In fact, Billy Packer’s proclamation, which the CBS colorman stood by as the season progressed, hasn’t fazed the aw-shucks Asheville, N.C., native one bit.

“No way,” Moody said emphaticially, when asked whether Packer’s praise would be listed on his resume forever.

“It’s definitely an honor he said that about me. I will not let something like that go to my head, though, because the team this year — we have a lot to prove. As an individual? My goals are for the team, not for me.”

Spoken like a guy who is embracing his role as team leader his final season at KU.

Scott McClurg/Journal-World File Photo

“I am excited being a leader for a team that has a majority of sophomores and freshmen on it,” said Moody, who followed the lead of Keith Langford, Aaron Miles, Wayne Simien and Michael Lee last year.

“Looking at the team, we don’t have a Wayne Simien. We don’t have an Aaron Miles- or Keith Langford-type name. We’re a bunch of young guys and guys who haven’t proved anything,” Moody said.

“As far as accomplishments, those guys in last year’s senior class … what they’ve done is hard to replace. Now we’re putting together a group that will have to work hard to become a close team.

“That’s where I find my role, help us become a team that sticks together.”

Moody will try to speak up this year.

“I want to be more vocal, be a guy the team looks to, to do the little things, know what’s going on, get team meetings and events organized,” said Moody, who said he would be helped by fellow seniors Stephen Vinson and Jeff Hawkins, plus student assistant Moulaye Niang, who would be a senior player this year had he not been forced to retire because of back problems.

“I know Stephen, J-Hawk and Mou are working on being more vocal,” he added. “To have four seniors who had been to a Final Four and championship game and Elite Eight leading us … we’ve got to step up.”

Moody realizes expectations are different for his senior year. KU, for instance, has been picked to finish third in the league instead of first like a year ago.

“I don’t know if we are looking to ratings right now,” he said. “They don’t matter until the last game of the year.

“We definitely aren’t ranked as high as last year, but I think we’ll be a deep team, and I think we’ll definitely run. We have a fast and athletic team this year, not that we weren’t last year. I’m really excited how the underclassmen are improving and the newcomers look.”

He spoke about the four freshmen.

“All four of ’em have really impressed me,” he said. “Mario (Chalmers) is a great ballhandler, a great finisher. Micah (Downs) has really been shooting the ball well. Julian (Wright) has really impressed me with how versatile he is. He can score inside and is one of the best shooters.

“Brandon … I really like him. He’s really talented and can definitely score.”

The freshmen like what they’ve seen in Moody.

“Christian Moody,” Wright said, “he is the hardest worker on the team.”

The other veterans like Moody, too.

“He was already a fan favorite before because he already is that quiet, shy guy,” Vinson said. “He is definitely the underdog, and seeing how far he’s come, it’s something that people enjoy to see. He’s worked for it, and people appreciate that.”

Coach Bill Self feels everybody should appreciate Moody.

“He’s kind of a jack of all trades,” Self said. “He doesn’t have one speciality. Last year he was our best perimeter defender of all our post guys. The biggest deal is he’s good.”