kansas basketball preview

thursday, november 2, 2006

special section
Coach Bonnie
Henrickson
looks to follow
up on a WNIT
appearance.
2C
Bill Self and his team are ready.
Is this...
The year?
3C
Find out what Jeff
Boschee has done
since graduating.
6C
The womens basketball team
welcomes seven new players.
basketball preview 2c
thursday, november 2, 2006
By Jillian Garrett
Sharita Smith had just finished
her freshman year when she found
out about coach Marian Washington
quitting. Along came Bonnie
Henrickson, a coach who had a
record of 158-62 and seven post-
season appearances at her previous
school Virginia Tech.
It hasnt been a hard transition,
Smith, now a senior guard, said.
When a new coach comes, youve
got to respect them.
In just two seasons, Henrickson
has brought the womens team to a
new level. Last season, they started
out 12-0, including a win over top
25 Texas. They finished the season
17-13 after a two-point loss in the
NIT tournament.
Her motto is Together we can,
Smith said of Henrickson. And
weve come to believe that.
But that was then. Shes now in
her third season and expectations
are high. Her team is almost official-
ly her team: Washingtons recruits
have dwindled down to one, and the
freshmen class is up to seven, a class
that is in the top 20 of recruiting
classes in the nation.
She expects us to work, Lindsay
Ballweg, freshman guard said. And
Ill do whatever I can.
Henricksons respect has a lot
to do with recruiting, but last year
Katie Smith, sophomore guard,
decided to try her luck at walk-
ing onto the newly remolded team.
Smith said Henrickson was a big
factor in deciding whether to try out
for the team.
I had heard a lot about her, she
said.
Although Henrickson has gained
respect as a coach she still has only
two years under her belt.
Last year, her guidance snapped
a 36-game winning streak the Texas
Longhorns held over the Jayhawks
heads.
In the 2004-2005 season, her team
grabbed the most wins the Jayhawks
have had in four years. And the
post season appearance at the NIT
tournament was the Universitys first
since 2000.
Our chemistry is good. Its the
best since Ive been here, Henrickson
said.
Henrickson came to Kansas with
a challenge awaiting her. With a
record sitting of 3,000 plus fans
attending the womens games last
season, this year might break even
more attendance records.
But in the end, its all about the
team on the court and the amount of
effort theyre exerting.
These kids have been a breath of
fresh air, Henrickson said. I love
their energy. Weve got a lot of work
to do, but I have a group that wants
to work and thats exciting.
Kansan correspondent Jillian Gar-
rett can be contacted at editor@
kansan.com.
Edited by Kristen Jarboe
Attending the University of
Kansas means attending KU
basketball games.
The two seem to go hand-
in-hand for students, as well as
faculty and staf. Its so important
that students have to camp out
days before a big game, just to
get a good seat in Allen Field-
house.
I think we can all remember
our frst time camping the 6 a.m.
shift at the Fieldhouse, looking
jealously at the other groups
who knew to bring air mat-
tresses. But on game night its all
worth it, as you lock arms with
16,299 of your closest friends for
the singing of the alma mater.
Its in that spirit that we bring
you this years The University
Daily Kansan basketball preview.
Anticipation runs high every
year, especially for those of us
eager to forget football season,
but this year the mens basketball
team is favored by some to win
the national championship in
Atlanta next April.
The Kansan will be there for
every game, with complete cov-
erage in the newspaper and live
coverage year-round at Kansan.
com.
The womens basketball
team is also in anticipation of a
season that could turn out any
number of diferent ways. Seven
freshmen will look to establish
themselves as the class that
vaults Kansas into the Big 12s
upper-tier.
Tonight at Allen Fieldhouse
the season will get underway,
but frst take a minute to read
about the coaching staf and the
players that will make an impact
this year for both teams. We also
caught up with a Jayhawk who
knows a thing or two about win-
ning. Enjoy!
Jarboe is Kansan correspondent
editor. Phillips is Kansan sports
editor.
Designed by Jacky Carter and
Drew Bergman
Henrickson settling in during third year
Players appreciate her motto for the team, enjoy coaching strategies
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Coach Bonnie Henrickson enters her third season with a newteamthat is abreath of fresh air.
letter from the editors
By Kristen JarBoe
and Michael PhilliPs
editor@kansan.com
(table of contents)
3C Seven freshmen look to shape the
teams future
3C Florida game highlights
schedule
4C Junior forward
ready to play after last
seasons suspension
4C Wright ready for
sophomore season
4C Kaun has high hopes
for season
5C After trying to make it on his own,
Chalmers embraces team concept
5C Expectations high for Bill Self
5C NBA can wait for Rush
6C Jef Boschee trades NBA
spotlight for high school gym
7C Lack of seniors leaves
leadership void
7C Womens team will
leave home
8C Freshmen bring rock star abilities,
homegrown humility
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basketball Preview
3C
thursday, november 2, 2006
By Megan OManney
The echo of a bouncing basket-
ball rings through the empty halls
of Allen Fieldhouse. It is late, but
Lindsay Ballweg, Shawnee freshman,
is diligently practicing her shot. She
knows that as one of seven incoming
freshmen, much is expected from
her and her fellow recruits.
