Nationally, Kirk Hinrich was known as a solid, if not spectacular, combo guard through the first 11 weeks of the 2001-02 basketball season.
Then came Kansas University’s Jan. 28 Big Monday showdown against Missouri when ESPN analyst Dick Vitale and a national audience watched the 6-foot-3, 195-pounder hit eight of 11 shots, good for 23 points in a 105-73 rout of the Tigers.
Hinrich also guarded MU’s Kareem Rush, who hit six of 19 shots, just one of seven threes, good for 13 points in 33 minutes.
“After the Missouri game, it kind of got crazy,” said Hinrich, who read with interest as ESPN’s Andy Katz reported online he’d be the second guard taken if he entered the 2002 NBA Draft.
“I mean there for a while … Dick Vitale … it’s just like ridiculous, almost embarrassing. Everybody’s telling me something different Dick Vitale was saying about me. It’s just funny. He comes to town and all of a sudden everything is crazy. It’s amazing how much power the guy has.”
Hinrich followed the Missouri game with 16 points versus Colorado, 26 against Kansas State off 4-of-5 three-point shooting and 28 versus Texas Tech off 9-of-13 shooting.
He also had 24 points in KU’s home finale against Kansas State and 25 points off 4-of-7 three-point shooting in the league finale at Missouri.
All the Hinrich talk Missouri coach Quin Snyder called Hinrich the best player in the league made the soft-spoken player seriously considering bolting for the NBA early with teammate Drew Gooden.
“I think there was awhile the decision got really tough,” Hinrich said of staying or going. “At first I thought it was just hype. I didn’t think I’d leave. As time went on and Drew decided to leave, I saw there might be the opportunity to be picked pretty highly. It came down to, I wanted to be the best player I could be, when I do leave and get to that level, and also finish some business we have here.”
Hinrich, a first-team All-Big 12 selection, averaged 14.8 points overall, 17.5 in Big 12 games. He also averaged 5.0 assists and 4.8 boards. He hit an uncanny 47.8 percent of his threes, 53.1 percent in league games.
Hinrich wound up easily adjusting to a move from point to shooting guard becoming “as consistent a defender on the perimeter as we’ve ever had,” according to Roy Williams, who calls Hinrich “the best guard in college basketball.”
“At first when I did it, I thought it was difficult, then I started getting comfortable with it,” said Hinrich, who may play point guard in the NBA and will play some point as well as shooting guard this season, according to his coach.
“The bottom line is I was trying to play hard, try to not make mental mistakes. I’d be a small forward one possession, then point guard. It takes some adjusting. I think I did an OK job.”
Hinrich could be headed for an All-America season along with buddy Nick Collison.
“Nick is a great player. Whenever we give him the ball he makes things happen,” Hinrich said. “Coach emphasizes getting the ball inside. It’ll be the focus again this year. We will run and get it inside to big Wayne, Nick, whomever is in there.”
Chances are Hinrich will be in there 35 or more minutes a game, even if he’s banged up.
He proved his toughness last postseason, playing against Stanford in a second-round NCAA game despite suffering a severe ankle sprain in a first-round win over Holy Cross.
“To be honest I was really surprised,” he said of being able to play versus Stanford. “The big thing is that they got me to the point I could move around a little bit. The training staff did a great job. Sitting on the bench, my teammates got off to 18-0 run in that game. When I got in there, there was no pressure. It was a lot easier.”
Hinrich and Collison will be counted on to lead the way in all the big games this year. As far as KU’s chances as a team … the Jayhawks added only Moulaye Niang and Jeff Graves to the team of a year ago, losing Gooden and Jeff Boschee.
“It’ll be tough to replace Drew,” Hinrich said. “Losing Jeff will be really tough. Defenses respected him so much. Everybody is going to have to step up. I think we’ve got some great players. We have some great sophomores. You make your biggest improvement freshman to sophomore year.
“Aaron played great down the stretch. The person who will improve most is Keith (Langford). You will see so much more out of him. Coming off the bench last year, this year he’ll probably start and will do so much more.
“Mike Lee and Jeff Hawkins I think will be big off the bench. Bryant Nash has made great strides. He’s so athletic. I think everybody’s really looking forward to getting started.”