4C
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
2008 KANSAS JAYHAWKS 5 STORYLINES
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
From returners to newcomers to future recruits, here's what fans should keep their eyes on as the defending national champions take the court this year.
1. Sherron Collins' health
The junior point guard is returning from offseason knee surgery and will be fine.
knee surgery and will be for the start of the season. Collins, however, missed six games last year and has played at below 100 percent during stretches of both of his seasons as a Jayhawk. To put it bluntly, the Jayhawks can't afford
for that to happen this year. Collins, who has averaged nine points per game for his career, is the only proven offensive commodity returning. If he can stay healthy, Collins has All-American potential. If he doesn't, Kansas might be in for a long season.
3. Aiming at another Big 12 Championship
Sure, the Jayhawks would love to repeat and bring home another national championship. But first — and more realistically they need to focus on winning their conference. Kansas has won six of the last seven Big 12 titles, but if it did it this season it might be the most remarkable one yet. Tearns aren't supposed to win conference titles after losing six of their top seven players and bringing in seven newcomers. Kansas could defy that thought with a championship season in 2009.The Big 12 Conference coaches aren't expecting it, as they only picked Kansas third in the Big 12 preseason poll.
4. Junior college recruits at Kansas?
Jayhawk fans were surprised to see two junior-college transfers in Self's latest recruiting class. Junior guards Mario Little and Tyrone Appleton, however, aren't your ordinary junior college recruits. They were two of the most highly regarded junior college players in the nation. Self brought them to Lawrence
to contribute immediately.
Little is likely to start at small forward, and Appleton could be a key backup in the
guard rotation. They both can play multiple positions
because they were used in
a variety of ways at junior college. Their transition to Division-1 college basketball.
should be smoother than that of typical newcomers.
5. Kansas vs. Memphis Round II
No, the Tigers didn't make it onto the Jayhawks' nonconference schedule this season. Self and Memphis coach John Calipari, however, are competing head-to-head for three of the best recruits in the nation for 2009. Oklahoma City guard Xavier Henry and Raleigh, N.C., guard John Wall are choosing between the two schools, and Wolfeboro,
N. H., forward Thomas Robinson already chose Kansas over Memphis, according to Rivals.com. Rivals.com ranks Wall as the best player in the nation while ESPN.com gives the honor to Henry. According to Rivals.com, Kansas is targeting eight prospects for its next class. Self, however, only has three available scholarships, so the spots may fill fast.
2. The maturation of Cole Aldrich
Kansas coach Bill Self has already tabbed Aldrich, a sophomore center, as the leader of the Jayhawks and raved about his progression. His defensive abilities were never in doubt. Refer to last year's Final Four game against North Carolina. Aldrich came in during the first half because of foul trouble and effectively defended Tyler Hansbrough, the national player of the year, and recorded seven rebounds and four blocks. Aldrich has work to do offensively, though. He doesn't have a wide arsenal of post moves, and he struggles finishing around the basket. Aldrich did show signs of improvement last season when he scored a career-high 11 points against Texas Tech in the last regular season game of the year.
Who do you think will be the basketball team's leading scorer this year?
BY AMBER JACKSON
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
GRANT TREASTER
Junior, Shawnee
"Cole Aldrich would be my best bet. He's the next big man."
SARAH LICKTEIG Freshman, Overland Park "I'd say Cole, just because I know how he plays and he's a center."
BILLLY FINSHOLM Freshman, Overland Park "Probably Sherron Collins. He's our most aggressive player on offense, and he's one of the oldest players we've got."
KASEY TALIAFERRO Sophmore, Topeka "Cole, just because as a freshman he stepped up and did well."
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