Between practice and class, she is
trying to adjust to college life while
balancing the demanding schedule
of college athletics. For the Jayhawks
this year, freshman contribution will
not only be expected; it will be inevi-
table.
With seven of the 14 roster play-
ers coming in for their first year,
the freshmen will have little time
for adjustment before taking center
stage.
Considering that almost half of
the team are freshmen, its been pretty
smooth, coach Bonnie Henrickson
said of the transition.
The Jayhawks have succeeded in
attaining their second-straight top
25 recruiting class. Two of the fresh-
men are locals from the Kansas City
area, Danielle McCray of Olathe and
Lindsay Ballweg of Shawnee.
The other five recruits are
Rebecca Feickert of Goodrich,
N.D., LaChelda Jacobs of Mansfield,
Texas, Kelly Kohn of Adrian, Mich.,
Sade Morris of Norman, Okla. and
Porscha Weddington of Temple,
Texas.
After the Jayhawks first post-
season bid since 2000 last season,
Henrickson hopes to continue build-
ing the program. The speed and
agility of the freshmen class will
no doubt aid that goal. Henrickson
praised the class as the most fit
group of freshmen Ive seen in 20
years of coaching.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of
the freshman class is LaChelda
Jacobs. Originally committed to
TCU, Jacobs has made a home here
in Lawrence, which is great news for
the Jayhawks.
Henrickson is impressed by her
athleticism, ability to make plays
and really get to the rim.
Another freshman standout is
Kelly Kohn, who has great vocal
leadership and presence on the floor.
Overall, the freshmen bring lots of
energy to this young but promising
basketball team.
The freshmen have been train-
ing since June and July, giving the
women time to adapt and bond
before classes start. Ballweg said she
was glad for the early start.
Now that practice is starting we
already know a lot, and if we would
have just come here when school
started, it would be a lot different,
she said.
Since the majority of the team is
inexperienced on both the offense
and defensive end, Henrickson
has placed great emphasis on the
defense. She knows they are capable
of running because they have such
speed and depth on the bench.
There wont be redshirts, as she
wants to give each freshman a chance
to contribute to the team.
Theyve got a lot to learn, but
theyre anxious to learn, they want
to learn, they want to be good, she
said.
Kansan correspondent Megan
OManney can be contacted at
editor@kansan.com.
Edited by Shanxi Upsdell
Seven freshmen look to shape the teams future
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
This seasons womens basketball freshmen will be asked to make an immediate contribution.
By Jeff Deters
While tonight is only an exhibi-
tion game, Kansas fans are already
looking ahead to the big games on
this years mens basketball schedule.
Highlighting the non-conference
portion of the schedule are games
against defending national cham-
pion Florida, home games against
USC and Boston College and a road
game at DePaul.
Fans arent the only ones antici-
pating the Nov. 25 game against
Florida. Sophomore guard Mario
Chalmers is as well.
Theyre the defending nation-
al champions, Chalmers said. So
thats going to be a real good game.
Though Chalmers is excited
about playing Florida, coach Bill Self
down played the attention the game
is attracting.
We havent talked about Florida,
Self said. I think well be excited
to play. Id imagine Florida will be
excited to play us. But Florida is not
a circle game.
One player who has marked a par-
ticular game on his calendar is Julian
Wright, sophomore forward and Big
12 Co-Preseason Player of the Year.
The Jayhawks will play DePaul on
Dec. 2 in Chicago. Wright, a native of
Chicago Heights, Ill., said having the
opportunity to play in front of friends
and family was a great opportunity,
but he wouldnt let distractions get in
the way of winning the game.
Its good to go home, Wright
said. But I still have to be focused
on what were trying to do there.
The Jayhawks will end non-
conference play Jan. 7 on the road
against South Carolina. Three days
later, Kansas will open Big 12 play
at home against the Oklahoma State
Cowboys.
Highlighting this years home con-
ference schedule are games against
Missouri and Kansas State. The
Jayhawks will play the Tigers at home
Jan. 15 as part of ESPNs Big Monday.
The Wildcats will visit the Fieldhouse
Feb. 7, and the Jayhawks will look to
avenge last years home-court loss.
Though rival games stand out,
sophomore forward Matt Kleinmann
said every game was equally impor-
tant and each game provided a
unique opportunity to get better.
Every game, were looking to
improve upon last year, he said.
And the only way to do that is to
win every game we can.
The Jayhawks return all five start-
ers from last years team, and are
picked to win their third Big 12
Conference championship for the
third year in a row. And many have
predicted the Jayhawks will dance all
the way to the Final Four in Atlanta.
But Self isnt ready to punch his
plane ticket just yet.
My goal for this team would be
to enjoy the process and get better
every day, he said. Then all those
other things take care of themselves.
