Kenny Gregory learned a thing or two about leadership in his first three years on Kansas University’s basketball team.
“I’ve definitely been able to learn the ropes from being around some great players Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz, Nick Bradford,” said Gregory, KU’s senior small forward from Columbus, Ohio. “I’ve been able to watch the way they did things the last three to four years. I’m very comfortable trying to lead by example.”
Aside from point guard Kirk Hinrich, who must lead the team by barking out orders on each offensive possession, the Jayhawks might be looking to Gregory for leadership more than anybody else.
The 6-foot-5, 208-pounder’s stats do a lot of talking.
Gregory is averaging a team-leading 17.2 points per game on 64.8 percent shooting. He also contributes 7.2 rebounds per contest and has 22 assists against 14 turnovers.
The Jayhawks (11-1) won two games and suffered their only loss of the season during the three games Gregory missed because of a stress fracture in his right foot.
Without Gregory against Wake Forest, DePaul and Tulsa KU was outscored 222 points to 220, or an average of 74 points per game to 73.
In KU’s nine victories with Gregory, the Jayhawks have outscored foes 791 to 558 or an average of 87.9 to 65.3.
In games with Gregory, the Jayhawks are hitting 53.9 percent of their shots. Without him, the mark falls to 47.2 percent.
The Jayhawks have 50 turnovers against 45 assists without Gregory, 211 assists against 158 turnovers with Gregory.
“One thing Kenny is doing better than he’s ever done is get offensive rebounds,” KU coach Roy Williams said of Gregory, who has 25 offensive boards in nine games overall, but just three in two games since returning from his sabbatical.
“You think of his leaping ability, explosiveness, strength and nose for the ball. He’s also better defensively this year. He’s worked harder defensively. This year he’s grasping a heck of a lot more clearly what I want him to do on the backboards.”
Kansas will be playing its fifth Saturday game of the season this Saturday at Texas Tech. Tipoff is 8:05 p.m. at the United Spirit Arena).
In Saturday victories over Washburn, Tulsa, Ohio State and SW Missouri State, the Jayhawks have outscored their opponents by an average of 84.3 points to 59. The Jayhawks have come to play defense on Saturdays, holding foes to 28 percent three-point shooting and 32.8 percent overall marksmanship. The Jayhawks have also had a plus-12.7 rebounding margin on Saturdays.
KU is currently in the fourth week of a five-week stretch of Saturday games with no games in between.
“I don’t mind it as much right now because we are in the (semester) break period. We’re getting a lot of things done,” Williams said. “This week, for example, we bring them in 45 minutes to an hour in the morning and shoot free throws. By the time we leave for Texas Tech Friday, everybody will have shot over 1,000 extra free throws over the course of the week.”
KU coach Williams was greatly saddened by news of the death of Bobbi Olson, wife of Arizona coach Lute Olson. Bobbi Olson, 65, died Monday following a 21/2-year bout with ovarian cancer.
“Wanda (Williams’ wife) and I spent four hours together with Bobbi and Lute in August. At the time they felt they had turned the corner and four months later she is gone,” Williams said on his Hawk Talk radio show. “It is sad and gives us even more incentive to try to raise more money to try to fight cancer, find some cure. Bobbi went through a great deal.”
KU coach Williams lost his mother to cancer several years ago.
He is greatly involved with the Coaches V. Cancer group and its “3-point attack” in which fans pledge money for each three-pointer made by a KU player.
KU senior center Eric Chenowith is averaging 16.3 ppg and 11.8 rebounds in KU’s six games in Allen Fieldhouse. Chenowith is averaging 7.7 points and 6.7 boards away from the fieldhouse.
