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KANSAN.COM
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
Students throw newspaper confetti into the air as Kansas players are introduced before a game on Nov. 3, 2014.
What to expect from the first exhibition game
SCOTT CHASEN
@SChasenKU
On paper, it wouldn't seem like the Jayhawks' exhibition opener would be that big of a deal. Normally this would mark one of the first few chances to check out the team, but this year, that really isn't the case.
The Jayhawks already played exhibition contests in Kansas City over the summer and competed at the World University Games in South Korea, where fans for the first time got to see the freshmen play.
This isn't really the start to basketball season either.
On Oct. 9, Late Night in the Phog kicked off the men's and women's basketball seasons, as fans were able to watch both teams scrimmage in addition to a host of other festivities.
On paper, this game means next to nothing. However, when it comes to Kansas basketball, that's virtually never the case.
For students, the first basketball lottery of the year was Friday. Many woke up at 5 or 5:30 in the morning and drudged their way into Allen Fieldhouse in order to have a chance at having good seats for the first exhibition game.
And with the players, it's a big deal too. Even something
as simple as walking into the locker room on gameday can instantly invoke feelings of bliss.
"It's a good feeling once you get to put the jerseys on. Everybody's happy. We going into the locker room, see the jerseys hanging up, we're like, 'oh man,'" said Kansas point guard Devonte' Graham.
 "[We're] taking photos, pictures, laughing, Snapchat — all that kind of stuff.
"Everybody's ready [to] start up."
Depending on who you ask, there are several different phrases that players and coaches use to refer to the actual games.
Assistant Coach Jerrance Howard has been known to run into a gym during the first few weeks of the year and yell, "The season is here," while junior wing Brannen Greene used the phrase, "When the popcorn's popping" last year to describe the difference between practicing for games and playing in Allen Fieldhouse.
And those things don't change even with the drop-off in opponent.
The first exhibition game serves a few purposes. It gets the jitters out. It lets the coaches see how the team is coming together in a non-practice environment. It gives the fans a
What it won't do is test the Jayhawks.
chance to get excited about everything that's going on.
In the 2013-14 season, the Jayhawks beat the Gorillas by 40, winning 97-57. In the 2011-12 season they won by 29; 84-55; they won by 58 in 2009 and 35 in 2007.
To be blunt, the level of competition won't be at all up to par with what the Jayhawks will see this year, both in and out of Big 12 play. The first exhibition game against Pittsburg State is probably going to be a blowout.
In fact, looking at Bill Self's entire tenure in Lawrence, the closest margin of victory for
Kansas over Pittsburg State was a 26-point-win back in 2005.
However, like any college team in the country, the layhawks will not only look to win they'll look to win big. And that carries over into the regular season, conference play and even the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments.
"We could just be sitting around and somebody will say, 'We gotta win this year,' junior guard Wayne Selden Jr. said at Kansas Men's Basketball Media Day. "We just want to demolish whoever is in front of us."
- Edited by Derek Skillett
Cheick Diallo is playing catchup to start the 2015 season
SCOTT CHASEN
@SChasenKU
Over the summer, the Kansas men's basketball team had a chance to grow and mature, participating in the World University Games in South Korea. Freshmen got invaluable experience before the season even started, while the veterans continued to strengthen the team chemistry and gain extra tournament-style experience.
A few players weren't with the team for various reasons; in a couple of cases it was due to injury, and Sviatoslav Mykhaliuk was unable to play because of his nationality. However, for all those players, the summer focus was still primarily on basketball.
the summer at KU, hoping to become eligible. And while that ruling still is yet to be made by the NCAA, he was finally cleared on Oct. 1 to practice for the first time.
However, it hasn't been a cakewalk for Diallo. He has had to make up a ton of lost ground in a short amount of time, which for any player would be difficult, let alone a player with less basketball experience.
For Cheick Diallo, that was not at all the case. He was focused on being a student.
Diallo, who had previously enrolled at Our Savior New American School in Centerreach, N.Y., took classes over
“[During boot camp] he wasn't out there running with us. He was still running on his own,” said Kansas point guard Devonte' Graham said. “But it's different once you get out on the court with us. He was real tired and real gassed.”
Jr., there's a difference between hustling in a college environment compared with high school games and All-Star festivities.
However, as was pointed out by junior guard Wayne Selden
"Going all out in high school and going all out in college are two different things," Selden said. "He still has to get older and just has to transition into [playing at the college level]."
Diallo, who is known as one of the better high-energy players in the freshman class, received MVP honors at both the McDonald's All-American game and the Jordan Brand Classic.
Sheick Diallo speaks to the media in Allen Fieldhouse on Oct. 1.
"But he works hard. That's what I like about him."
CONTRIBUTED BY EVAN PFLUGRADT
Oct. 1
And that's where Diallo is on the same page with everyone, including his coaches.
At Kansas Men's Basketball Media Day, Diallo said that one of the reasons he chose to play at Kansas was because of how he felt the coaches could develop his game. Even though it hasn't been a seamless transition, the staff has made it apparent that he's trying to get it all figured out.
"He doesn't know how to play yet, [but] he'll give us things from an intangible standpoint," said coach Bill Self. "He'll change the culture
of practice because he'll play so hard.
His teammates agree
"I think his personality
brings a lot. Everything about him does — he's a great kid," said junior Landen Lucas. "It only pushes everybody, having
him out there.
"It's great to have him back."
- Edited by Derek Skillett
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