I think if were able to do that, I think
this team would have a chance to
have a great year.
Kansan sportswriter Jef Deters
can be contacted at jdeters@kan-
san.com.
Edited by Brett Bolton
Florida game highlights schedule
GUESS THE FRESHMAN
Which freshman hopes to
become a school teacher?
LaChelda Jacobs
Which freshman was a
gymnast for 10 years?
Kelly Kohn
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basketball preview 4C
thursday, november 2, 2006
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 hes
cracked up to be.
After taking the summer off to
return home to Russia and do a
summer workout, Kaun was looking
forward to a great season and get-
ting back into the swing of things.
Ive been doing a lot of lift-
ing lately, and of course running.
Kaun said.
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 expecta-
tions 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 Sashas
elbows, youll just fall down,
Darnell Jackson said. Thats how
strong he is.
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.
Its something you always want
to get to do, its every college play-
ers 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.
Kauns 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
while now, and we all have really
high standards for each other.
Kansan correspondent Alison
Cumbow can be contacted at
editor@kansan.com.
Edited by Erin Wiley
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. Im glad Im
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 hes 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.
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 sus-
pension 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.
Hes not afraid of what he can do
now with his size and athleticism.
Sasha Kaun also believes that
Jackson will have a big effect this year.
Kaun attributes Jacksons improve-
ment to hard work in practice.
He has become a lot better play-
er, Kaun said of Jacksons improve-
ment. Hes come a long way, hes
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.
Its 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.
Its a lot of fun playing our best
and battling for playing time, Kaun
said. We have so much talent and
depth, its going to help make us
better.
According to Jackson, it doesnt
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. Ive never said I
have a personal goal, its the team. Its
always about the team.
Kansan sportswriter Jack Connor
can be contacted at editor@kan-
san.com.
Edited by Jodi Ann Holopirek
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 Rookie 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 acco-
lades, but also great anticipation.
My perimeter game has devel-
oped 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 explosive-
ness. 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 posi-
tions.
I have to know a lot more,
because Ill most likely be playing
both positions, Wright said.
Along with praise and expecta-
tions comes a lot of pressure. Coach
Bill Self, and Wrights teammates,
have confidence in Wrights capabili-
ties to fulfill everyones expectations.
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
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 guards 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.
Hes not too worried: I just have
to have quick feet and react much
faster.
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.
If basketball does not work out
in the future, I feel I have something
to fall back on, Wright said.
However, Wright will not be leav-
ing the realm of basketball anytime
soon.
He is prepared to be a leader on
this years squad. Wright thinks he
has the intangibles necessary as well
as the leadership abilities.
Ive been looking forward to
being a leader vocally 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 game after him.
Collins is also appreciative of
Wright.
He brings great advice; to take in
as much as you can and not let any-
thing 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 attri-
bute to the team, he said. Hes so
positive, and its 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 edi-
tor@kansan.com.
Edited by Dianne Smith
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Julian Wright spends most of his time inside the paint, but during the ofseason he has worked on his perimiter skills to become a better all-around
player. He said that since starting to play college ball, hes had to become faster to be able to compete with others. I just have to have quick feet,he said.
Wright the mentor to a young team
Teammates praise his intelligence and advice, try to imitate him
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Junior center Sasha Kaun enters this season with high expectations for himself and the team.
Kauns expectations sky-high
Junior center plans
to build endurance,
defensive skill
Jackson getting ready for
playing time battle with Kaun
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Junior forward Darnell Jackson bulked up in the ofseason, and nowweighs more than 250
pounds. The extra weight should help himbe more competitive at the post position this season.
Kaun, the computer science major,
said he played a little too much World
of Warcraft in his spare time.

Before attending Kansas, Sasha
attended a drawing school.
Jackson did not start playing basket-
ball until he was in ninth grade
His favorite movie is Toy Story
His nicknames include Big D and
D-Block.
Is projected by NBADraft.net to be the
seventh pick in next years NBA draft, if he
decides to make himself eligible.

In his spare time, Wright is an avid bowl-
er, and can often be seen at the Jaybowl.
Check out kuathletics.com for schedule information.
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BE APART OF THE
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basketball preview
5c
thursday, novebmer 2, 2006
By Taylor Bern
Its not uncommon to see a true
freshman struggle in the beginning
of his career, even one as talent-
ed as McDonalds and Parade All-
American Mario Chalmers.
What is uncommon about the
61 guard from Anchorage, Alaska
is the turnaround he made in the
middle of the season and the take
no prisoners attitude he flashed
while leading Kansas to a Big 12
Tournament title.
My teammates were looking for
me and my shots were just fall-
ing, said the tournaments Most
Outstanding Player.
His 16-point average over those
three tourney games was the last
good thing Chalmers could remem-
ber from a rough 2006 postseason,
but that doesnt mean he and his
teammates blocked out that 77-73
Bradley loss.
We kind of put it away but thats
still in our minds, he said. It was
a hard game for us; we werent sup-
posed to lose.
