KU puts on exhibition – Kansas 101, Washburn 66

By Gary Bedore     Nov 13, 2002

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo
Kansas' Aaron Miles (11) and Keith Langford, right, trap Washburn's Ryan Tomlins while former KU player and current WU guard John Crider, background, waits for a pass in the second half. The Jayhawks routed the Ichabods, 101-66, in Tuesday night's exhibition game at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kirk Hinrich was getting his ankles taped in the trainer’s room Tuesday night when broadcaster Max Falkenstien delivered the news.

Hinrich :quot; Kansas University’s highly-regarded senior guard – had been named first-team preseason All-America by the Associated Press.

His reaction?

“Nothing,” Hinrich said after scoring 12 points and dishing six assists in the Jayhawks’ 101-66 men’s basketball exhibition victory against Washburn at Allen Fieldhouse. “It’s just based on last year’s performance. It’s an honor people think I’m one of the best players in the country but they shouldn’t even have a preseason list.”

Especially when teammate Nick Collison isn’t included.

“I definitely think Nick should be on there. He’s going to have a great year,” Hinrich said.

Hinrich’s buddy had a great game Tuesday night.

The 6-foot-9 forward came out against the Division II Ichabods and registered a double-double – including 15 points and 10 rebounds in the first half.

Collison played like a guy incensed he wasn’t included on the All-America list. Turns out, finishing seventh in the AP voting didn’t occur to the KU forward, who finished with 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting and 15 rebounds.

“I didn’t hear about it, so no,” Collison said. “Preseason doesn’t mean anything. Getting your picture in a magazine is nice, but doesn’t mean anything.”

Collison came up big on a night the Jayhawks were without sophomore forward Wayne Simien, who was in dress clothes because of tendinitis in his right ankle.

Freshman center Moulaye Niang, who started the game, scored seven points with three rebounds. Reserve big man Jeff Graves added seven points and four boards.

“We definitely want Wayne to be in there,” Collison said. “But those other guys played pretty well at times so it might be a blessing in disguise to get them some minutes.”

Simien could have played had it been a regular-season game, according to coach Roy Williams. Simien didn’t feel 100 percent in pre-game warm-ups, so Williams told him to ice the ankle and put on his sport coat.

Simien will likely sit out two additional days of practice and return to the court on Saturday.

“It helps to get Jeff Graves and Moulaye those extra minutes without Wayne in there,” Williams said. “Action on the court does help you. I’m not ready to say I’m not worried (about depth) yet.”

Williams said he still wasn’t pleased with Graves’s waistline.

“He’s got to do more push-aways, push away from that (dinner) table,” he said. “He has to be more disciplined off the court. In practice he works all right. A lot of coaches would be ecstatic to get that kind of effort, but our level of intensity is so good when you don’t have that level, it makes you look bad.

“I told him at halftime he had three fouls and three turnovers in five minutes. That’s not a good line. He played better the second half.”

That’s the half in which the 280-pound Graves did a dance after hitting an inside shot and getting fouled.

Kansas University guard Kirk Hinrich was one of five seniors selected to the Associated Press’ preseason All-America team.

“Jeff doesn’t need to chest-bump Moulaye. He about broke Moulaye’s back,” Williams said of the 6-10, 215-pound Niang.

Of Niang, Williams said: “He’s so unused to it, it (starting) probably didn’t faze him. He’s probably unaffected by it. I wrote his name on the board and he gave me the same look he always gave me.”

Thanks in large part to Collison, the Jayhawks shook a pesky Washburn team by closing the half on a 21-7 run. Jeff Hawkins, who had chest pains and left the game in the second half, hit two threes in that surge. Hawkins checked out OK after the game.

KU outscored the Ichabods 51-36 during the final half. Sophomore guard Keith Langford, who scored 11 of KU’s first 13 points in the second half, finished with 15 points. Hinrich and sophomore guard Aaron Miles each added 12.

“Nick Collison was all over the boards,” Williams said. “Kirk was unbelievable. I told everybody at halftime Kirk I think is the best guard in the country and he shoots only three times (hitting all three). It shows he’s unselfish. Some other people have to take better shots. I thought a couple in the first half weren’t the best. I thought we did gain something since last week.”

