4B = THEUNIVERSITYDAILYKANSAN
SPORTS
MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2002
Jayhawks ranked No.2 in first preseason poll
With three months until the first tip-off of the 2002-2003 basketball season, the Kansas men's team already has begun to tally the preseason awards.
After a postseason run to the NCAA Final Four last season, ESPN and FOX Sports have both picked the Jayhawks No. 2 in the first poll. Arizona, ranked No. 1, will make a trip to Lawrence in the fall and try to get revenge for its 105-97 loss to the Jayhawks last season in Tucson.
Top returnees Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison, who both chose to remain at Kansas for their senior campaigns, will quickly get accustomed to hearing their names together this season.
These two seniors are among 50 collegiate players named as early preseason candidates for the Wooden Award.
Frank Burlison of FOX Sports says that Hinrich is his "oh-so-very early choice as the 2003 John R. Wooden Award winner."
Hirrich and Collison are also among 10 collegiate players who were named 2002-03 Playboy Presseason All-Americans. The two semi-
iors spent a week in July attending photo shoots, clinics and a banquet in Chicago. The November issue of Playboy will feature the pair with the rest of the team, which includes fellow Big 12 Conference players T.J. Ford of Texas and Hollis Price of Oklahoma.
Eric Chenowith was the last Jayhawk to earn that honor, prior to the 1999-00 season.
Kansas' two superstars also travel to California in early August to help with the prestigious Michael Jordan basketball camp.
The summer allowed little relaxation time for the remainder of the Jayhawls as well.
Sophomore Keith Langford competed on the NIT All-Stars team in Canada.
He joined Collison and sophomores Aaron Miles and Wayne Simien at the Nike All-American camp in Indianapolis.
Collison will continue to play after the beginning of the semester, as he is an alternate on the 2002 USA World Championship team competing Aug. 29- Sept. 8 in Indianapolis.
Junior Bryant Nash, who will
switch jersey numbers from 15 to 33 this season, was Scandinavian-bound early in August as a member of the Bif 12 All-Stars team.
The layhawks will need to use their summer preparations to survive this season's grueling schedule.
In addition to home games against heavyweights Arizona and UCLA, Kansas will face Oregon, Tulsa and California on the road.
But first, Kansas will compete in the Preseason NIT Tournament in November.
Note
Wyoming has been added to the team's schedule, according to esnn.com.
The Cowboys will visit the Jayhawks on Jan. 15, which will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Wyoming, was 22-9 overall, last season, winning the Mountain West Conference with an 11-3 record and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Jessica Scott. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
South Carolina gears up, coach says he's confident in new players
By J. Keith Allen
The Gamecock via U-Wire
University of South Carolina
Kansan file photo
COLUMBIA, S.C. — After leading the South Carolina men's basketball team through the longest season in school history (37 games), head coach Dave Odom is on the eve of assembling the squad for his second season in Columbia.
Odon spoke about his returning players, new signees and the benefits of last season's postseason appearance in a SEC summer teleconference call Thursday.
Kansas sophomore Wayne Simien is expected to help lead the Jayhawks this season. ESPN and Fox Sports have both ranked Kansas No 2 in preseason polls.
Odom sensed a change in his team as it makes off-season preparations for the 2002-2003 campaign. "The difference this year is the players' attitudes," said Odom. "We did not have to search them out and encourage them this season, and our run to the NIT finals helped."
"They tasted it and wanted more, they made themselves available to the strength coach and played a lot of
After losing to Memphis in the NIT finals in March. Odum believed the team is using the defeat as offseason motivation.
pickup ball." Odom added." Plus, our players have worked on their skills as well. Last year at this time, it was more difficult for the players to see why these types of things are necessary."
Odom feels confident about his returning players and is especially buoyed by the late season heroes of Tony Kitchings and Rolando Howell. Kitchings has kept in shape over the summer months, but Odom said the rising senior has focused on things beyond basketball.
"He's been working hard academically and wants to put himself in place for graduation, plus he's getting married August 3, so it'a big summer for Tony." Odd commented.
year."
The Gamecocks will have to make up for the leadership and outside shooting supplied by the departed Jamel Bradley and Aaron Lucas. Odom looks to rising senior Chuck Eidson to assume more of a pivotal role after coming back from a knee injury last season. "Chuck is stronger, has more confidence and his knee is just fine and getting stronger," Odom said. "He is going to assume the role of leadership that Lucas had las"
While Odom believes Eidson will develop into a floor leader for Carolina, he was reluctant to dub him starting "point-forward," a position Odom experimented with last year. "Playing Chuck at the point is a failsale option," "Odom said." "(But) I'm not convinced putting him at the point will help the team by putting a ceiling on everyone else."
In an effort to replace Bradley, USC's all-time leader in three-point shooting. Odom signed guards Jarod Gerald and Terance Kinsey. Gerald may split time with Michael Boynton at the point guard position while Kinsey is looked at as more of a pure scorer.
Odom closed his teleconference with a reflection on the differences between this offseason at Carolina as opposed to his days at Wake Forest. "In the ACC, they'd recruit recruiting classes and report when a coach sneezed, and that was a product of the proximity of the schools." Odom laughed. "I like it the way it is now, because I don't worry about the other teams."
BASEBALL, FROM PAGE 1B
showcase camps as an ambassador of Kansas baseball.
from potential Jayhawks.
the fact they've been so good in basketball and other sports. We're going to try to use that to let them know it can happen in baseball as well."
"We're going to sell the Kansas experience," Price said. "We're going to sell the entire college experience
So far the coach said he was pleased with the recruiting process and has received good responses
"They've been real positive." Price said. "Kids have been real excited when I've made my initial calls."
Price has been excited as well, hoping his optimistic spirit rubs off on the team.
"I hope we'll bring a renewed energy to the program." Price said. "My style is that we play with enthusiasm and energy. I think it's a fun style of baseball to watch."
tion of that renewed energy to come from renovations of Hoglund Ballpark, such as new bullpens and batting cages to make Kansas more appealing to recruits and current players.
The new coach wants a large por-
"I want to create an environment conducive to learning where everything is fresh and new," he said, "where you want to practice every day."
ob."
One of the squad's new recruits already is quite familiar with the new coach.
Price's son Ritchie has decided to join his dad in Lawrence. The younger Price proved to be a top-notch shortstop in high school — picking up numerous post-season accolades, such as first-team all-conference and all-county, and second team all-state.
"I think that he's a really good player," the coach said. "He knows the game and understands the game. He knows if he plays hard he'll get an opportunity to play, but at the same time he knows he has to earn that
Ritch Price has high hopes for a team that has finished last in the Big 12 the past two seasons.
your goal is to put his team in the Big 12 Tournament in our first year and to finish in the top six in the tournament, "he said. "We're going to set our goals high and work hard every day through the fall and winter to see if we can make that happen."
Price has yet to attend a home basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse, but is well aware of the cardrum.
splitting volume generated from the crowd. His dream is to one day have that same spirited sound coming from the stands at the ballpark.
"The reason I took the job is because I believe if we start winning the school will rally around us." Price said.
Contact Schmidt at
sschmidt@kansan.com. This story was edited by Melissa Shuman.
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