Thank heaven for walk-ons … and administrative assistant Jerod Haase.
“We wouldn’t have been able to practice without them,” Kansas basketball coach Roy Williams said Thursday.
He’s not fooling.
Seniors Kenny Gregory (stress fracture, right foot) and Luke Axtell (left ankle sprain) missed Thursday’s practice, as did flu-ridden freshman Mario Kinsey.
Williams said he did not expect Gregory to play in Saturday’s game against Tulsa (8:05 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse).
Axtell remains questionable at “50-50,” while Kinsey should be able to answer the bell against the 6-2 Golden Hurricane.
“It’s hard to take seven or eight days off, practice one day and be ready to play,” Williams said of Gregory, who has missed KU’s last two games. “If we make any errors, particularly with a senior, we’d rather make an error on the side of being conservative.
“In my mind I sort of hoped we’d have Luke for some duty Saturday,” Williams added.
Axtell didn’t dress for practice Thursday because of a conflict with a final exam.
So that left three walk-ons, plus the 26-year-old Haase to help out. Remember, KU also is without guard John Crider (right quad tear), who likely will transfer to Washburn second semester.
“I just wanted to make sure the oxygen was ready in case we needed to get him off the court,” Williams said of Haase. “Our guys probably learn something from him. They start going for a loose ball and here an old man goes running past ’em and gets it just because he’s more alert.
“This is a delicate time period with exams,” Williams added. “We had three kids out and one left early for an exam. Jeff Boschee had one exam this morning and one after practice. It’s difficult right now.”
Senior Eric Chenowith said he sympathizes with Gregory and Axtell, but needled Kinsey about his flu woes.
“If somebody on the team is sick, be tough and practice,” Chenowith said. “That’s the way I have been raised and the way I have been coached since high school and playing here at Kansas. Suck it up, go out there and play.
“The guys just have to be tough. I think we are tough. Some guys on the team get sick and let that dominate … If you are committed to basketball you’ll play.”
Chenowith who is tackling a leadership role his senior year was asked if he was speaking about Kinsey specifically.
“No, but we have a guy taking a test and two guys hurt. We need everybody there at practice. I haven’t said anybody’s name, but I think if you are sick you need to fight through at practice,” Chenowith said.
KU sophomore Nick Collison jammed the middle finger on his shooting hand in the first half of the DePaul game. He managed a career-high 23 points against the Demons.
“I told Nick after practice today if he’s going to get 23, I’ll hurt it before every game,” Williams quipped.
“It was pretty bad yesterday. The swelling went down today,” Collison said. “It’s fine.”
Williams was asked if he thinks Collison plays better as a starter. He exploded for his career high after coming off the bench four straight games.
“The first game I did not start him he was awful (two points versus Washburn). The next game he had 14 (versus Middle Tennessee State) and was really good,” Williams said. “He’s been doggone consistent defensively, consistently in top three defensive grades.
“I think every kid would love to start and think about it more than the coaches do. Nick has a tremendous attitude and looks at it the right way. He wants to be in when the game is on the line.
“I am not sticking with the starting lineup I have now. “I don’t want Nick, Eric, Drew (Gooden) to feel confident they’ll start. I want them to work every day and give the same effort whether starting or off the bench.”
Williams was asked if he had a theory why seniors such as Gregory, Axtell, Raef LaFrentz, T.J. Pugh, Jacque Vaughn and Haase suffered injuries in their final go-rounds.
“I think all injuries … it’s just part of the game,” he said. “Our practices are much less physical than when I first got here. We used to do ‘draw charge drills’ and ‘loose ball drills.’ We don’t do those any more.
“The only way to stop having injuries is to stop practicing and stop playing. It’s always been a part of the game and always will be part of every athletic activity. We’ll always have some injuries. You named guys who got hurt as seniors. I can name a lot more that didn’t.”
KU coach Williams went recruiting after Tuesday’s game in Chicago. On Wednesday night, he was stuck at the Houston airport 41/2 hours waiting for a flight. He arrived in Kansas City after midnight Thursday.
Kelly Orchard, a 6-10 junior center from Salt Lake City, told High Major Hoops he’s going to make an unofficial visit for the KU-Tulsa game. Pac West Hoops rates him as the third best center on the West Coast. Early contenders are: KU, Utah, Utah State, Stanford, Cal, UCLA, USC, Oregon, Vanderbilt, BYU, Rutgers and Weber State.