Chalmers netted 15 points before
fouling out in that final game, leav-
ing him with a bitter taste of postsea-
son play and enough motivation to
get serious in the weight room and
add 10-13 pounds of muscle to his
otherwise slender frame.
The thing I applaud him on is
the improved strength hes shown
in the weight room, fellow sopho-
more Julian Wright said. That will
help him finish more shots and have
more legs under him at the end of
the game.
At the beginning of his 2005-
06 campaign, Chalmers didnt have
time to worry about his physical
condition, according to coach Bill
Self, because he was just trying to
survive.
Chalmers said his attitude made
the transition to college difficult.
It was hard at the beginning,
because I thought I knew every-
thing, he said.
Things changed for the pre-sea-
son Big 12 honorable mention selec-
tion after a disastrous performance
against California and a sit-down
with senior guard Jeff Hawkins.
Chalmers scored just one point
and committed six turnovers in the
69-56 loss to the Golden Bears. A
week later Hawkins pulled the strug-
gling freshman from his dorm and
took him out for a late dinner and
some advice.
I just started listening to him and
thought, If Hawk can do it, I can do
it, said Chalmers.
Hawkinss words of wisdom also
helped Chalmers learn to listen to
his coach.
It was pretty tough early on,
Chalmers said, I was trying to do
things too much on my own.
Kansan correspondent Taylor
Bern can be contacted at editor@
kansan.com
Edited by Brett Bolton
By Kyle CarTer
After leading the Jayhawks in
scoring and landing a spot on the
All Big 12 first team as a freshman,
expectations are sky high for sopho-
more Brandon Rush. Taking home
honors as the conferences preseason
co-player of the year heightened
anticipation for his performance this
season even more. Coach Bill Self
doesnt think thats necessarily a bad
thing.
It puts a target on their back
and gives them a little more pres-
sure, Self said of the preseason
accolades awarded to Rush and fel-
low Jayhawk Julian Wright. I think
this team needs to operate under
duress.
Last season Rushs biggest weak-
ness was ball handling. He favored
his right hand and turned the
ball over 83 times during the sea-
son. Teammates said theyve been
impressed with the work Rush put
in to improve his ball handling over
the summer.
Hes been working on it day in
and day out, junior guard Roderick
Stewart said. I think hes gotten a
lot better.
Rush spent three weeks of the
summer in Los Angeles training
with his older brother Kareem, often
playing one-on-one as a part of their
workout. Rush said that Kareem won
the majority of the games but they
were always competitive. He esti-
mated that he beat his older brother
at least 10 times.
Kareem plays in the NBA for
the Seattle Sonics and his success
has been part of the reason for the
high expectations surrounding
Rush. Growing up as the younger
brother of a national star, people
have expected big things from Rush
for years.
Im used to being in the spot-
light, but theres still a lot of pres-
sure, he said. Ive got to live up to
what Kareems doing.
Many expect Rush to join his
brother in the NBA following his
sophomore season.
Coach Self said that fans and
media should avoid writing this year
off as Rushs last.
Didnt everyone assume last year
that it was his only year? Self said.
Hell have some decisions to make
later. Were just going to let it play
out.
Rush agreed with Self that now
isnt the time to make that deci-
sion.
I dont think its fair to assume
that, Rush said. I dont think its
right for the team or for myself.
Though Rush showed flashes of
brilliance last year, he struggled at
the end of the season, shooting a
combined 13 of 42 in the final four
games.
Self said that he felt Rush still has
a lot to prove.
I love it when our guys get acco-
lades, but theyre co-players based
on one word: potential, he said.
Living up to the potential, in most
peoples eyes, would be having a
remarkable season.
Kansan sportswriter Kyle Carter
can be contacted at kcarter@kan-
san.com.
Edited by Mindy Ricketts
By shawn shroyer
With a team that doesnt include
a single senior, most coaches would
get a free pass. The season would be
viewed as a rebuilding year to get
the youngsters acclimated to college
basketball.
However, as coach of a team that
could start as many as three sopho-
mores or even a couple freshmen,
expectations have never been higher
for coach Bill Self.
Living up to potential in most
peoples eyes would be having a
remarkably great season, Self said.
My goal for this team would be, hey,
lets just enjoy the progress and get
better every day and all those other
things take care of themselves.
Fair or not, Kansas fans will be
expecting Self and the Jayhawks
to live up to their likely top-three
preseason ranking. Of course, thats
what happens when a coach has
a junior class blessed with impact
players in the frontcourt and the
backcourt, who are complemented
by four underclassmen who were
McDonalds All-Americans.
Nevertheless, Self s careful
recruiting job is maximizing talent
and minimizing egos, according
to players like junior guard Russell
Robinson.
The team chemistry is great.
Coach Self did a great job recruit-
ing, Robinson said. He found the
pieces that fit perfectly into what we
try to do. Personality-wise they fit
in great, and playing-wise they are
awesome.
