Kansas cruises to 90-66 win over Idaho State in season-opener

By Jill Hummels     Nov 18, 2005

Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo
Kansas center Sasha Kaun throws down a dunk in pregame warmups Friday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas University sophomore big man Sasha Kaun certainly has shown the improvement he made in the off season.

After opening the year with what-would-have-been a career-high 23 points in KU’s lopsided exhibition victory over Fort Hays State, Kaun absolutely went off in the Jayhawks regular season-opener Friday night against Idaho State.

Kaun had a career high for points at halftime, but when he walked off James Naismith Court with 1:34 left in the game, his final tally was 25 points and 16 rebounds.

Kaun’s career night, combined with strong play from KU’s freshmen, allowed the Jayhawks to easily defeat Idaho State 90-66 in their season-opener.

“Sasha was fabulous. He’s really improved,” KU coach Bill Self said. “Sasha carried us for a stretch tonight.”

Added senior guard Jeff Hawkins of Kaun: “He was a beast in the post. He was just ready to play today.”

Mario Chalmers added 15 points in his collegiate debut, while fellow frosh Brandon Rush scored 12 points to go with seven rebounds. Julian Wright had nine points, five rebounds and four assists. The fourth freshman Micah Downs did not play because of a ankle injury.

The Jayhawks, which shot 46.3-percent from the field, forced 24 turnovers while recording 14 steals. Kansas, which also got nine points from Russell Robinson and seven points and seven rebounds from C.J. Giles, had 17 assits.

“We don’t want to get too excited over this, but there were a lot of good things that happened tonight,” Self said.

Idaho State, which shot just 33.8-percent from the floor for the game, was led by Tim Henry’s 23 points. Antoine Millien added 22 points.

“I knew Kansas was more experienced, even though they are a very young team,” Millien said. “Kansas is the best team on our schedule and we have nothing else to fear in the future.”

Bengal guard David Schroeder said just being able to play in Allen Fieldhouse was an experience.

“For a lot of us this is the first big-stage venue we have ever played in; that is an experience in itself,” he said. “We still feel good about our performance and the level of effort we maintained. It was a great experience.”

Self said while his team is looking forward to the sights of Hawaii, next week is strictly business.

“It’s a business trip,” Self said. “We practice (Saturday) morning at 7 a.m. We will shower and eat breakfast, and then leave at 9:30.

“I know Arizona is looking forward to this, and has been for a while. We were able to get through tonight’s game and not show anything, so hopefully, we can steal a couple of baskets against the Wildcats because they haven’t seen what we are going to do offensively.”

Hawkins agreed with his coach and said while the trip will be fun, the Jayhawks need to be focused.

“I’m sure a lot of people were thinking about beaches and the girls that put the leis around you, but as far as that goes we didn’t want to look past Idaho State,” he said. “We just did what coach wanted us to do before the game.

“I think we are prepared and anxious to play against Arizona. We aren’t going to back down from them because we are a good team just like they are. I think our mental state is that we will be ready and prepared for them.”

Second Half Action

Kansas restored its starters for the second half.

C.J. Giles hit a pair of free throws to open the second half and gave KU a 42-25 lead.

After blowing a hurried lay-in minutes earlier, Rush scored his first basket of the second half with a long jumper to give him eight points.

Kaun, who also has a career-high with 10 rebounds, nailed a pair of free throws for the 46-31 lead with 16 minutes to play.

Kaun added a highlight jam off a nice pair of feeds from both Jeff Hawkins and a cutting Brandon Rush.

The Bengals have committed 22 turnovers.

Kaun caught a nice pass from Jeff Hawkins in traffic for a lay-in and foul, he converted the free throw off a high bounce.

Kaun took a seat on the Kansas bench with his career and game-high 21 points.

Mario Chalmers added three straight free throws for a 56-34 lead after getting fouled behind the three-point stripe.

KU’s Julian Wright scored on a nice up and under move to give the Jayhawks a 59-40 lead with just over 11 minutes remaining.

Chalmers scored on a nice floater to give him 11 points in his collegiate debut.

Idaho State David Schroeder added a pair of threes to cut KU’s lead to 61-47 with under 10 minutes remaining.

Tim Henry added his fourth three of the game, to give him 17 points.

KU’s Hawkins answered with his first basket of the night, a three. Hawkins made two in the first half but both came after whistles.

Rush reached double figures when he scored on a nice reverse lay-up at the seven and a half minute mark in the second half to push the Jayhawks lead back to 20, 70-50.

But on KU’s next possession Kaun flew in for a tip-in off a missed Hawkins three-pointer to give him 23 points and 13 rebounds.

Kaun added another bucket off a baby hook to give KU a 74-53 lead.

Wright followed a Kaun miss to give him seven points and kU a 78-56 lead with 4:11 mark.

Chalmers has 12 points thanks to 6-of-6 free throws.

