Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoNew York ? Kansas senior guard Kirk Hinrich practiced on Thanksgiving Day in preparation for today’s game against Florida.
However, he practiced only on a limited basis and still is experiencing back pain sustained in Wednesday’s loss to North Carolina.
He’s questionable for tonight’s Preseason NIT consolation game (5:30 p.m., Central, no TV).
Wayne Simien, who sprained his right ankle twice on Wednesday, practiced on Thursday and should be able to go tonight.
Hinrich will undergo tests when he returns to Lawrence. The senior guard has been frustrated because he felt back pain after merely landing on his feet after hitting a first-half layup against North Carolina.
He’s been receiving treatment since the game.
“It’s pretty sore. I don’t know what’s going wrong. Something happened and we’ll try to fix whatever it is,” he said.
¢
Lee chose Florida over KU: One of the top college basketball prospects in the class of 2001, St. Louis forward David Lee, chose Florida over Kansas, Missouri, Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky.
“We tried to recruit David Lee extremely hard,” KU coach Roy Williams said of the 6-foot-9, 240-pounder from Chaminade High, who takes a 12.3 scoring, 8.0 rebounding average into tonight’s game.
“I think David is potentially one of the great players in college basketball.”
Lee came off the bench to average 7.0 points and 4.7 boards a game his rookie season. He’s a starter now and had nothing but great things to say about KU.
“Kansas is a powerhouse school with great tradition,” said Lee, who toured KU’s Jayhawker Towers on his unofficial visit with Hinrich, Nick Collison and Drew Gooden. “Coach Williams is one of the best coaches in all of basketball. He brings in great players and always has great teams.”
Lee was held to eight points off 3-of-6 shooting with four rebounds in 27 minutes of Florida’s 69-65 semifinal loss to Stanford on Wednesday.
“I think I’ve done an OK job,” Lee said. “My teammates have done a great job of getting me the ball and that’s my main focus, to make the most of every touch I get.”
“I think we’re doing a much better job getting David touches,” Florida coach Billy Donovan noted prior to the Stanford game. “He’s been impressive inside and he does as good a job of passing the ball out as any big man I’ve been around.”
Florida’s top returning player is 6-10 Matt Bonner, who has been bothered by back spasms. He’s averaging 10.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest.
Brett Nelson, a 6-4 senior guard, missed Florida’s first three games because of a stress fracture in his right foot. He had five points in 19 minutes against Stanford. Nelson had considered turning pro after both his sophomore and junior seasons.
Freshman Matt Walsh, 6-6 from Holland, Pa., was ESPN.com’s player of the week last week after averaging 21.7 points, 5.7 assists and 4.7 steal averages in season-opening wins against Louisiana Tech, Eastern Illinois and Coastal Carolina.
“It’s amazing. I never expected to have a start like this to my career,” Walsh said. “This is fun. Playing with guys that are so good, it makes the game so much easier being able to pass to guys you know can finish. Everybody has the same goal, to win and that makes it so much fun playing that style.”
Freshman guard Anthony Roberson, 6-1 from Saginaw, Mich., averages 15.3 points and 2.3 boards.
“Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh can score inside the lane by putting it on the floor rather than posting up and playing with their backs to the basket,” Donovan said.
¢
Freshman ailing: Florida freshman Christian Drejer was a late recruiting coup, the 6-9 native of Denmark signing in August. However, he has not played this season because of a high ankle sprain – the pain was so intense he spent time in a hospital just to be able to sleep under care of doctors. He did not make the trip to New York and now it’s unknown how much he’ll be able to contribute this season. Drejer had offers to play pro ball in Europe this season.
¢
Gators need work: Florida coach Donovan said his team is in desperate need of practice time.
“The thing that I’m upset about in a game like this … we should not be allowed to play again for a week,” he said after the Stanford setback. “We need to practice and we haven’t practiced enough leading into this situation.”
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoKansas senior guard Kirk Hinrich practiced on Thanksgiving Day in preparation for today’s game against Florida.
However, he practiced only on a limited basis and still is experiencing back pain sustained in Wednesday’s loss to North Carolina.
He’s questionable for tonight’s Preseason NIT consolation game (5:30 p.m., Central, no TV).
Wayne Simien, who sprained his right ankle twice on Wednesday, practiced on Thursday and should be able to go tonight.
Hinrich will undergo tests when he returns to Lawrence. The senior guard has been frustrated because he felt back pain after merely landing on his feet after hitting a first-half layup against North Carolina.
He’s been receiving treatment since the game.
“It’s pretty sore. I don’t know what’s going wrong. Something happened and we’ll try to fix whatever it is,” he said.
¢
Lee chose Florida over KU: One of the top college basketball prospects in the class of 2001, St. Louis forward David Lee, chose Florida over Kansas, Missouri, Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky.
“We tried to recruit David Lee extremely hard,” KU coach Roy Williams said of the 6-foot-9, 240-pounder from Chaminade High, who takes a 12.3 scoring, 8.0 rebounding average into tonight’s game.
“I think David is potentially one of the great players in college basketball.”