Robinson joins fellow junior
Sasha Kaun, as the only upperclass-
man who should start every game for
Kansas. Sophomores Brandon Rush,
guard, and Julian Wright, forward,
are sure to be in Kansas starting
five, as well. The fifth spot, though,
could go to anyone, from sophomore
guard Mario Chalmers to freshman
Sherron Collins, guard, or Darrell
Arthur, forward.
No matter what lineup Self choos-
es, it will spell one thing: athleticism
the type of athleticism that has
dreams of full court presses and fast
breaks dancing in Jayhawks fans
heads.
I think well be able to run more,
Self said. Although I thought we ran
pretty good last year, my definition
of running and Kansas fans defini-
tion of running may not be exactly
the same thing, but we should play
fast and we should be able to pres-
sure a lot more.
What fans are perhaps most excit-
ed about this season is seeing what
Self can do with a roster full of
players that he recruited. The two
highest-profile recruits Self brought
in this season were Collins and
Arthur, who were McDonalds All-
Americans last year. Stealing all the
preseason hype so far, though, are
Rush and Wright.
While Self believes he has the
players he needs to win, he doesnt
want to give the impression that he
was just biding his time until the
players he didnt recruit graduated.
Last years team was our team,
Self said. Im really excited about
everybody being our own, but I felt
they were all our own before. But
this is a group that has really bought
into what were trying to do.
Kansan sportswriter shawn shroy-
er can be contacted at sshroyer@
kansan.com.
Edited by Brett Bolton
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Mens basketball coach Bill Self will try to balance the demands of having several highly-regard-
ed players on the team. This is a group that has really bought into what were trying to do,he said.
NBA can wait for Rush
Sophomore guard works on ball handling skills,
waits another year before deciding on pro draft
After trying to make it on his own, Chalmers embraced team concept
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Sophomore forward Brandon Rush is in no hurry to jump to the NBA. He has worked on his ball-handling skills in the ofseason, and said that all the
preseason hype doesnt afect what hes doing. Imused to being in the spotlight,he said. He refuses to address a possible jump to the NBA.
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Sophomore guard Mario Chalmers looks to improve on his consistency fromlast year. By the end of the season, he had improved his performance,
including a 16-point-per-game average in the Big 12 Tournament. It was hard at the beginning because I thought I kneweverything,he said.
Expectations high for Bill Self
With team ranked No. 1, head coach still keeps main focus of athleticism
In the weight room, Rush bench presses
235 pounds and squats 375 pounds.

He said his favorite thing about Lawrence
other than basketball is the party scene. I
like to go to a club and chill, dance a bit,
he said.
Self played his college basketball at
Oklahoma State, under legendary coach
Eddie Sutton
He enjoys eating barbecue.
He was a finalist for the Coach of the
Year award every year from 2000-2003.
Basketball is a tradition in the Chalmers
family. Everybody in my family played. My
great-grandpa, my grandpa, my dad, my
mom and my sister, he said.

Chalmers had 89 steals during the 2005-
06 season, which was the most in the Big
12.
BY IAN STANFORD
Clad in his old Jayhawk basket-
ball shorts and a crimson shirt, Jeff
Boschee stood alone at the top of the
three-point key.
His placid eyes locked in on the
basket, his face void of emotion, the
former Jayhawk phenom has, as ex-
KU assistant coach Ben Miller puts
it, ice in his veins. In what looked
like one fluid motion, his feet set, his
knees contracted, his toes pushed
off, his arms raised and his wrist
propeled the ball through the hoop,
all in a little more than a second.
Boschee is a graceful machine.
Thats where I made my first
three and my record-breaking one,
Boschee said, as he pointed to the
left baseline corner as he paces,
slowly circling the three-point arch.
And this is where I made my
game-winner against Colorado and
Iowa State, he said, as he pulled
up at the left elbow and drained
another.
Three, four, five in a row; a small
crowd of his high school basketball
players gathered to watch the Big 12
all-time three-point record holder
practice his three ball.
It had been more than four years
removed from a meaningful game of
basketball, but the 6-foot-1 Boschee
claimed to be a better shooter, more
conditioned and a better overall
player now than he ever was in a
Jayhawk uniform.
But since settling into the Kansas
City area roughly a year ago, the only
playing time that Boschee has been
getting is through pick-up games at
24-Hour Fitness and during scrim-
mages of the Blue Valley Northwest
varsity basketball team, for which he
is an assistant coach.
Boschee is still living the bas-
ketball life, though not the one he
expected to be living at age 26.
I expected to go to the NBA and
become a spot shooter like Steve
Kerr, or at the very least play in a
European league with a big con-
tract, Boschee said as he leaned
back in coach Ed Fritzs desk chair,
which he borrows when the coach
is not around.
Im not very important around
here, he said.
Behind him, instead of his
McDonalds All-American plaque
prominently displayed on the wall,
are Fritzs family photos and old
Huskie composites. In the opposite
corner, a football coach reviewed
film from the previous nights game.
A moldy smell from the adjacent
locker room pervaded into the
small, multi-purpose office.
