2B = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
---
MEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
---
WEDNESDAY, NOV.7, 2001
DREWGOODEN
Forward not thinking about NBA for now
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Drew Gooden, power forward, returns this season as Kansas' leading rebounder and scorer. CBS Sportsline rated him the top power forward in the country.
By Ryan Malashock Kansan sportswriter
Drew Gooden is already getting sick of answering questions.
Gooden, the leading returning rebounder and scorer for the Kansas men's basketball team, has spent the beginning of most of his interviews this preseason dodging the one inevitable question.
Reporters will ask asking, hoping Gooden will back down and give them an answer, but he won't comply.
"I don't even want to think about leaving school early until after the season." Gooden said.
Hesaid heand coach Roy Williams would talk with his family and make a decision at the end of the season.
The Richmond, Calif., junior briefly considered leaving school early for the NBA draft last season, after
posting lofty numbers as a sophomore.
Year: Junior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-10
Hometown:
Richmond, Calif.
Favorite hobby:
Playing video games
Favorite TV Sports
personality: Dick
Vitale
Gooden averaged 15.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and started 20 of the lavahaws' 28 games.
But he said he just wasn't ready at the time.
"I think year by year I'm getting better," Gooden said. "But what I did last year, the stats I put up, especially in the Kansas program, those stats were good enough to go.
"But that's not what I'm looking at. I'm looking at me as a person and trying to improve as the years
go by."
Gooden spent the summer working on his physique. The 6-10 forward bulked up in the weight room, improving his strength and gaining weight.
Kansas coach Roy Williams will be able to use Gooden in several capacities. An athletic big man, Gooden can play anywhere from the small forward spot to center.
Kansas could have the biggest front court in the country this season when Gooden shifts to small forward and plays alongside junior Nick Collison, senior Jeff Carey or freshman Wayne Simien.
Gooden and Collison, both AllBig 12 selections last year by the media and coaches, will see action at the same time this season for the first time.
Last year, Williams rotated the starting power forward position between Gooden and Collison.
between Junior Kirk Hinrich said Gooden and Collison would help the team when they were on the floor together, because they were so familiar with each other's game.
"It's almost weird how they always know where the other one is." Hinrich said. "They see things real well and recognize things so they can play off each other well."
Rated as the top power forward in the country by CBS Sportsline, Gooden might not be able to ignore the allure of the NBA draft this year.
But that's the farthest thing from his mind in what could be his final season as a Jayhawk.
"We want to win," Gooden said. "We want to win the Big 12, we want to win the Big 12 tourney, and we want to go far in the tournament."
Contact Malashock at 864-4858
KIRK HINRICH
Point guard stronger, more versatile than ever
By Ryan Malashock
Kansan sportswriter
Kirk Hinrich tossed the basketball off the backboard, jumped and spun halfway in midair and slammed the ball reverse-style through the basket.
During pregame warm-ups at this year's annual Late Night with Roy Williams intra-squad scrimmage, the Kansas players and coaches nonchalantly continued their warm-ups.
Meanwhile, the packed Allen Fieldhouse crowd oohed-and-aahed at Hinrich's improved leaping ability.
Hinrich's dunking skills were just one sign of his physical improvement since last season.
“Kirk is stronger and more explosive right now that I've ever seen him,” said Kansas coach Roy Williams. “He was the best conditioned athlete coming into the preseason by far. He worked extremely hard this summer.”
passed, played defense—the list could go on. He was named second team All-Big 12 but was overshadowed by former Iowa State guard Imaal Tinsley.
The 6-foot-3 junior point guard scored, rebounded,
Williams said Hinrich had the most under-publicized season of any guard in the country last season.
Despite his success last year, Hinrich sensed a problem in his play in Kansas' NCAA-tournament loss to Illinois.
Hinrich was pushed around by the physical Fighting Illini team and decided that wouldn't happen to him this season. So this summer, while he was home in Sioux City, Iowa, his main focus was to strengthen his legs.
bumped around. That comes from strength in legs."