Kaun added a monster block to his career night as he swatted ISU’s Slim Millien’s drive towards the bucket.

Idaho State’s Tim Henry hit another three to give him 22 points. The Bengals have hit 9-of-22 from three-point land. Millien has 20 points.

Wright fed Stephen Vinson on a back-door pass for a bucket because of goaltending.

Wright tipped in a miss to give KU an 84-63 lead with under two minutes remaining.

Kaun left to a standing ovation after a career-best 25 point, 16-rebound performance.

Matt Kleinmann even got in on the action with an easy lay-in.

Kleinmann hit a cutting Jeremy Case for the final margin in a 90-66 season-opening victory.

Halftime

Kansas University’s big man Sasha Kaun started right where he left off from the exhibition season. Kaun started KU’s season-opener by canning a pair of free throws, but made five field goals to give him a career-high with 14 points in the first half.

The Jayhawks are outshooting the Bengals 39.5-percent to 31-percent. ISU has committed 18 turnovers, 11 of which wer KU steals. KU guard Russell Robinson has seven points in the first 20 minutes while Brandon Rush has six.

Idaho State was led by seven points from Tim Henry and David Schroeder.

KU shot 81.8-percent from the free-throw line.

First Half Action

Kansas University’s big men started right where they left off in the exhibition games with Sasha Kaun canning a pair of free throws to give KU a 2-0 lead.

The Bengals turned the ball over on their first two possessions.

Brandon Rush became the first of KU’s heralded freshmen to score for real, nailing a nifty fade-away jumper to give KU a 4-0 lead in the opening two minutes.

ISU’s Tim Henry nailed a three to cut the score to 4-3.

Russell Robinson blew past his defender for a wide open lay-up. On KU’s next possession, Rush tried to dunk the ball but was denied.

C.J. Giles followed Kaun’s lead with a turn-around jumper. After a three by Idaho State, Kaun tipped his own ball back in.

ISU’s Slim Millien had a thunderous dunk to cut the lead to 10-8 with just under 16 minutes to go in the half.

Freshman Mario Chalmers made his presence felt early. After checking into the game for the first time, he stole an Idaho State pass and dribbled all the way down the floor and knocked down a short jumper for a 14-10 KU lead.

Moments later Chalmers lofted a nice pass to Christian Moody who easily scored the lay-up which doubled his point production from KU’s two preseason games.

Chalmers added a lay-in of his own after another Idaho State turnover to give KU a 18-10 lead with 12:44 to go in the half.

Moody added an exclamation mark with a one-handed dunk thanks to a nice feed from fellow senior Jeff Hawins.

Rush nailed a one-hander in the lane for the 22-10 lead with just under 11 minutes left in the half.

Kansas, which is displaying an impressive defensive effort, has been very unselfish on offense in the first half of its season-opener.

Freshman Julian Wright entered the game and dished out a nice assist to Kaun for an easy bucket.

Kaun payed Wright back with an assist down low for Wright’s first career basket.

Idaho State has hit four three-pointers to cut the lead to 26-17.

Kaun followed a long three from Chalmers with a putback as the Jayhawks are shooting 48 percent from the field.

Robinson hit two free throws with 7:53 left to give Kansas a 30-17 lead.

A Hawkins three was ruled no good as Giles was called for an offensive foul prior to the shot.

Millien hit a free throw to cut KU’s lead to 10. Idaho State has committed 14 turnovers, Kansas has had 10 steals.

Kaun, who struggled in KU’s exhibition opener from the free-throw line, has hit all four of his charities tonight. His two free throws with just under five minutes left in the half gave KU a 33-21 lead and gave Kaun 10 points, one off his career-high.

Chalmers found Robinson in the corner for KU’s first three-pointer of the night and a 36-21 advantage.

KU freshman Micah Downs probably won’t play because he rolled his ankle during practice earlier in the day.

With 1:47 left in the half, Chalmers found a cutting Kaun, who easily converted the pass for a bucket and a new career-high 12 points.

Moments later Kaun added another basket on an up-and-under move.

KU’s Jeremy Case missed two threes in the final minute of the first half, but KU leads 40-25 at halftime.

The starting line-up for Kansas was Jeff Hawkins, Russell Robinson, Brandon Rush, Sasha Kaun, and C.J. Giles.

Idaho State started guards Akbar Abdul-Ahad and Doug Hardy, forwards Tim Henry and Kasey Winters, and big man Antoine Millien.

Pregame

Kansas University’s basketball team starts its season tonight with a 7 p.m. tip-off against Idaho State in Allen Fieldhouse.

“I have been thinking about our first game to start the season, playing in Allen Fieldhouse for the first time in a long time. We’re going to be excited,” sophomore guard Russell Robinson said.

A young Jayhawk squad still has plenty to show KU fans, after offering a glimpse of the future in two easy exhibition wins over Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State.