Lee came off the bench to average 7.0 points and 4.7 boards a game his rookie season. He’s a starter now and had nothing but great things to say about KU.
“Kansas is a powerhouse school with great tradition,” said Lee, who toured KU’s Jayhawker Towers on his unofficial visit with Hinrich, Nick Collison and Drew Gooden. “Coach Williams is one of the best coaches in all of basketball. He brings in great players and always has great teams.”
Lee was held to eight points off 3-of-6 shooting with four rebounds in 27 minutes of Florida’s 69-65 semifinal loss to Stanford on Wednesday.
“I think I’ve done an OK job,” Lee said. “My teammates have done a great job of getting me the ball and that’s my main focus, to make the most of every touch I get.”
“I think we’re doing a much better job getting David touches,” Florida coach Billy Donovan noted prior to the Stanford game. “He’s been impressive inside and he does as good a job of passing the ball out as any big man I’ve been around.”
Florida’s top returning player is 6-10 Matt Bonner, who has been bothered by back spasms. He’s averaging 10.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest.
Brett Nelson, a 6-4 senior guard, missed Florida’s first three games because of a stress fracture in his right foot. He had five points in 19 minutes against Stanford. Nelson had considered turning pro after both his sophomore and junior seasons.
Freshman Matt Walsh, 6-6 from Holland, Pa., was ESPN.com’s player of the week last week after averaging 21.7 points, 5.7 assists and 4.7 steal averages in season-opening wins against Louisiana Tech, Eastern Illinois and Coastal Carolina.
“It’s amazing. I never expected to have a start like this to my career,” Walsh said. “This is fun. Playing with guys that are so good, it makes the game so much easier being able to pass to guys you know can finish. Everybody has the same goal, to win and that makes it so much fun playing that style.”
Freshman guard Anthony Roberson, 6-1 from Saginaw, Mich., averages 15.3 points and 2.3 boards.
“Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh can score inside the lane by putting it on the floor rather than posting up and playing with their backs to the basket,” Donovan said.
¢
Freshman ailing: Florida freshman Christian Drejer was a late recruiting coup, the 6-9 native of Denmark signing in August. However, he has not played this season because of a high ankle sprain – the pain was so intense he spent time in a hospital just to be able to sleep under care of doctors. He did not make the trip to New York and now it’s unknown how much he’ll be able to contribute this season. Drejer had offers to play pro ball in Europe this season.
¢
Gators need work: Florida coach Donovan said his team is in desperate need of practice time.
“The thing that I’m upset about in a game like this … we should not be allowed to play again for a week,” he said after the Stanford setback. “We need to practice and we haven’t practiced enough leading into this situation.”
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoKansas senior guard Kirk Hinrich practiced on Thanksgiving Day in preparation for today’s game against Florida.
However, he practiced only on a limited basis and still is experiencing back pain sustained in Wednesday’s loss to North Carolina.
He’s questionable for tonight’s Preseason NIT consolation game (5:30 p.m., Central, no TV).
Wayne Simien, who sprained his right ankle twice on Wednesday, practiced on Thursday and should be able to go tonight.
Hinrich will undergo tests when he returns to Lawrence. The senior guard has been frustrated because he felt back pain after merely landing on his feet after hitting a first-half layup against North Carolina.
He’s been receiving treatment since the game.
“It’s pretty sore. I don’t know what’s going wrong. Something happened and we’ll try to fix whatever it is,” he said.
¢
Lee chose Florida over KU: One of the top college basketball prospects in the class of 2001, St. Louis forward David Lee, chose Florida over Kansas, Missouri, Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky.
“We tried to recruit David Lee extremely hard,” KU coach Roy Williams said of the 6-foot-9, 240-pounder from Chaminade High, who takes a 12.3 scoring, 8.0 rebounding average into tonight’s game.
“I think David is potentially one of the great players in college basketball.”
Lee came off the bench to average 7.0 points and 4.7 boards a game his rookie season. He’s a starter now and had nothing but great things to say about KU.
“Kansas is a powerhouse school with great tradition,” said Lee, who toured KU’s Jayhawker Towers on his unofficial visit with Hinrich, Nick Collison and Drew Gooden. “Coach Williams is one of the best coaches in all of basketball. He brings in great players and always has great teams.”
Lee was held to eight points off 3-of-6 shooting with four rebounds in 27 minutes of Florida’s 69-65 semifinal loss to Stanford on Wednesday.
“I think I’ve done an OK job,” Lee said. “My teammates have done a great job of getting me the ball and that’s my main focus, to make the most of every touch I get.”
“I think we’re doing a much better job getting David touches,” Florida coach Billy Donovan noted prior to the Stanford game. “He’s been impressive inside and he does as good a job of passing the ball out as any big man I’ve been around.”
Florida’s top returning player is 6-10 Matt Bonner, who has been bothered by back spasms. He’s averaging 10.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest.
Brett Nelson, a 6-4 senior guard, missed Florida’s first three games because of a stress fracture in his right foot. He had five points in 19 minutes against Stanford. Nelson had considered turning pro after both his sophomore and junior seasons.
