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KU vs. Arizona

Tucson, Ariz — Woolridge in the house

Future Kansas University player Royce Woolridge, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound junior shooting guard from Phoenix Sunnyslope High, sat in the McKale Center stands with two buddies and one of his prep coaches.

Woolridge is averaging 29.6 points a game off 49 percent shooting with 5.0 boards and 2.6 assists per contest for 8-2 Sunnyslope.

He’s headed to Wisconsin to visit relatives for the holidays.

“I’ve never been in weather like that,” said Woolridge, enjoying “winter” in Phoenix, which lately has meant upper-60-degree temperatures.

He definitely planned to root for KU at the game.

“I get made fun of a lot. I get that all the time,” he said of Sunnyslope classmates asking him to change his mind and become an Arizona Wildcat.

No chance of that. He’s happy with his early college choice.

Holiday schedule

KU’s players were to head to their hometowns today for a short Christmas break. Everybody is expected back in Lawrence for practice late Saturday afternoon.

The Jayhawks will hold their annual holiday clinic for boys and girls grades three to eight from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Allen Fieldhouse.

The clinic will feature instruction from current Jayhawk players and coaches and include an autograph and picture session. More information is available at billselfbasketballcamp.com.

KU’s next game is against Albany, set for an 8 p.m. tipoff Tuesday in Allen.

Zona to land top coach

The vacant Arizona coaching job, currently manned by interim Russ Pennell, is an attractive one, KU coach Bill Self says.

“The job that coach (Lute) Olson did here would probably equate to as good a turnaround job as ever been done in college basketball. Arizona has been to 24 straight NCAA Tournaments. It’s gotten to the point to where Arizona has been viewed as either the premier or one of the top two or three premier recruiting jobs in the West Coast,” Self said. “I don’t see that going away just because coach Olson (who resigned in October) isn’t coaching. They’ve done such a good job that over time it’s still going to be Arizona. They will hire a guy who will attract a high-level recruit.”

Pennell a native Kansan

Pennell, 48, who graduated from Pittsburg High, played basketball at both the University of Arkansas and Central Arkansas. He later received both his bachelor’s and graduate degrees from Pittsburg State.

Pennell has worked as an assistant at Oklahoma State, Mississippi and Arizona State. He spent the last two seasons running the Arizona Premier Basketball League in the Phoenix area. He also was a commentator for the Arizona State radio network last season.

“Growing up in that state, you understand how important they are,” Pennell said of the Jayhawks. “The thing about KU, it’s just so storied. No matter who the coach has been, it’s just one of the great programs. That state is certainly proud, and there’s no place like Allen Fieldhouse. When it’s rocking, there’s no better place to play.”

Pennell said he was “a little bit of a K-State fan” growing up. “I was a big fan of Lon (Kruger). I didn’t have allegiance any way. I liked both programs.”

Collins fan

Pennell on KU guard Sherron Collins: “Wow. That guy can change ends quick.”

Both schools have early entries galore

Arizona knows what it feels like to lose players early to the NBA. The Wildcats lost underclassmen Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson and Michael Wright to the 2001 Draft. Without the trio, the Wildcats went 24-10, 12-6 in the Pac Ten and reached the NCAA Sweet 16.

KU, of course, lost Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers after the national title season.

“If our guys came back they would have had a second year to make a run. You’re not going to find many teams that have a three-year window for a chance to make serious runs. So it was important that we did it last year,” Self said of winning it all with guys with their eyes on the NBA.

“I want our guys to leave. Not from a personal standpoint, but I think over time, if you have guys who are leaving to go be professionals, you’ll recruit better because guys want to go to places where they have opportunities (to play in NBA).”

He does not believe players should leave unless they are emotionally equipped for the rigors of the pros.