Jayhawks show signs of life

By Bill Mayer     Dec 16, 2000

Could it be that in the Tuesday DePaul game we saw the face of the Kansas basketball future and it is a montage of the Three Musketeers? If so, it’s promising, because these guys look eager and willing to accept the challenge.

DePaul played well and shot opportunely in establishing a nine-point halftime lead. Kansas was not distinguishing itself with heady play; several times you could read coach Roy Williams’ disturbed lips: “Be smart!” I’d have added “dammit,” but that’s not Roy’s style.

Even while many of us were shuddering at the prospect of another KU el floppo like Wake Forest, there were signs the Jayhawks were not losing contact with the Blue Demons. They were behind, but not looking intimidated or scared. You got the notion they would keep flying at the enemy throughout, particularly on defense. They’d been embarrassed enough.

The main inspirations were sophomores Kirk Hinrich, Nick Collison and Drew Gooden. You got the impression they simply would not accept defeat and would keep charging into the fray.

The Musketeers with their fury and flourish were saying they missed the ailing Kenny Gregory and Luke Axtell and would gladly accept contributions from senior Eric Chenowith and junior Jeff Boschee. But, with or without, they were going to do it alone if they had to.

Fortunately Chenowith despite foul problems had a 13-point, seven-rebound, two-block night and Boschee added seven points, three boards, two assists and only one turnover.

But it was the fiery sophs who were setting the pace. They were declaring, in effect, you can come along for the ride and we’ll gladly accept anything positive you can do; if you choose to remain unproductive lard-butts, we’ll just do it ourselves.

The upperclassmen should be the core, yet here was the Kiddie Korps giving them lessons in passion and pride.

It should’ve left Gregory and Axtell even more eager to get back into combat. Yet I fear neither will be doing much dragon-slaying for some time, maybe not until after Christmas. I believe the leadership of the youthful trio has set the tone for the rest of the route.

The Gleesome Threesome as it performed in that stirring comeback at DePaul indicated it can anchor the club at least until the Jan. 6 league opener at Texas Tech. That might mean they’ll be playing a lot more minutes, as in Chicago.

Will the Williams platoon system give way to playing guys longer to establish a flow and maintain a rhythm?

Ultimately, Kansas could have a nine-man pattern when Gregory and Axtell join Hinrich, Collison, Gooden, Boschee and Chenowith, and if Mario Kinsey and Jeff Carey chip in. But will there be less attention on sharing playing time and more focus on extended productivity?

Against DePaul, Hinrich played 39 minutes, Collison, Gooden and Boschee 36 each, and Chenowith 27, because of fouls. That’s 174 minutes out of a possible 200 and KU needed all five on the court as much as possible.

Conditioning? Not to worry anymore. There are the regular timeouts to use. Then there are those television interruptions at or around 16 minutes, 12 minutes, eight minutes and four minutes to sell stuff and promote things. You don’t need a Soviet army philosophy of depth anymore. Let the talent shine through the sweat and panting.

Well prepared kids generally don’t get too tired and may even play more consistently when they are weary and in more intelligent control. When they get too caught up flashing the “tired” signal, when they aren’t hurting at all, how much is their concentration diverted? How much do they lose from a “blow”?

Don’t tell me the Three Musketeers aren’t ready to go 40 minutes every game if they have to. Chenowith, Boschee, Gregory, Axtell and everyone else ought to be just as dedicated.

Cartoon icon Pogo used to say: “We have met the enemy and they is us.” Put another way, this Kansas team can be its own worst enemy if it doesn’t “be smart” and keep playing with the ferocity it displayed at DePaul. At the same time, if everyone will measure up to the performance of the sophomores in that vital turnaround, we ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

That $252 million baseball contract for Texas Ranger shortstop Alex Rodriquez is obscene. A Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan might spur a basketball title, with good support; a super quarterback can lead a solid team to glory. Baseball has too many guys for one man to carry. Look at the marvelous help Babe Ruth had. Have dinger dandies Mark McGwire or Sammy Sosa led their teams to titles? Baseball has at least 20 other guys on a level with Rodriquez. The guy will be making $500,000 a week . . . a week, for mercy sakes! Think of the many true greats who never even made $100,000 a year.

The past season, Texas finished dead last, 20.5 games out of first, in the American League Western Division, with a 71-91 record. Can Rodriguez add even 10 victories to that combo, even get the Rangers to .500? An 81-81 still won’t do it.

If baseball goes broke, and it could, blame indulgent owners who are nuts and greedy players who may never wind up getting all their millions because their teams have gone bankrupt.

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