4C
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
THE UNIVERSITY-SCARLEY KANSAS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2006
Kaun's expectations sky-high
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Junior center Sasha Kaun enters this season with high expectations for himself and the team.
BY ALISON CUMBOW
Known as the 'Smasher-machine' by his fellow teammates, and a self-proclaimed 'computer geek', Sasha Kaun, is about to start his third season as the center for Kansas.
Kaun, at 6-foot-11, is all he's cracked up to be.
"I've been doing a lot of lifting lately, and of course running." Kaun said.
After taking the summer off to return home to Russia and do a summer workout, Kaun was looking forward to a great season and getting back into the swing of things.
» Kaun, the computer science major, said he played a little too much 'World of Warcraft' in his spare time.
Unfortunately, his playing time will be cut short due to an injury in practice on Saturday. He is out three to six weeks because of a torn patella tendon in his right knee. No surgery is necessary though.
Despite the injury, his expectations for himself are still high.
This season, Kaun will work on the defensive side of his game and to build even more endurance.
Those who know him are aware of his size and talent.
"If you get hit by one of Sasha's elbows, you'll just fall down," Darnell Jackson said. "That's how strong he is."
Before attending Kansas, Sasha attended a drawing school.
Rex Walters, former Kansas basketball player and 16th pick in the NBA draft, also complimented Kaun.
"Sasha has great size, and could be looked at for the NBA," he said.
Kaun seems hopeful about the possibility of an NBA career.
"it's something you always want to get to do, its every college players' dream," he said.
Last season, Kaun started 29 out of 33 games, averaged 8.2 points a
game and was second on the team in rebounds. He also led Kansas in scoring four times.
Kaun's hopes are high, his body is ready and his mind is set for a goal-accomplishing year.
"We have good team chemistry",
he said. "There are some of us that have been playing together for a
Kansan correspondent Alison Cumbow can be contacted at editor@kansan.com.
while now, and we all have really high standards for each other."
— Edited by Erin Wiley
Jackson getting ready for playing time battle with Kaun
BY JACK CONNOR
Darnell Jackson is excited to make up for lost time this basketball season.
The Midwest City, Okla., junior, who missed the first nine games last year because of suspension, is ready to contribute to the team in any way he can.
"It feels good," jackson said of the season beginning. "I'm glad I'm back out here. When Nov. 2 comes around, it starts from there."
Jackson has worked hard this offseason, specifically focusing on strength and conditioning. Jackson says he's added muscle to his 250-pound frame.
"I got a lot stronger working out with Coach Hudy," Jackson said of his workouts with the strength coach.
Sasha Kaun also believes that Jackson will have a big effect this year. Kaun attributes Jackson's improvement to hard work in practice.
That extra bulk should help Jackson be a force in the post. Last year, Jackson averaged 4.9 rebounds per game, which was good enough for third on the team. With the suspension of C.J. Giles, Jackson will be called on even more to be a presence near the basket.
"Darnell is becoming more and more active," Matt Kleinmann said. "He's not afraid of what he can do now with his size and athleticism."
"He has become a lot better player," Kaun said of Jackson's improvement. "He's come a long way, he's become tougher."
Jackson, Kaun, Julian Wright, and Darrell Arthur figure to battle for playing time at forward, but Jackson sees this as a benefit. He believes he needs to work hard and be consistent to help the team.
Jackson did not start playing basketball until he was in ninth grade
His favorite movie is "Toy Story"
His nicknames include "Big D" and "D-Block."
"It's going to be crazy," Jackson said of the battle for playing time. "It always comes down to the hardest worker. Consistency is going to be very important to me."
Kaun agrees that the depth of forwards will help the team out this year.
"It's a lot of fun playing our best and battling for playing time." Kaun said. "We have so much talent and depth, it's going to help make us better."
According to Jackson, it doesn't
matter if he scores the most points or the least points at the end of the day, as long as the team wins and makes it far into the postseason.
"The main thing is to help the team," Jackson said. "I've never said I have a personal goal, it's the team. It's always about the team."
Kansan sportswriter Jack Connor can be contacted at editor@kansan.com.
— Edited by Jodi Ann Holopirek
Junior forward Darnell Jackson bulked up in the offseason, and now weighs more than 250 pounds. The extra weight should help him be more competitive at the post position this season.
Wright the mentor to a young team
Teammates praise his intelligence and advice, try to imitate him
BY CLAUDIA ALTERMAN
After finishing his freshman year in the starting lineup, Julian Wright enters his sophomore season with an array of accolades.
Most recently Wright and his teammate Brandon Rush were named Co-Big 12 Preseason Players of the Year. Last year, he was a member of the Big-12 All-Rookie team, named Big 12 Rooke of the Week in February, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, and a part of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team.
Wright, a 6-foot-8 sophomore guard, not only came back with accolades, but also great anticipation.
"My perimeter game has developed much better," he said. "I have done little things to be able to play the perimeter better to make me more of an inside-outside threat."
Physically, Wright comes back with added strength and explosiveness. He thinks this will give him enough strength to get through practice.
Wright, who is expected to play down low and up at the perimeter more this season, also came back with better understanding of positions.
"I have to know a lot more, because I'll most likely be playing both positions," Wright said.
Along with praise and expectations comes a lot of pressure. Coach Bill Self, and Wright's teammates, have confidence in Wright's capabilities to fulfill everyone's expectations.
» Is projected by NBADraft.net to be the seventh pick in next year's NBA draft, if he decides to make himself eligible.
"He is one of the best passers I have ever seen for his size," freshman guard Sherron Collins said.
Playing at the perimeter will open
»» in his spare time, Wright is an avid bowler, and can often be seen at the Jaybow.
up even more passing options for Wright.
"I went to the Nike camp and the Jordan camp over the summer, and I know that I can at least hang with the best basketball players in the nation at the perimeter position. I took that confidence with me," Wright said. Some aspects of playing a guard's position have been more difficult for Wright to adjust to. He said "the guards are quicker and get the ball off faster, it makes it that much harder."
But Wright has other options. He said if it were not for basketball he would be pursuing a career in communications in hopes of starting an organization to help children in Chicago.
He's not too worried: "I just have to have quick feet and react much faster."
He is prepared to be a leader on this year's squad. Wright thinks he has the intangibles necessary as well as the leadership abilities.
However, Wright will not be leaving the realm of basketball anytime soon.
"If basketball does not work out in the future, I feel I have something to fall back on," Wright said.
"I've been looking forward to
being a leader vocaly and am eager to do it", he said.
His teammates seem eager, too.
"I look up to him, freshman guard Darrell Arthur said. "He is probably the smartest guy on the team. He is taking so many classes and working so hard. On the court, I try to mold my own after him."
Collins is also appreciative of Wright.
"He brings great advice; to take in as much you can and not let anything get to your head," Collins said. "He was in the same place I was last year with high expectations."
Junior guard Russell Robinson said Wright is ready for his potential leadership role.
"Julian has a unique personality, and I think that is his biggest attribute to the team," he said. "He's so positive, and it's positive for all of the people who are around him."
Without a senior on the squad, the team is looking for someone to step up as a leader. Wright may have just what it takes.
Kansan correspondent Claudia Alterman can be contacted at editor@kansan.com.
Edited by Dianne Smith
Juilan Wright speeds most of his time inside the paint, but during the offseason he has worked on his perimeter skills to become a better all-around player. He said that since starting to play college ball, he has had to become faster to be able to compete with others. "I just have to have quick feet," he said.