18B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BASKETBALL
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2004
Kemp ready to lead new-look team
Kansas junior forward Crystal Kemp led last year's Jayhawk squad in points and rebounds. For a repeat performance this year, she will likely have to shruff off frequent double teams underneath the basket.
Jared Soares/KANSAN
BY FRED A. DAVIS III
fdavis@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWEEK
Crystal Kemp has endured a lot during her time at Kansas. The junior forward from Topeka is playing for her third coach in as many years and returns as the Jayhawks' leading scorer and rebounder.
Kansas has only nine players on this year's team, which means teams are going to concentrate much harder on stopping the Big 12 Conference's 12th leading scorer from a year ago. Kemp is aware teams will double-team her, but she is not worried nor will she allow it to affect her or the team's performance this season. Kemp took time after practice to talk about new Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson and any relation to former NBA star Shawn Kemp, among other things.
Q: What was your initial impression of Coech Henrickson?
Kemp: "When she first got here, I was in Texas visiting family. I hadn't seen her, but I had talked to her on the phone a few times. She seemed like she was a really nice person, and everyone was telling me she was ready to come and work hard."
Q: What has been the biggest difference between Coach Washington and Coach Henrickson?
Kemp: "I think it's been more terminology and the way they want us to communicate. It's like that with any coach, but it's just getting used to the way coach wants things said."
**How is the style of play going to change this season?**
Kemp: "Coach will probably slow it down, so we can get into our offense, so we don't feel like we're going to rush, but I think that is for us since we're so few in numbers."
Kemp: "How we are going to adjust to that lack of depth, I think that is the most important thing. If one person gets into foul trouble, we're going to have to play it safe the rest of the game. I know our number (of players) is going to hurt us, but it's not going to put us down or hurt our effort."
Q. What is your biggest concern outside of lack of death heading into the season?
Q. How will you deal with teams trying to stop you?
How can you use with back-to-back teams?
Kemp: "We play against the dream team, a group of guys that go to school here. They're pretty big, athletic and quick — quicker than any girls we'll face in the league. So we practice against them, but there's nothing in particular we do. I know I'm going to get double teamed, but that just opens it up for the other four players."
Q. If you had a dime for every time you were asked if you're related to Shawn Kemp, how much money would you have?
and was glad that she did that."
Q. How were you affected by coach Washington stepping down in the middle of last season?
Kemp: "It was as much of a shock to us as it was to everyone else. She did a really good job of keeping it (her health) to herself. It's something you don't want to see happen, but I'm only here for four years, and even if she were to continue coaching, I'm only here for four years. And I don't think anything is that serious to where your health is an issue; she needs to take care of herself first, and I respected her for that
Kemp: "I'd have a whole bunch of cheese. Probably over a million dollars. I get asked that every time I meet someone, as a matter of fact, coach asked me that today."
Q. How did you and the team react to coach
Henrickson's rule to cover up tattoos?
Kemp: "A lot of times you get tattoos to show them off, so it's hard when someone wants you to cover them up, and it came as a shock to us to have to cover them up, and we really didn't like that. But it's cool though. It's a respect thing, and we respect coach Henrickson's rule."
— Edited by Steve Vockrodt
Case glad to play for Hawks despite surprises
BY KELLIE ROBINETT
krobinett@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRITER
Things haven't gone according to plan for sophomore guard Jeremy Case ever since he decided to play basketball at Kansas.
And he has recently been held out of practice because of a groin injury.
Roy Williams, the coach who recruited him, left before he ever arrived. Half of his class transferred to other schools after a single year.
CASE
Despite the string of unexpected events, he remains confident that he made the right choice in schools, and he said he never considered transferring.
"I love it here. It's a lot of fun," Case said. "would never base my decision on leaving just because others are leaving. I'm really happy righ now."
To show his commitment to the Jayhawks, he wears a red Nike bracelet with an inscription reading "team." The bracelet represents his dedication to being a team player for the Jayhawks, he said.
Senior forward Christian Moody said Case's attitude was an important part of the team.
"Jeremy has got a heart for this team," said junior forward Christian Moody. "He really wants us to win whether he's on the court or not."
Last season Case was used sparingly, generally playing only when games got out of hand. He showed he had the ability to knock down threepoint shots, though, and could become a consistent sharp shooter for Kansas.
The main question surrounding Case is whether he will take a redshirt this season. He said the injury was getting better, and he could participate in practice in a week.
He shoots the ball more after practice than he used to, and his mobility is returning.
Coach Bill Self did not play Case during the Jayhawks' exhibition tour in Canada. If he had seen action on the trip, he would not be able to take a redshirt during the regular season.
Case has spoken with Self about the possibility, and a decision will be made soon.
"Right now I really want to play." Case said. "I feel like I can help the team out. But if it comes down to it I wouldn't mind red-shirting."
— Edited by Bill Cross
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