4B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
WEDNESDAY,NOV.7,2001
Always CocaCola
ANOTHER PROUD KU TRADITION
1945. Students at a famous College hangout enjoy a Coke and lively conversation.
1952. Kansas Union Ballroom. Students gather to watch the Jayhawks win the National Championship.
1952. Clyde Lovellette outmaneuvers St. John defenders in the Championship game.
1952. Students gather on campus in glorious celebration.
1952. Late into the night students celebrate the Jayhawk Victory.
JEFFCAREY
Senior's extra year of experience to earn him more time on floor
Redshirt senior Jeff Carey will be relied upon this year for his leadership and experience.
By Ryan Malashock Kansan sportswriter
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Jeff Carey doesn't stay out late partying anymore. He can't race up and down the basketball court like he used to. Take it easy on him; he's getting old.
Carey took a redshirt his freshman year at Kansas and is in his fifth season as a Jayhawk. He admitted that he just didn't have the energy anymore.
"I see all these freshmen here now, staying up late and hanging out," Carey said. "I just can't do that like I used to."
The 22-year-old Carey will finally get his chance to contribute this season after being a role player in the past. Carey averaged eight minutes per game last season but showed his talents during a five-game stretch when junior Drew Gooden was injured. In those games, Carey scored 4 points per game and averaged 18 minutes, proving he belonged on the floor.
With juniors Nick Collison and Drew Gooden and freshman Wayne Simien being the only other frontcourt
players this season. Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams will seek more quality minutes from Carey. His minutes should
increase, but his role should stay the same.
"He'll get more time this year," Williams said of Carey. "He's so fundamentally sound and does
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-10.
Hometown:
Camdenton,Mo.
Favorite actor:
Burt Reynolds
Favorite hobby:
Hunting
all the little things right. He might not be able to score as well as Nick or Drew, but he plays great defense and plays so hard."
Williams said the freshmen could look at Carey's work ethic on and off the court as an example of how to succeed. Carey graduated last year and is working toward his master's degree in business. He plans to finish graduate school next August.
Contact Malashock 864:
4858
KEITH LANGFORD
Freshman exceeds expectations will help backcourt rebounding
By Ryan Malashock
Kansan sportswriter
Freshmen don't always meet Roy Williams' initial expectations. But that's not the case with Keith Langford.
Williams said Langford had been the biggest surprise in this year's freshman class.
"A lot of times you get recruits who are not quite as good as you think they are," the Kansas men's basketball coach said. "I think Keith's turned out to be a little better than I thought he was."
Williams is fortunate to even have Langford at Kansas. The 6-foot-4 guard/forward from Fort Worth, Texas, initially committed to the
University of Mississippi during the recruiting process. Luckily for Kansas, Langford backed out of his commitment and considered other schools. Kansas beat Oklahoma and Cincinnati in the recruiting battle for Langford.
Current players and Williams have compared Langford with former Jajawk swingman Kenny Gregory. The comparisons come from Langford's leaping ability and his tendency to take the ball to the basket.
"He gives us a little ability we haven't had to the extent that he has the ability to take the ball to the basket and make plays," Williams said. "I
see him the way Kenny could take it to the basket and make plays himself."
Langford burst onto the national scene before the school year began. Langford was named co-MVP of the Global Games in Dallas while playing for the bronze-medal-winning Team USA/Team Texas this summer.
Langford will be competing with a number of players for the fifth startling position. Williams said Langford would assist the team's back-court rebounding.
"The biggest key to me when we have a three-guard lineup is getting those guys to board," Williams said. "Keith does it more naturally than the other guys playing the three spot."
Year: Freshman
Position:
Guard/Forward
Height: 6-4,
Hometown:
Fort Worth, Texas
Favorite food:
Spaghetti
Favorite hobby:
PlayStation 2
Contact Malashock at 864-4858.
AARON MILES
Newcomer has Miles to go in career
By Ali Brox Kansan sportswriter
Although he has yet to play his first game as a Jayhawk, some fans are already comparing freshman point guard Aaron Miles to former Jayhawk and NBA player Jacque Vaughn.
However, Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams said the situation with Miles was a little different than with Vaughn. When Vaughn came to Kansas there was no returning point guard, but junior Kirk Hinrich is still in the starting spot. Williams also said he expected Miles to be even better than Vaughn
Miles averaged 20 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals as a senior at Jefferson High in Portland, Ore. He was also named a McDonald's High School All-American, a Parade All-American, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Oregon, and he received the Morgan Wooten Award as the National Player of the Year in academics and athletics.
in time.
"If you asked Aaron he'd say it's good he has Kirk with him," Williams said.
Williams said that Miles was a leader in high school but that it would be hard to ask a freshman to step in and
be a leader immediately.
"I tell the freshmen to imagine the most intense high school game they ever played in and every day in practice at Kansas is 10 times more intense than that," Williams said.
Junior forward Drew Gooden said he had been impressed with the freshmen so far.
"It is almost amazing how fast some are picking up our defensive calls and offensive plays," Gooden said.
Williams said he believed that Miles could have comparisons to Vaughn by the end of his career, but
Year: Freshman
Position: Guard
Height: 6-1,
Hometown:
Portland, Ore.
Favorite actor:
Chris Tucker
Favorite NBA player:
Terrell Brandon
that Miles still has his whole career ahead of him.
Contact Brox at 864-4858
BIG 12 CONFERENCE MEDIA PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Kansas
2. Missouri
3. Oklahoma State
6. Iowa State
7. Colorado
5. Texas
'6. Iowa State
5. Texas
4. Oklahoma
7. Colorado
9. Texas Tech
10. Kansas Stat
11. Nebraska
8. Baylor
10. Kansas State
1
11. Nebraska
12. Texas A&M
.