Bushy-haired Jeff Carey might give fans a thrill during tonight’s Late Night With Roy Williams at Allen Fieldhouse.

“It’s hard to describe my hair. I just kind of had to set it free this summer, let it do what it wanted to,” said Carey, KU’s junior forward from Camdenton, Mo. “My hair will be locked up again soon. It’s about to change very quickly. The fans are gonna see both (at Late Night).”

In other words, look for Carey to possibly undergo a transformation a haircut during Late Night festivities.

Doors open at 5 p.m. today with the first skits starting sometime after 10 p.m. Admission is free, but fans are asked to bring a canned food item for charity.

Earl Richardson/J-W Photo

Hair was a hot topic at Media Day on Thursday.

Senior Luke Axtell, who has had long hair in the past, has a close-cropped look. Junior Jeff Boschee, who has shaved his head the past two years, has short hair, with gel for now.

“In May, I went back home and decided to grow it out. Since the end of May, I’ve had hair,” said Boschee, a native of Valley City, N.D.

“I’m getting a lot of peer pressure to shave it tomorrow night at Late Night. Jeff Carey wants me to do it, but I haven’t decided,” Boschee added.

There’s a girlfriend to consider, too.

“I’m losing sleep over it. She wants me to keep it, but she doesn’t really care. My roommates tell me to keep it and go for a new look,” Boschee said.

Who will do the shaving?

“I’m not in charge of the razor. You’ll have to talk to (KU junior) John Crider,” Carey said with a grin. “Kenny’s going to do mine, I think. You’ll have to come and find out. Nothing is official yet. If mine goes it’s no big deal. I’ve shaved my head before.”

Bad back: KU senior Kenny Gregory probably won’t be involved in any dunk drills tonight.

“I know some of the fans may be disappointed, but I probably won’t be dunking for sure. I don’t want to risk it,” said Gregory, who is recovering from last week’s bout of back spasms. “I’ll probably play in the scrimmage, but I have to talk to coach about that.

“It’s weird. I had been doing well. Then last Monday I got up from my computer and felt something. I’ve been out a week and a half.”

Gregory has suffered from back woes his entire KU career.

“This won’t threaten my season or anything,” he said.

No more Mr. Nice Guy: Williams said Thursday he might get tough this season, tolerating few mistakes.

“After my freshman year, he said the same thing,” Boschee said. “Coach Williams is always going to be tough on the court and push us to do our best. He’s a nice guy off the court.”

Williams on the stabbing of Paul Pierce: “It was a tragedy. One of the most sickening things I’ve ever heard was when (KU assistant) Ben Miller called me that morning,” he said of the morning Pierce was stabbed in a barroom incident in Boston.

“I spoke to Paul Monday night. He is really feeling good. He’s hoping to practice soon. It’s almost bizarre. You never expect something like that to happen to you or somebody close to you. We talked about how lucky he is and how wild it was at the same time.

“I did not see last night’s SportsCenter (on ESPN). They showed Paul before the Boston Celtics’ game with a big smile on his face. He realizes he is a lucky young man right now.”

Let the countdown begin: KU has just 15 practices scheduled before the first exhibition game on Nov. 1.

“We will just get right into it and have to learn fast,” Crider said. “We will have to get the offense down quick and learn to play as a team. This fall we conditioned more than before and that will play a big role in what we can get done before the first game.”