Kansas Team Report

GETTING INSIDE

The last thing Kansas was needed was an off-season distraction. Being ranked No. 1 in practically every preseason poll is enough pressure, but the kind expected for the Jayhawks.

However, a series of campus altercations with the Kansas football team—ranked in the top 20 on its own merits—drew considerable attention and brought embarrassment to the respective teams and the school.

Tyshawn Taylor, a starting guard last season as a freshman, dislocated his left thumb in one scuffle.

No arrests of any athletes were made in connection with the incidents, which culminated on a September morning on campus with several basketball players hiding their faces from a camera as they boarded a van athletic department officials brought to pick them up.

Not long after those episodes, guard Brady Morningstar, a starter for all but one game last season, was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was suspended for the first semester by Kansas coach Bill Self, who has not bothered hiding his irritation with off-court problems.

“I have a hard time not taking this personally,” Self said. “It’s a big reflection on me and our program. We worked hard for a lot of years so that, even when we didn’t play well, people thought we conducted ourselves right. I’m very disappointed that the actions of a few negate the efforts of many over time. It’s very disappointing to me.”

In response to the fighting with the football team—reasons concerning the differences have only been speculated—Self ordered the Jayhawks go through a tough boot camp routine of workouts days ahead of schedule. The conditioning led into the start of practice.

An investigation into the fighting is ongoing and being conducted by campus police. It’s conceivable, however, that the issue will become a non-factor, but only if the Jayhawks do not dwell on it themselves.

Expect that to happen as long as feisty senior point guard Sherron Collins takes command of the squad as expected. Collins willed the Jayhawks to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season after they captured their fifth consecutive Big 12 title.

Kansas, which finished 27-8 overall and 14-2 in the conference, also returns perhaps the best pure center in the land, 6-11 junior Cole Aldrich.

All five starters return, and the suspension of Morningstar was not considered much of a blow since highly-touted freshman Xavier Henry was expected to take over anyway at the wing.

Henry is an athletic scorer the Jayhawks missed last season following a jump by Brandon Rush into the NBA.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Already considered one of the best venues for college basketball, Allen Fieldhouse received a makeover during the off-season. Improvements include renovated bathrooms and concession stands, wider concourses, expanded locker rooms and an alumni lounge. A new practice gym was also constructed. The facility opened in 1955, but seats 16,300, the second largest capacity in the Big 12 behind the Erwin Center at Texas.

• Conditioning workouts prior to the start of practice went so well that Kansas coach Bill Self called off the final day of what is labeled his “boot camp.” Each of the players made the sprint times they were told to achieve. For the first time since he arrived at Kansas, junior G Tyrel Reed lost a sprint at the camp. He was nipped by G Tyshawn Taylor.

• Former Kansas coach Ted Owens was inducted in recent months into both the Kansas and Oklahoma sports halls of fame.

Last Year:   27-8 overall, 14-2 in the Big 12; lost in regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

Head Coach:   Bill Self (career 376-145); seventh year at Kansas (169-40).

Quote To Note:   “If we handle our business the way we should from this point forward, this will not be as big an issue. I’m not saying people will forget, but they will be rejuvenated.”—Kansas coach Bill Self on the campus altercations with the football team, as well as an arrest that led to the first-semester suspension of G Brady Morningstar.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   The spring signing period turned into a circus after G Xavier Henry was released from the letter of intent he signed with Memphis, then chose Kansas. Henry is an athletic wing he could potentially give the Jayhawks an explosive force from that spot, which they lacked a year ago. Although five starters return, as well as several key reserves, opportunities could exist for newcomers. G Elijah Johnson is a superb athlete, while F Thomas Robinson could provide more strength on the glass.

Key Early-season Games:   Of any team in the country, Kansas should be ready to take on a tough opponent early. The Jayhawks will do exactly that when they play their second game against Memphis as part of a doubleheader in St. Louis. Trips to UCLA, Temple and Tennessee also highlight the nonconference schedule, with games against Michigan and California the most attractive home dates. It will be a difficult, but proper tuneup for a team predicted to contend for the national title.

Program Direction:   Although off-court incidents this fall gave the basketball program and the university a black eye, Kansas is in good hands under Bill Self. The congenial coach is a convincing recruiter who’s then capable of teaching standout players team concepts. He was rewarded with a handsome raise that bumped his annual salary into the $3-million range after guiding the Jayhawks to the national title in 2008, but the money is well spent. Self is one of the best to coach at the college level. The one concern for Kansas is any interest the coach might have jumping to the NBA.

Probable Starting Lineup:   F Marcus Morris, C Cole Aldrich, G Xavier Henry, G Tyshawn Taylor, G Sherron Collins.

Roster Report:  

• G Tyshawn Taylor is not expected to miss much, if any practice because of the disclocated left thumb he suffered in a Sept. 22 campus altercation that also involved members of the Kansas football team. He was withheld from full contact in workouts following the incident.

• F Markieff Morris was involved in a two-car wreck on Sept. 13 while driving a car belonging to G Tyshawn Taylor. A report surfaced that the car was registered to former Jayhawk Scot Pollard, which would have constituted a potential rules infraction. Pollard, however, sold the car to Taylor. Documents pertaining to the sale were filed with the Kansas compliance office.

• F Jeff Withey missed the end of conditioning workouts because of an illness.