Jeff Boschee is a far cry from the
NBA.
Biggest regret of my life
After the Jayhawks 2001-2002
season ended, Boschee had momen-
tum. His senior year ended with a
loss in the Final Four to Maryland,
the eventual champions. In the game,
Boschee hit threes down the stretch
to try to get the Hawks back in. We
all felt he had a chance to play in the
NBA or overseas, Miller said.
But after his senior season,
Boschee decided that he would take
a break from basketball and go back
to school to finish his sports man-
agement degree.
I just felt burnt out from play-
ing, Boschee said. I missed being a
normal college kid.
Boschees hiatus led him to turn
down an invitation to attend the
Portsmouth Invitational, a pre-draft
camp for college seniors. He recalled
previous coach Roy Williams
explaining that it would be hard to
go to the NBA after time off, but
Boschee shrugged off the advice.
By the time Williams came to
him with another camp invitation,
Boschee had not played in a month
and a half. The first shot that the
Big 12 all-time three-point record
holder took after deciding to recon-
sider his choice was an air ball. His
chances were shot.
Its the biggest regret of my life,
he said.
After several brief stints in semi-
pro American and pro European
leagues, Boschees playing career
ended in fall 2005.
Step into your shot
Back on the court, Dylan Cortez
awaited Boschees command.
Cortez, an eighth grader, is a stu-
dent in the Jeff Boschee Basketball
Academy, under which Boschee
gives private and semi-private bas-
ketball instruction to players of all
ages and levels for some supple-
mental income when hes not busy
coaching the Huskies.
With a simple go from Boschee,
Cortez back peddled baseline to left
elbow, sprinted across the free throw
line, around a cone, took two steps
before catching the ball in stride and
immediately pulled up for an eight-
foot jumper.
A brick off the back iron.
Step into your shot, coach
Boschee said.
The 13-year-old year old skinny
point guard returned to the baseline
and does a few more reps.
Good, Boschee said, signifying
the drills completion. Now make
five.
Cortez needed no further expla-
nation. He walked to the free throw
line and started shooting free
throws, lavishing the short reprieve
before the next drill in the non-stop,
hour-long workout.
Boschee works his players hard.
I coach by simulating a real
game situation, he said. As a player,
youve got to be able to make shots
at the end of the game when youre
tired.
Boschee never had a problem
with that.
I thought he would make every
shot he took, wrote Williams in
an e-mail. The time or score of
the game never mattered to him.
Nothing rattled him, he had such
great poise.
Despite only being able to use
that poise on the sideline, Boschee
considers himself 90 percent con-
tent with what hes doing today.
For now, Boschee wants to
focus on coaching: this year, the
Husky offense. Next year, Boschee
hopes to get a job as an assistant
on the University level and start
working his way up the coaching
ranks. Ultimately, he wants to lead a
Division I program.
He doesnt plan on burning out
this time.
Kansan correspondent Ian Stan-
ford can be contacted at editor@
kansan.com.
Edited by Jacky Carter
Photos by Kevin Grunwald
Former KU basketball player Jef Boschee sits at his desk in the basketball of ce at Blue Valley Northwest, where he is an assistant coach. I coach by simulating a real game situation,he said.
Jef Boschee helps Dillon Cortez, an eighth grader, with his technique during his once-a-week
private basketball lessons. He runs his lessons at Blue Valley Northwest, and helps coach the team.
Jef Boschee trades
NBA spotlight for
high school gym
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BASKETBALL PREVIEW 6C
THURSDAY, NOVEBMER 2, 2006
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
7C
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2006
BY JOSH LANDAU
Going into the season, the
University of Kansas womens bas-
ketball team will face a challenging
schedule on top of having a team with
seven freshmen. Unlike last year, the
team will face non-conference games
away from their home court.
We had every single game here
until after the New Year, junior for-
ward Taylor McIntosh said. I think
more away games at the beginning of
the season will help the team.
Along with tough non-conference
games on the road, the Jayhawks
will face tough Big 12 opponents at
home.
I looked at the schedule online,
and we do have a tough schedule,
senior guard Sharita Smith said. We
play some really good teams early. It
will give the freshmen a chance on
the court.
Even with a young team and a
tough schedule, coach Bonnie
Henrickson feels her team can
respond.
In high school, the freshmen
traveled more than we did, she said.
I didnt think it was a negative last
year to not travel, but now we can
learn from the mistakes we had last
year.
Last year, the Jayhawks got off to a
quick start, winning a school-record
12 games in a row before finally los-
ing their first away game at Nebraska.
Kansas finished with only one road
victory, in Ames, Iowa.
The Jayhawks finished the sea-
son 17-13 and received a bid to the
WNIT tournament. The WNIT was
a step in the right direction for the
team, but was not the outcome they
were hoping for.
It was a little bit of a let down last
year going to the WNIT, senior for-
ward Shaquina Mosley said. I think
we have the talent to be successful
this season.
