Kansas University’s men’s basketball practices will be closed to the public this season.
First-year Jayhawk coach Bill Self made that decision Monday after discovering details of last Friday’s practice posted on Internet message boards by some of the 100 fans who attended the team’s 2 1/2-hour workout at Allen Fieldhouse.
“We did try to open practice for a day or two,” Self said, “and found out that a lot of times, whether it be accurately or inaccurately, what is done in practice or is said in practice is posted on the Internet.
“So to me it was a gesture saying, ‘Hey, come out and watch us practice,’ but if people are going to abuse it, then I’m not going to want what’s going on at practice public knowledge.”
Some of Self’s comments directed toward players were printed on the Internet along with discussion of players’ performances.
“I am not disappointed at all in the interest,” said Self, “but I think we open practice for fans to come watch and not report to everybody else what’s going on.
“It’s not fair to the players. I shouldn’t have to coach differently if people are in the stands. If I’ve got to coach differently to make sure what I said is not taken in a bad light on the Internet, then I’m not doing my job. It’s just better to close it.”
Self closed his practices to the public last year at the University of Illinois.
“I knew this was probably going to happen,” Self said. “We said, ‘Hey, we’ll open practice a day or two a week until it shows up on the Internet.’ I didn’t know it’d happen this soon.”
Self has been a bundle of energy at practice this season.
“Our guys will tell you I’ve been on them pretty hard,” Self said. “We open in less than a month, too. We’ve got to be ready to play.
“I know playing UT Chattanooga (Nov. 21 opener, Allen Fieldhouse) the way they switch defenses … then playing against Michigan State (Nov. 25, Allen Fieldhouse) arguably a top 2 or 3 team in America that’s tougher than just about any team in America … hey, we don’t want to go slow. We’ve got to go fast.”
¢
No red-shirt candidates: Self was asked Monday if any players would take a red-shirt this season.
“I guess if somebody were to become injured, but right now we’re leaning toward not red-shirting anybody. We have red-shirted guys in the past,” he said of players practicing but not playing in games, in effect having five years to play four.
“I don’t think we’re deep enough where we can afford to red-shirt anybody. Like with the big guys for instance, we have to have at least four big guys.”
¢
Good stuff: KU has had three straight stellar practices.
“I’d say since Friday they’ve been very good,” Self said. “I think they are starting to grasp things and maybe just understand what we are looking for more, what we think is important.”
“I know that we are tired and yesterday’s practice (Sunday) was the best of the year by far. We went long yesterday and long today. I know their bodies are tired. They haven’t had a day off since last Wednesday, and that’s including some two-a-days. I think we’re doing very well and we’re definitely going to back off tomorrow.”
¢
KU’s first foe: Here is the roster of EA Sports All-Stars, KU’s opponent in next Tuesday’s 7 p.m. exhibition at Allen Fieldhouse, with height, position and college attended: Randy Livingston, 6-2, G, LSU; Cory Largent, 6-5, G, Western Carolina; Jose Winston, 6-0, G, Colorado and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Robert O’Kelly, 6-3, G, Wake Forest; Alvin Mogley, 6-8, F, Virginia Commonwealth; Mike Brownlee, 6-2, G, West Virginia; Lucas Johnson, 6-8, Illinois; Anthony Evans, 6-6, F, Georgia; Michael Stewart, 6-8, C, Bradley.
6Sports video: Graves ready to go