"To play basketball you have to run on your legs." Hinrich said. "You can't run on your arms. I found last year when I got in the lane and got in situations where I needed to make a play, whether to score or kick out or dump off. I found myself getting in there and getting
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Hinrich, primarily a point guard in his first two season $ ^{e} $
Kansas, may find himself playing a variety of roles.
Kirk Hinrich, junior point guard, led the team in assists, free throw percentage and steals last season. Coach Roy Williams may use him as a shooting guard and small forward this season.
three-guard lineup at times, and Hinrich will be called upon to play point guard, shooting
Year: Junior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-3
Hometown: Sioux City, Iowa
Favorite food: Nachos
Favorite NBA player: Gary Payto
He also led the team in assists, free throw percentage
Hinrich set a Kansas single-season record last year by converting 50.5 percent of his three-pointers.
guard and even small forward at times.
and steals. Hinrich is not interested in individual statistics, though.
"Me, Nick, and Drew have to lead by example this year."
Hinrich said. "I want to be a leader out on the floor."
Contact Malashock at 864-4858
Big freshman lives his dream
By Ryan Malashock
Kansan sportswriter
WAYNESIMIEN
Wayne Simien began attending Roy Williams' summer basketball camps when he was in the sixth grade. Growing up in Leavenworth, he always dreamed of playing for the Kansas basketball team.
Seven years after first stepping into Allen Fieldhouse, the freshman forward is getting ready to begin his career as a Jayhawk today.
Simien has wasted no time leaving an impression on his new teammates. Junior forward Drew Gooden said he couldn't believe how athletically and physically gifted the 6-foot-9, 250-pound Simien was when practice began.
practice began.
"The guy's like a brick wall trying to get around him in the post," Gooden said. "He's a power player. He'll do great once he learns the system and knows when to go and score."
Simien is looking to continue his physical domination at Kansas after beating up on his opponents in high school.
Year: Freshman
Position: Forward
Height: 6-9
Hometown:
Leavenworth
My nickname: Big
Dub
Favorite actor:
Samuel L. Jackson
Simien was named a McDonald's High School All-American his senior season at Leaven-
a senior season at 19.3 points and 10 rebounds worth and averaged 19.3 points and 10 rebounds per game. Near the end of his senior season, Simien suffered a dislocated shoulder and was unable to participate in the McDonald's game. He spent the spring and summer in rehabilitation, but Williams said Simien did not have any ill-effects from the injury.
"Wayne's been the most consistent out of the freshmen so far," Williams said. "His shoulder is back to full strength, and he's performed very well."
back to run strategy. Gooden, junior Nick Collison and senior Jeff Carey are the only frontcourt players returning that will be in the playing rotation this season.
This means the team will depend on Simien for quality minutes off the bench. His name has even been tossed around for the fifth starter spot if Williams wanted to go with a big lineup.
Contact Malashock at 864-4858
MICHAELLEE
By Ali Brox
Kansan sportswriter
Freshman prepares to step up intensity
Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams likes the ability and toughness of the freshmen class. He said they were used to winning and that they enjoyed
playing. Williams also said the freshmen had great character and would help the team defensively this year, especially freshman guard Michael Lee.
"He's a competitive kid, just like both kids from Jefferson are," Williams said referring to Lee's high school teammate Aaron Miles.
Lee averaged 19.7 points a game at Jefferson High School in Portland, Ore., and earned first-team All-State honors.
Williams said he expects some of the freshmen to play this year, but said that the freshmen would need a new intensity level and the biggest shock would be having to maintain it all season.
Junior forward Drew Gooden was impressed with the freshmen class too.
fear: Freshman
Position: Guard
Height: 6-3
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
best player ever faced: Damon Stoudamire
Favorite movie: Love and Basketball
the freshest class too.
"It's amazing how fast they're picking it up. It helps our team a lot," Gooden said.
Contact Brox at 864-485p
KU Apparel & Accessories
- Sweatshirts
- Hats
- Stickers
- Jewelry
- Stationary
- Flags
- Golf Balls
- Pencils/Pens
- T-Shirts
and so much more...
downtown 8th & Mass
843-1099
A