Former Kansas University roommates Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison won't be placing a friendly wager on the Oct. 15 Chicago Bulls-Seattle Super Sonics NBA exhibition in Allen Fieldhouse.

"No bets, no bets ... Nick is a great kid. I don't want to take any of his money," Bulls point guard Hinrich said, needling Sonics power forward Collison during a Thursday teleconference hyping the 1 p.m. game.

Take his money?

Collison would have none of that smack talk.

"I think they are 0-4 against us since I've been playing," said fourth-year pro Collison, who sat out his rookie season because of surgery on both shoulders. "If we were betting, he'd have a long way to go to get his money back."

The two are looking forward to returning to KU, where they led the Jayhawks to a pair of Final Fours in their careers spanning 1999-2003.

"I'm excited about the game in Kansas. It gives me an opportunity to see a lot of friends and play in Allen Fieldhouse, which I think is the best all-time arena," Hinrich said.

"I think it'll be a lot of fun playing in the fieldhouse again," Collison said. "It's a preseason game, so I'm not too excited," he added with a laugh.

So far, just under 11,000 tickets have been sold for the game which also will feature former KU center Eric Chenowith, who is trying for a free agent roster spot with the Bulls, as well as Sonics coach Bob Hill, a former Jayhawk assistant. Tickets are available at kuathletics.com or at the KU ticket office.

It's possible Collison, who is fighting for a starting spot, will play more than Hinrich, who is coming off a busy summer in which he spent five weeks playing for the bronze-medal-winning U.S. national team.

"Health wise I got out of it all right. I'm not banged up," said Hinrich. He returned from Saitama, Japan, on Sept. 3. "It's a quick turnaround, but I'm excited for the season."

Hinrich said he wasn't burned out on basketball, a fear of some NBA players entering their USA Basketball commitment.

"It wasn't grueling," said Hinrich, who played a significant backup role. "It was being out of the country a long time, but I enjoyed it. Other than we lost, it was a great experience. I think I learned a lot. I got to know some good guys. To be on the national team and get as much time as I did gives me lot of confidence."

Collison spent the summer working out in Seattle, but did find time to return to Lawrence recently to play pick-up basketball one day with the Jayhawks.

"They've got a lot of talent," Collison said. "Brandon (Rush) stood out maybe more than the other guys. The pick-up games weren't that good when I was there. I don't know if it's because it was Friday or what. They were a little sloppy. From being in college four years I know some days are good, some not.

"I know they are talented. The only potential problem is having so many guys who want to play a lot, taking care of chemistry. I imagine nobody is more talented in the country," he added. "They seem like pretty good kids, too.

"Who knows? Every year is different. They should have a great year."

¢ Blazers drop Miles: Former KU guard Aaron Miles won't be reporting to preseason camp of his hometown Portland Trail Blazers, after all. The Blazers announced Thursday that, because of a mid-ankle sprain, Miles did not pass his team physical and the club would not tender him a contract. Miles is expected to make a full recovery within two weeks.

¢ Late Night details: Late Night in the Phog will run from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, in Allen Fieldhouse. Admission is free. Seating is general admission with doors opening at 6 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items, which will be donated to food pantries. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. The fieldhouse doors will be closed if the arena reaches capacity.