The team will only have one home
game before they travel to Omaha,
Neb to face Creighton. With half
the team made up of freshmen, the
Jayhawks will have to gain experi-
ence fast.
We are going to have to work
twice as hard because we are so
young, freshman forward Rebecca
Feickert said. We are going to have
to give 100 percent every night.
The Jayhawks will compete in the
WBCA Classic Nov. 11-12 before
having their first home game against
UMKC Nov. 16th at 7 pm.

Kansan sportswriter Josh Landau
can be contacted at jlandau@kan-
san.com.
Edited by Brett Bolton
Womens team hits road early
Unlike last season, non-conference play will be no cakewalk
BY SHAWN SHROYER
Kansas has yet to play a mean-
ingful game, but its clear that the
Jayhawks must find leadership.
This years team has already had
to deal with distractions stemming
from NCAA sanctions and the sus-
pension of a teammate.
The question is, who will lead this
team?
It wont be a member of Kansas
senior class because, well, there is no
senior class. For the first time since
the 1974-75 season, Kansas will have
no seniors.
The absence of even a single
senior to start a season is a first for
coach Bill Self.
Ive started a year with seniors
before and finished with no seniors,
but I guess to start with no seniors,
this would be a first, Self said.
Without seniors like Kirk Hinrich,
Aaron Miles, Wayne Simien and
Christian Moody, this preseason has
been a new experience for the play-
ers as well.
Junior forward Darnell Jackson
said this preseason had been interest-
ing because in past years, the seniors
had the final say.
With Wayne and them, they
were running things, so if they told
you to do something, you couldnt
talk back, Jackson said. Now if one
of us says something to one of the
sophomores, theyre just like, Yeah,
whatever.
All kidding aside, the leadership
responsibilities have fallen on the
shoulders of the junior class.
Jackson is one junior capable of
leading this team. Despite only one
career start, he has been a spark
plug off the bench for the Jayhawks.
Jackson said hes comfortable as a
role player.
Im going to do the same thing
Ive always been doing since I got
here, Jackson said. Just fill my role
and help the team win.
Junior center Sasha Kaun has been
a mainstay of Kansas starting lineup
with the second-most career starts
of all the juniors. But Kaun doesnt
think of himself as a team leader.
Im definitely trying to be, but
Im being more of a quiet team lead-
er, doing the right things, Kaun said.
Hopefully people will look at me
and say, Thats the right way to do it;
follow that.
Instead, the team leaders chosen
from media day were junior guards
Jeremy Case and Russell Robinson.
Case, who has been at Kansas for
four years but took a redshirt his
sophomore season, has been the
teams vocal leader, while Robinson
has led by example.
Case doesnt see the court as much
as the rest of the junior class. He
doesnt have any career starts and
hasnt played half the minutes of his
fellow juniors, but his extra year of
experience at the collegiate level has
made him a team leader. He said
former Jayhawks Aaron Miles and
Michael Lee influenced him the most
to fill a leadership role.
Ive been here the longest, and
I feel like I know the ropes, Case
said. Whenever I get a chance, I try
to give advice or let them know how
things are supposed to be.
Of all the juniors, Robinson has
played the most minutes and started
the most games. As a result, Robinson
said he could see why his teammates
considered him a leader.
Probably because I have the most
playing experience, maybe, but it is
what it is, and I have to make the
most of what it is, and hopefully I can
lead this team in the right direction,
Robinson said.
Freshman guard Sherron Collins
said that Case and Robinson had
helped him find a comfort zone this
preseason. Once the Jayhawks regu-
lar season gets under way, the two
will likely play different leadership
roles during games.
Case, a three-point specialist, will
probably continue to come off the
bench and enter games to provide an
offensive spark. But after last season,
Self probably wont take Robinson
out of games unless absolutely nec-
essary.
He was there for us last year,
Jackson said of Robinson. I think
hes going to be there for us this
year.
Last season on Jan. 28 at Iowa
State, Robinson solidified himself as
Kansas floor general. When Robinson
was in the game, the Kansas offense
ran smoothly. But once he was taken
out, no matter who was at the point,
the offense broke down and Iowa
State crept back into the game.
With Kansas leading by just two
early in the second half, Robinson hit
two jumpers and a three-point shot
in a 3-minute span to give Kansas
a 12-point lead. Iowa State only got
within seven points of Kansas the
rest of the game.
Case hasnt let his lack of playing
time stop him from taking advantage
of every opportunity hes had to be
a leader.
He said he encouraged the under-
classmen as much as possible to
make sure they knew the junior class
was there for them.
And although Robinson has
become the face of the junior class,
he hasnt let it affect his ego. Instead,
hes impressed his fellow juniors by
bringing the same intensity to prac-
tice that hes displayed in games.
He runs the court harder than
anyone, Giles said of Robinson. He
wins every race to show that he is
our leader.
Kansan sportswriter Shawn Shroy-
er can be contacted at sshroyer@
kansan.com.
