of the five starting spots for the Jayhawks appear to be filled. Junior guard Sherron Collins, sophomore center Cole Aldrich and sophomore guard Brady Morningstar have started in all 18 games and freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor has started in the past 17 in a row.

The fifth starter, however, has changed frequently. Self has used five players — freshman forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris each seven times, junior guard Mario Little twice and freshman forward Quintrell Thomas and senior forward Matt Kleinmann each once — as the starting power forward this season.

Lately, it’s turned into a guessing game and will be once again leading up to Saturday’s 1 p.m. game against Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum.

Three games ago, Markieff made his sixth start in a row. Mario Little took over for the Jayhawks’ first two conference games against Kansas State and Colorado. In Monday’s 73-53 victory against Texas A&M, Self inserted Marcus into the lineup.

“He just feels whoever is playing better in practice that day or during the games,” Morningstar said. “He’ll give them the starting role.”

Ah, so maybe Self cares a little more about the starting lineup than he leads on. He just doesn’t care for the scrutiny that surrounds the decision.

Scrutiny that Self says is specific to Kansas. He can’t remember it ever being an issue during his stint as the coach at Illinois.

“The Big 10 Player of the Year at Illinois, Frank Williams, I didn’t start him five or six times,” Self said. “It was never talked about. Why didn’t you start him? Didn’t want to. End of discussion. Here, it’s news.”

And Self never announces any changes before a game. He has, however, offered a few hints about who will hold the power forward spot in the near future.

Self said it was better for the team if the 6-foot-8 Markieff Morris came off the bench because he was the second-tallest rotation player. This way, Self doesn’t have to worry as much about Markieff getting into early foul trouble and leaving Aldrich vulnerable.

For the time being, it looks as though Little or Marcus will hear his name announced over the PA system. Neither of them have a strong preference on starting or relieving.

“If I don’t start, I don’t care,” Marcus said. “I just want to play. I want to be on the team. I want to contribute to the team.”

Little said he enjoyed starting but was still getting back to full speed and learning Kansas’ systems after missing two months with a stress fracture in his lower left leg and a broken left hand.

Perhaps Self’s attitude has rubbed off on his players. He wouldn’t want players who are too concerned with starting, anyway.

“If it deflates them, we probably aren’t going to win with them anyway,” Self said. “It means nothing to me who starts.”

— — Edited by Liz Schubauer