Nobody’s calling talk shows complaining about Kansas coach Roy Williams’ substitution policy this season.
Williams, who has used up to 10 or 11 players in the past, went with a seven-man rotation in Monday’s 92-66 victory over Middle Tennessee State.
The five starters played between 25 and 34 minutes, with reserves Nick Collison and Luke Axtell drawing 25 and 18 minutes, respectively.
Nobody else played more than three minutes.
“Really it’s just the way things worked out,” Williams said. “I probably wanted to make sure I gave Nick Collison a couple of more minutes just to enjoy the good moments he was having since he didn’t enjoy many the other night (in 10-minute outing against Washburn).
“I wish I’d gotten Jeff Carey some more time,” Williams said of the junior forward who logged three minutes along with Bryant Nash. “He’s almost being treated unfairly because I have so much confidence in him. I know if I play him three minutes or 10, I’ll get good play out of him. Tonight he was one who got sort of shortchanged.
“I want to get the walk-ons in at the end,” Williams added, “so Jeff sort of got squeezed at both ends.”
Axtell, who has played in two straight games after missing the first four because of a left ankle sprain, still isn’t 100 percent.
“I’m 85 percent,” he said after scoring 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting.
“It doesn’t affect my shot. It affects me cutting and coming off screens and moving laterally. I talked to coach about it today and he said it’ll be three to four weeks where I have some pain. I can deal with that.”
Williams said he spoke with Axtell about the ankle to assure the senior guard he was making normal progress.
“He tweaked it Saturday and I think it scared him a bit,” Williams said. “He was a little tentative yesterday at practice and today. We had a little talk. I told him I’d watch him closely and he has to understand everybody who has had a severe ankle sprain has some pain involved and discomfort a month after they start playing again.
“He must understand it and be able to live with that part. He gives you another weapon. He is hard to guard.”
Eric Chenowith had his third straight double-double 15 points and 12 boards with some loved ones in town.
“My sister Melissa Smith and her husband Greg Smith, my nieces Alexis (2) and Taylor (4) piled in their Honda Accord and drove 24 hours (from California). They got here just before Saturday’s game,” Chenowith said. “They took the southern route, through Arizona and Texas.
” My sister will not fly. She is convinced the next flight she gets on will crash. I am so happy to see them. It’s great they’d drive that far to see me. She came over last night and cooked for me and Jeff (Carey) and cleaned the place up.”
What’s more, Chenowith’s father, Bob, and sister, Amanda (13) flew in for games Saturday and Monday. They return to California today to support Eric’s mom, Janey, who is undergoing her sixth and final chemo treatment for breast cancer. The rest of the clan stays for Thursday’s game against Illinois State.
“My sister plays volleyball. Actually she said she wants to play at KU,” Chenowith said. “My mom is doing great, thank the Lord. My aunt and uncle are taking care of her and my dad’s going back tomorrow.”
KU has beaten its last four foes by 25 points or more. Last time that happened was Dec. 11, 1996 to Jan. 2, 1997 when KU beat five in a row by such a margin. The teams were George Washington (29 points), UNC-Asheville (32), North Carolina State (28), Washburn (25) and Brown (58).
KU had seven players in double figure scoring, most since seven reached double figures on Jan. 14, 1993 versus Oral Roberts. … Chenowith had one block, the 200th of his career. He ties Danny Manning for third place on KU’s all-time block charts. He’s 18 shy of tying Scot Pollard for second.
Recruiting analyst Mike Sullivan of Insiders Report has ranked KU’s recruiting class second best in the country behind North Carolina State.
KU signed Oregon guards Aaron Miles and Michael Lee, Leavenworth forward Wayne Simien and Texas shooting guard Keith Langford. Also, KC Sumner guard Jeff Hawkins will walk on next season and receive a scholarship the following four years.