The Jayhawks will meet Holy Cross in the Preseason NIT at 8 p.m. next Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse.

KU puts on exhibition – Kansas 101, Washburn 66

By Jim Baker     Nov 13, 2002

Kirk Hinrich was getting his ankles taped in the trainer’s room Tuesday night when broadcaster Max Falkenstien delivered the news.

Hinrich – Kansas University’s highly-regarded senior guard – had been named first-team preseason All-America by the Associated Press.

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His reaction?

“Nothing,” Hinrich said after scoring 12 points and dishing six assists in the Jayhawks’ 101-66 men’s basketball exhibition victory against Washburn at Allen Fieldhouse. “It’s just based on last year’s performance. It’s an honor people think I’m one of the best players in the country but they shouldn’t even have a preseason list.”

Especially when teammate Nick Collison isn’t included.

“I definitely think Nick should be on there. He’s going to have a great year,” Hinrich said.

Hinrich’s buddy had a great game Tuesday night.

The 6-foot-9 forward came out against the Division II Ichabods and registered a double-double – including 15 points and 10 rebounds in the first half.

Collison played like a guy incensed he wasn’t included on the All-America list. Turns out, finishing seventh in the AP voting didn’t occur to the KU forward, who finished with 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting and 15 rebounds.

“I didn’t hear about it, so no,” Collison said. “Preseason doesn’t mean anything. Getting your picture in a magazine is nice, but doesn’t mean anything.”

Collison came up big on a night the Jayhawks were without sophomore forward Wayne Simien, who was in dress clothes because of tendinitis in his right ankle.

Freshman center Moulaye Niang, who started the game, scored seven points with three rebounds. Reserve big man Jeff Graves added seven points and four boards.

“We definitely want Wayne to be in there,” Collison said. “But those other guys played pretty well at times so it might be a blessing in disguise to get them some minutes.”

Simien could have played had it been a regular-season game, according to coach Roy Williams. Simien didn’t feel 100 percent in pre-game warm-ups, so Williams told him to ice the ankle and put on his sport coat.

Simien will likely sit out two additional days of practice and return to the court on Saturday.

“It helps to get Jeff Graves and Moulaye those extra minutes without Wayne in there,” Williams said. “Action on the court does help you. I’m not ready to say I’m not worried (about depth) yet.”

Williams said he still wasn’t pleased with Graves’s waistline.

“He’s got to do more push-aways, push away from that (dinner) table,” he said. “He has to be more disciplined off the court. In practice he works all right. A lot of coaches would be ecstatic to get that kind of effort, but our level of intensity is so good when you don’t have that level, it makes you look bad.

“I told him at halftime he had three fouls and three turnovers in five minutes. That’s not a good line. He played better the second half.”

That’s the half in which the 280-pound Graves did a dance after hitting an inside shot and getting fouled.

“Jeff doesn’t need to chest-bump Moulaye. He about broke Moulaye’s back,” Williams said of the 6-10, 215-pound Niang.

Of Niang, Williams said: “He’s so unused to it, it (starting) probably didn’t faze him. He’s probably unaffected by it. I wrote his name on the board and he gave me the same look he always gave me.”

Thanks in large part to Collison, the Jayhawks shook a pesky Washburn team by closing the half on a 21-7 run. Jeff Hawkins, who had chest pains and left the game in the second half, hit two threes in that surge. Hawkins checked out OK after the game.

KU outscored the Ichabods 51-36 during the final half. Sophomore guard Keith Langford, who scored 11 of KU’s first 13 points in the second half, finished with 15 points. Hinrich and sophomore guard Aaron Miles each added 12.

“Nick Collison was all over the boards,” Williams said. “Kirk was unbelievable. I told everybody at halftime Kirk I think is the best guard in the country and he shoots only three times (hitting all three). It shows he’s unselfish. Some other people have to take better shots. I thought a couple in the first half weren’t the best. I thought we did gain something since last week.”

The Jayhawks will meet Holy Cross in the Preseason NIT at 8 p.m. next Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse.

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