Wayne Simien has been cleared to do more than run sprints, lift weights and shoot basketballs on the side.
Simien, Kansas University’s 6-foot-9, 255-pound junior power forward from Leavenworth who had surgery on his right shoulder March 28 in New York, has been cleared by doctors to play full-contact, pick-up basketball.
“The doctors and trainers felt he was ready,” KU coach Bill Self told the Journal-World Thursday, the first day of school. “He is playing pick-up and will go through individual workouts.”
KU players will start individual workouts with coaches today. Players can practice under coach’s supervision up to two hours a week — four players on the court at a time.
“Some things he doesn’t do until he gets his confidence back and use of his arm without thinking about it,” Self said of Simien, who does not have to wear a shoulder brace.
“But he’s back, and we don’t anticipate any problems. The thing was to bring him back slow, but the trainers have been working with him through rehab and Wayne’s done a good job. His strength is coming back fast and range of motion is improved. I don’t want to say 100 percent, because he’s not that from a mental standpoint.”
Simien’s rehab is on schedule. Dr. Russell Warren, the New York Giants team doctor who performed the shoulder surgery, indicated March 28 Simien would resume pick-up basketball four months after the operation.
Self met with Simien and the rest of his players during a 45-minute welcome-back-to-school session Thursday night.
“It was laying down guidelines on academics and organizational things. We haven’t talked basketball yet,” Self said.
All players are present and accounted for. As far as how they looked …
“I did not think about that, because I’ve seen them all summer,” Self said. “Nobody has gone away and changed their body (drastically). I think conditioning-wise we are not in basketball shape. Nobody is in basketball shape, but physically they look lean.”
That includes Jeff Graves, the 6-foot-9, 275-pound senior power forward who last year reported to camp about 40 pounds overweight and angered former coach Roy Williams.
“I don’t know exactly what Jeff is weighing,” Self said, “but it’s 40 or 50 pounds less than last year. He does not have to lose 30, 40 pounds. He’s through the hard part now (the summer months).
“Now he has to get his wind like everybody else.”
Self does not require a back-to-school conditioning run, which, in the Williams regime, would have been held Thursday night in the scalding heat. Self prefers to begin individual drills, then have the players begin rigorous conditioning in late September.
Just two Jayhawks are being held out of individual workouts because of injuries. Junior guard Michael Lee, who sprained his left knee during the summer, will miss up to two more weeks. J.R. Giddens, who had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot during the summer, will return to action in the middle of September.
“Michael Lee is out a maximum of two weeks, but he’s fine. We’ll bring him back slowly,” Self said. “J.R. will be out close to the middle of the month, but that’s precautionary.
“I’m excited to get them started, get in a routine. They all seem to be excited about the year. As successful as they’ve been, they appear to be hungry.”
“I think I will love the new court,” Self said. “The most identifiable thing with Kansas is the Jayhawk, in my opinion. The state of Kansas (on the court the last few years) was fine, but I didn’t feel the state jumped out and grabbed you like the Jayhawk will.
“I am a fan of the Jayhawk. You look on TV and everybody sees the center of the court every single possession. That area is as recognizable to fans and people watching as any area on the floor. When people turn on the TV and Kansas is playing in Allen Fieldhouse, people will know where they are playing.”
Self and athletic director Lew Perkins discussed the design.
“We’d made a decision a while ago through Richard (Konzem, former senior associate AD) and others that it was time for a change on the court,” Self said. “We had them do some drawings, and they came up with something noticeable yet classy and still made sure ‘James Naismith court’ and ‘Allen Fieldhouse’ was visual. I think it’ll be great for the program.”
After all, recruits will see the big Jayhawk when watching TV.
“We felt there was no better time with everybody coming in new,” Self said.
Guardians Classic organizers still are holding out hope the Jayhawks, who would be unable to play without a repeal of the rule — which allows schools to play in just two exempt tourneys every four years — will be able to play.
“We are evaluating the timing of our legal options,” Rick Giles of the Gazelle Group and Guardians Classic said Thursday.
“We will decide on a course of action within the next day. The NCAA’s request for a stay is yet another delay tactic designed to eliminate these events. Once the appeal is heard, we are confident that the Circuit Court will uphold the District Court’s decision and the 2-and-4 rule will be enjoined and eliminated. It is sad that the NCAA chose this legal maneuver because it adversely impacts teams, events, fans, broadcasters and the entire college basketball community.
“Kansas has been great throughout this entire process,” Giles added.
Of KU’s schedule, Self said: “It is very much up in the air, but the schedules for 75 percent of schools are up in the air. We’re trying to schedule with scenarios and it’s so late. If the Guardians does take place we’ve got some options.”