Freshman Matt Walsh, 6-6 from Holland, Pa., was ESPN.com’s player of the week last week after averaging 21.7 points, 5.7 assists and 4.7 steal averages in season-opening wins against Louisiana Tech, Eastern Illinois and Coastal Carolina.
“It’s amazing. I never expected to have a start like this to my career,” Walsh said. “This is fun. Playing with guys that are so good, it makes the game so much easier being able to pass to guys you know can finish. Everybody has the same goal, to win and that makes it so much fun playing that style.”
Freshman guard Anthony Roberson, 6-1 from Saginaw, Mich., averages 15.3 points and 2.3 boards.
“Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh can score inside the lane by putting it on the floor rather than posting up and playing with their backs to the basket,” Donovan said.
¢
Freshman ailing: Florida freshman Christian Drejer was a late recruiting coup, the 6-9 native of Denmark signing in August. However, he has not played this season because of a high ankle sprain – the pain was so intense he spent time in a hospital just to be able to sleep under care of doctors. He did not make the trip to New York and now it’s unknown how much he’ll be able to contribute this season. Drejer had offers to play pro ball in Europe this season.
¢
Gators need work: Florida coach Donovan said his team is in desperate need of practice time.
“The thing that I’m upset about in a game like this … we should not be allowed to play again for a week,” he said after the Stanford setback. “We need to practice and we haven’t practiced enough leading into this situation.”
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoKansas senior guard Kirk Hinrich practiced on Thanksgiving Day in preparation for today’s game against Florida.
However, he practiced only on a limited basis and still is experiencing back pain sustained in Wednesday’s loss to North Carolina.
He’s questionable for tonight’s Preseason NIT consolation game (5:30 p.m., Central, no TV).
Wayne Simien, who sprained his right ankle twice on Wednesday, practiced on Thursday and should be able to go tonight.
Hinrich will undergo tests when he returns to Lawrence. The senior guard has been frustrated because he felt back pain after merely landing on his feet after hitting a first-half layup against North Carolina.
He’s been receiving treatment since the game.
“It’s pretty sore. I don’t know what’s going wrong. Something happened and we’ll try to fix whatever it is,” he said.
¢
Lee chose Florida over KU: One of the top college basketball prospects in the class of 2001, St. Louis forward David Lee, chose Florida over Kansas, Missouri, Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky.
“We tried to recruit David Lee extremely hard,” KU coach Roy Williams said of the 6-foot-9, 240-pounder from Chaminade High, who takes a 12.3 scoring, 8.0 rebounding average into tonight’s game.
“I think David is potentially one of the great players in college basketball.”
Lee came off the bench to average 7.0 points and 4.7 boards a game his rookie season. He’s a starter now and had nothing but great things to say about KU.
“Kansas is a powerhouse school with great tradition,” said Lee, who toured KU’s Jayhawker Towers on his unofficial visit with Hinrich, Nick Collison and Drew Gooden. “Coach Williams is one of the best coaches in all of basketball. He brings in great players and always has great teams.”
Lee was held to eight points off 3-of-6 shooting with four rebounds in 27 minutes of Florida’s 69-65 semifinal loss to Stanford on Wednesday.
“I think I’ve done an OK job,” Lee said. “My teammates have done a great job of getting me the ball and that’s my main focus, to make the most of every touch I get.”
“I think we’re doing a much better job getting David touches,” Florida coach Billy Donovan noted prior to the Stanford game. “He’s been impressive inside and he does as good a job of passing the ball out as any big man I’ve been around.”
Florida’s top returning player is 6-10 Matt Bonner, who has been bothered by back spasms. He’s averaging 10.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest.
Brett Nelson, a 6-4 senior guard, missed Florida’s first three games because of a stress fracture in his right foot. He had five points in 19 minutes against Stanford. Nelson had considered turning pro after both his sophomore and junior seasons.
Freshman Matt Walsh, 6-6 from Holland, Pa., was ESPN.com’s player of the week last week after averaging 21.7 points, 5.7 assists and 4.7 steal averages in season-opening wins against Louisiana Tech, Eastern Illinois and Coastal Carolina.
“It’s amazing. I never expected to have a start like this to my career,” Walsh said. “This is fun. Playing with guys that are so good, it makes the game so much easier being able to pass to guys you know can finish. Everybody has the same goal, to win and that makes it so much fun playing that style.”
Freshman guard Anthony Roberson, 6-1 from Saginaw, Mich., averages 15.3 points and 2.3 boards.
“Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh can score inside the lane by putting it on the floor rather than posting up and playing with their backs to the basket,” Donovan said.
¢
Freshman ailing: Florida freshman Christian Drejer was a late recruiting coup, the 6-9 native of Denmark signing in August. However, he has not played this season because of a high ankle sprain – the pain was so intense he spent time in a hospital just to be able to sleep under care of doctors. He did not make the trip to New York and now it’s unknown how much he’ll be able to contribute this season. Drejer had offers to play pro ball in Europe this season.
¢
Gators need work: Florida coach Donovan said his team is in desperate need of practice time.
“The thing that I’m upset about in a game like this … we should not be allowed to play again for a week,” he said after the Stanford setback. “We need to practice and we haven’t practiced enough leading into this situation.”