Edited by Shanxi Upsdell
Lack of seniors leaves leadership void
Juniors Case and Robinson expected to step up and take charge of youngsters
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EVERDAY
basketball PReVIeW 8c
thursday, november 2, 2006
By C.J. Moore
The three Jayhawk freshmen
Sherron Collins, Darrell Arthur and
Brady Morningstar are saying all
the right things.
I think were just going to do
whatever coach Self asked us to do,
Collins said. Were not going to try
to come out and try to be stars and
try to take over the team.
But with two McDonalds All-
Americans Collins and Arthur
and a hometown hero in Morningstar,
Jayhawk fans are expecting big things
and so is Kansas coach Bill Self.
When we recruit players, the per-
ception is that theyre going to step
in and have an unbelievable impact,
and thats not always the case, Self
said. These guys, primarily Sherron
and Shady (Arthur), have a chance
to have an immediate impact and Im
not sure Brady is far off from having
an immediate impact as well.
Without further ado, meet the
class of 2010.
Sherron Collins
Collins is not like most freshmen.
Several weeks before practice
started as the team underwent Self s
two-week version of hell his boot
camp Collins could be heard
encouraging his teammates and lead-
ing several drills.
Hes a leader, junior Rodrick
Stewart said. Sherron is funny
because not too many freshmen come
in and just have that natural leader-
ship ability like he does.
Collins said he was used to playing
that role and he wouldnt have it any
other way. When he started at point
guard as a freshman at Crane High
School in Chicago, he was a leader
right away.
He led Crane to two conference
and city league championships, and
led the way his senior year by scor-
ing 33 points a game, averaging eight
rebounds and dishing out six assists.
Thats just me being normal, me
being me, Collins said. I know how
to lead, how to talk to my teammates
and just lead by example. At the same
time, I have to gain their trust first to
get them to listen to me.
Self realizes Collins potential but
isnt quite ready to hand over the keys
to a freshman.
I think Sherron has the intan-
gibles to be a great leader, Self said.
But before he can become a great
leader, hes going to have to figure out
whats going on for himself.
Darrell Arthur
Whether he likes being sought
after or is just a careful decision-
maker, Arthur took his sweet time
deciding to come to Kansas.
Arthur, a 6-foot-9-inch forward
from Dallas, was one of the most
highly sought after big men in the
country and one of the last high-pro-
file prospects to sign.
When we went around the room
yesterday and I talked about how
much time we spent recruiting guys
hard, and you could add up the whole
room and it probably didnt add up to
Darrell as far as the length of time,
Self said. Julian took 2 1/2 hours and
Darrell took 2 1/2 years.
But Self knows Arthur could be
well worth the wait. He won back-
to-back state championships at South
Oak Cliff high school and was the
co-Mr. Basketball in Texas his senior
season, and hes shown Self a thing or
two so far this fall.
The reason he was being recruit-
ed so highly is hes got some natural
things you cant teach, Self said. Hes
got a body. Hes got strength. Hes got
touch. Hes got explosiveness.
Even with all the accolades, Arthur
doesnt expect to be a big star right
away for the Jayhawks. He said he
wanted to come in this season and
block shots and get rebounds.
Arthur talks as if hell be coming
off the bench but Self has said he had
a chance to start in the frontcourt
with forward Julian Wright, whom
Arthur tried to model his game after.
Brady Morningstar
Morningstar has heard the rum-
blings, as have his teammates, and his
friends have told him what people are
saying hes here because of his dad,
former Jayhawk Roger Morningstar,
and because he played down the road
at Lawrence Free State.
But his roommate Collins has
already taken notice; this wasnt a
politics signing, because Morningstar
can play.
Right now, a lot people think
Brady wont play during the season,
Collins said. We do have a lot of tal-
ent and theres times that I might not
even play, but Brady can shoot the
ball well, he can pass the ball well and
he can jump high too.
Morningstar took his game to a
prep school in New Hampshire last
year to make sure he was ready to
play at a school like Kansas.
After graduating from Free State
in 2005 as the Sunflower League play-
er of the year, he had interest from
smaller schools. But he said he want-
ed to get away from Lawrence for a
year and season his game enough to
be a Jayhawk.
Morningstar was a star at New
Hampton Prep, leading the 25-10
team by scoring 22 points per game.
After a solid AAU summer season
in 2005, Self offered Morningstar a
spot on this years team.
Its a dream but its also a reality,
he said. Im actually here now. Its the
real deal. Im here to get something
accomplished.
Kansan staf writer C.J. Moore can
be contacted at cjmoore@kansan.
com.
Editedby Natalie Johnson
Freshmen bring rock star
abilities, homegrown humility
Amanda Sellers/KANSAN
Freshmen Brady Morningstar, Sherron Collins and Darrell Arthur could have an immediate impact on a teamlooking for many contributors.
Darrell Arthurs nickname is Shady.
Sherron Collins was a three-sport
athlete at Crane High School. He pitched
for the baseball team and played wide
receiver/free safety for the football team.
He was recruited by colleges in all three
sports.
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