Armchair quarterbacks and couch potatoes all have their theories about Kansas University’s slow start in men’s basketball this year.
So do the Jayhawk players.
“I think this team had an early identity crisis,” sophomore guard Keith Langford said Tuesday, subbing for KU coach Roy Williams during the Big 12 Conference’s weekly coaches’ teleconference.
“We were still thinking we were the same team as last year, that we were Drew Gooden, Jeff Boschee — a team that was untouchable, that went to the Final Four.
“I think reality hit us that this is a different team. This is 2002-03, not last year. Teams will not lay down for us,” added Langford, who takes a 17.4 scoring average and 5.3 rebound average into Saturday’s game against UCLA.
Tipoff is 4 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
The No. 19-ranked Jayhawks (5-3), who lost Gooden and Boschee from last year’s 33-4 Final Four team, stumbled out of the gate, suffering double-digit defeats to North Carolina and Florida in Preseason NIT games in New York before a six-point setback at Oregon.
The good news entering the UCLA game, Langford said, is the team’s identity is beginning to take shape following wins over Tulsa and Emporia State.
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“We are coming together at practice like good teams do,” Langford said. “I really think the key of late has been our focus at practice. I felt our losses early in the season came on little mistakes, small things that everybody knows they can do.
“The last few games everybody is doing what they’re being told to do. They are being disciplined enough to take the time and actually execute things instead of trying to go one-on-one and do things on their own.”
Langford said early-season media criticism has toughened the squad.
“The media has been very critical this year,” Langford said, asked by a Texas reporter about local reaction to the 5-3 start. “We have three losses this year. We didn’t have our third loss last year until March. I’ve experienced personal criticism, being called ‘ball-hog’ and ‘black hole,’ things like that.
“As a team, the media has criticized us about not playing together, but the strength of our team will be if we decide whether we fall into that or not. If we fall into what the media say, then I think we’ll crumble. As long as we stay together, they have no control over what the team does, how the team practices. We control our own destiny. If we win five, six, seven games in a row, the media will jump back on the bandwagon.”
Seats on the bandwagon might start filling if KU fares well Saturday against UCLA, a team that had won two of its first four games entering Tuesday’s late game against Northern Arizona. Jason Kapono and Cedric Bozeman combined for 14 points and six assists in the Bruins’ 87-77 win over KU last year in Los Angeles.
KU had entered that game ranked No. 1 in the country with a 13-1 record. UCLA entered ranked No. 11 with an 11-3 mark.
“I think of this game in two ways. One, we can’t come out and underestimate this team because they are not ranked,” Langford said. “UCLA is 2-2. They are trying to go over. 500. On the other hand, we need a win. Period. We’re only two games over .500. Regardless of whether this was UCLA or some Division II or Division AA school, we need this win.”
Langford said last year’s loss to UCLA actually helped the Jayhawks.
“It took us off our pedestal,” Langford said. “We’re floating around, untouchable, especially with me. Being a freshman, I really hadn’t felt the pain of losing. Last year it was actually a good one for us. It wasn’t a confidence loss. It made us much more focused when we went into Oklahoma State the next game.”
KU bounced back to win, 79-61, at OSU, just three days after the UCLA game.
“Last year has nothing to do with this year,” Langford said. “It’s not the same UCLA team. It’s not the same scenario. We’re not in Pauley Pavilion, we’re in Allen Fieldhouse. I’m taking this game for what it is this year, 5-3 Kansas versus 2-2 UCLA. It doesn’t even have the same stature. Last year we were No. 1, they were highly ranked. I just think this is a must-win for both teams.”
