6C THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BASKETBALLPREVIEW
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2005
Sophomore players form backbone of team
Rylan Howe/KANSAN
KU sophomore basketball players C.J. Giles, left, and Sasha Kaun, right, pose for a picture during media day. The two sophomores return this year to a team with an uncertain future.
Jackson
RYAN COLAIANNI
- RYAN COLIAanni
rcolaiani@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The tattoo reads "Evon Jackson," on sophomore power forward Darnell Jackson's left bicep. It is a tribute to his grandmother who died this summer from injuries suffered in a car accident in Las Vegas.
Since his grandmother's death, Jackson said he was a changed person.
"It has been hard, but you have to carry on," Jackson said. "It changed the whole wav I look at life. every day."
When Jackson was little he was scared of dying he said. When his grandmother passed away that fear went away.
"He was dealt a hand that forced maturity in a lot of ways," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "In some ways, that has brought a new sense of focus than what he has had in past years."
Last month's Late Night in the Phog was difficult for Jackson, because last year his grandmother was in attendance.. Jackson is now dealing with the difficulties of not having his grandmother there to talk to and is approaching this season
differently.
"Last year I wasn't focused on my goals and what I had to do. Now I am more focused, "Jackson said.
Jackson's teammates helped him through his difficult time.
"We all really wanted to support Darnell after that," senior Christian Moody said. "I have lost grandparents. It is definitely a tough time."
Moody called Jackson and let him know that the team was thinking about him. Moody told Jackson to take his time and be sure that he was ready when he returned.
Moody said when Jackson returned after his grandmother died, he was a better basketball player.
"He definitely came back with a lot of determination," Moody said. "I think he had that all a long. Maybe he is playing for her."
Jackson spent much of the off season working with other big men, sophomores Sasha Kaun and C.J. Giles. Jackson said he had become a better player in the off season.
"My post moves more than anything," Jackson said of his improvements this off season. "I have caught on to the game. I had to slow my mind down because I was thinking too fast when I played."
Jackson looks to build on last season and said he thought he was much more comfortable about playing in the conference after last season.
"I'm a big believer that he has improved in all areas. Not that he was bad before, but he is certainly better now." Self said.
Jackson, along with Giles and Kaun will have to fill the inside presence that was lost when Wayne Simien graduated.
Jackson started playing basketball late, beginning in the ninth grade. His size at 6'8, 240 pounds, helps him establish position and get rebounds.
Freshman Matt Kleinmann, who faces Jackson every day in practice, has noticed Jackson's improvements.
"He has a body that can move anyone around but he has that little spin move here and there," Kleimann said. "He has really developed his inside and outside game."
The Oklahoma City sophomore averaged two points a game in 23 games of action last season.
DANIEL BERK
- DANIEL BERK
dberk@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Giles
C. J. Giles is only a sophomore, but for this year's basketball team that is good enough to be considered a veteran.
Giles is one of eight returning players from last year's squad that will join with five newcomers to try to replace the production lost by the eight players that either graduated or transferred last season.
Giles will be counted on by both teammates
Giles
and coaches to be a leader on the court and provide an example for the younger players off the court.
"This year, without the four seniors, I just have to step up a lot more." Giles said. "I am more of an action leader then a vocal leader, but either way I just have to do what I am suppose to do."
Giles showed signs of brilliance last season as a freshman including playing 17 minutes and scoring 10 points at Kentucky in front of a rowdy crowd.
Giles said playing in front of hostile environments was one of the biggest changes for him last season adjusting from high school. He said he realized how crazy fans could get when Kansas hosted Georgia Tech last season on New Year's Dav.
"You haven't experienced anything until you experience the fieldhouse," Giles said. "Last year, I was kind of nervous the first couple of games. But this year it will be easier for me. I know what to expect more this year."
Last season, besides struggling with the adjustment to big time college basketball, Giles also struggled with a leg injury that kept him out of various games.
The sophomore from Seattle, again had problems with an injury this summer. Giles was one of 21 players invited to the 2005 USA Basketball Men's Under 21 National Team trials, but was injured on the first day of trial practices and had to sit out the remainder of tryouts.
Giles said even though it was frustrating to get the injury, the experience was positive.
"I gained a lot of confidence during that first day," Giles said. "Just to know I am able to compete with those guys makes me know I will be able to compete this year and do a lot better than last year."
Kansas coach Bill Self said Giles and fellow sophomore Sasha Kaun are probably the two most-improved players from last year to this year so far.
— Edited by Patrick Ross
Self said getting production out of those two would be important for this year's team success.
"These two guys have been our two most consistent performers so far," Self said. "They have to get the confidence to lead and have the team depend on them. They have to know that they can carry a team during stretches of games."
Giles, Kaun and Darnell Jackson, another sophomore, try to help each other on and off the court to become more confident players. Kaun said it was important that the three of them had each other to lean on for support.
"We have to rely on each other for success," Kaun said. "We have to communicate with each other and help the other guys out and tell them where to be on the floor."
One thing the three will have to adjust to is not having Wayne Simien on the team. Simien graduated last season and was drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft.
"The biggest thing Wayne taught me was to be humble," Giles said. "He also taught me to be patient on and off the court. Last season, I rushed with everything."
Giles said that it was good for him to be able to practice against Simien last season and that Simien taught him a lot.
With a season under his belt now, Giles said he knew the pressure was on him to have a big season and he said he thought he would be a different player than last year.
Giles has added 15 pounds in the offseason and said he would be more aggressive rebounding and more open to listening to the coaches.
"Last year, I was just a wet-nosed freshman," Giles said. "I was thinking I knew everything already. But now that I have been through the system for a year, I know what Coach Self is trying to teach us and I am listening to everything."
— Edited by Patrick Ross
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