Sophomore big men Sasha Kaun and C.J. Giles shined in the two lopsided victories over in-state opponents. Kaun scored 23 points in KU’s 96-62 victory over Fort Hays State. Giles bested that with a 24-point outing against the Gorillas in Kansas’ 73-47 win over Pittsburg State. Both point totals would have been career highs had the games counted.

KU coach Bill Self stressed that his team is not overlooking the Bengals in anticipation for next week’s EA Sports Maui Invitational.

“We have not talked to our players about going to Maui,” Self said. “We will talk about it Friday night after the game: ‘Guys, be packed and ready at 8 a.m.’

“They’ll switch defenses, will play a lot of zone, play man, will guard ball screens,” Self said of Idaho State. “Their record was not I’m sure what they hoped it’d be last year, but they have seven newcomers (including) juco kids and red shirts. From watching tape I know they are capable.”

Indeed Idaho State, which scored a 82-56 victory over Fresno Pacific and an 88-64 win over Montana Tech, hopes to bounce back from a 9-18 season in which the Bengals were 3-11 in Big Sky play.

“We’re picked last in the league, but we have one of the best rosters in the eight years I’ve been here,” said Bengal coach Doug Oliver, who has four players returning from Mormon missions.

Senior forward Antoine “Slim” Millien is the leading returning scorer and rebounder for ISU with an 11.8 scoring average and 5.2 rebounds per contest.

A KU victory would give the Jayhawks 14 wins in their last 15 season-opening games and mark Kansas’ 33rd straight home-opening victory.

Kansas cruises to 96-62 victory over Fort Hays State in exhibition opener

By Jill Hummels     Nov 9, 2005

Most Kansas University fans were expecting one of Kansas fab four freshmen to steal the show in the Jayhawks exhibition opener Wednesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

Instead it was sophomore Sasha Kaun, who stepped up big with a career-high 23 points in Kansas 96-62 victory over Fort Hays State.

“It’s the first time I scored so many points, so in a way I guess it’s a little surprising,” said Kaun, who reached his career plateau on 10-of-11 shooting.

“(My role) will be more clear down the road. I just want to contribute to the team anyway possible.”

Freshman wingman Brandon Rush didn’t disappoint, showing Jayhawk fans why he nearly went pro out of high school when he tallied 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Rush also led the Jayhawks with 10 rebounds, including seven of the offensive variety.

“We had a little speech at halftime. Coach told us to just come out and have fun,” Rush said. “I just came out and started having fun. I was real nervous at the start.”

KU coach Bill Self said everyone seemed a little nervous in the first outing.

“I don’t think they were very relaxed,” Self said of the freshmen. “I think our veterans were nervous too. That’s probably the only reason Sasha missed his free throws because he was nervous, at least that is what he says.

“Everybody had jitters. I thought we did pretty good,” continued Self. “We fouled too much which I knew we would do. Post defense was not very good. Rebounding was average at best, with the exception of Bradon. All and all I thought it was pretty good.

Jeff Hawkins added 11 points (3-of-3 three-pointers), while Mario Chalmers and C.J. Giles each tallied 10. Russell Robinson dished out 11 assists as KU had 24 assists compared to FHSU’s six. Freshman Julian Wright had eight points and eight rebounds to go with four assists.

“Julian was nervous,” Self said. “He has to get comfortable. He’s going to be a really good player, because he’s versatile. During the last two or three plays when he was relaxed, he played amazing.”

Giles, might have amazed some in the capacity crowd when he hit a handful of jumpers outside the lane.

“Coach told us we at least need the sophomores to score,” said Giles, who hit 4-of-7 shots. “I’ve been working all summer just to be that person.”

Giles, who has bulked up to 245-pounds, said the freshmen stepped up nicely despite heavy expectations.

“I think our freshmen were a lot more confident than we were last year,” Giles said. “The freshmen have to do a lot more this year. Last year we couldn’t just run and jump into everything because we had the four seniors. So we could sit back and learn. But this year our freshman class has to jump in and at least help a little bit. That’s why I think they stepped up tonight.”

Fort Hays State was led by Tyrone Shephard’s 14 points.

Kansas, which shot 55.6-percent from the field, outrebounded the Tigers 41-31.

Every Jayhawk who saw action, scored — including redshirt freshman walk-on Matt Kleinmann, who dropped in an easy basket near the end of the game on a fancy feed from Wright.

“Everybody showed flashes of being a good player. We can build off this. I’m not leaving out of here overly excited, but I’m encouraged.”

Second Half
Sasha Kaun started the second half right where he left off in the first half, scoring an easy bucket in the lane to give him a new career-high.

The field goal (Kaun is 6-for-6) gave the sophomore 13 points and KU a 46-27 lead.

Brandon Rush nailed a pair of free throws (something the Jayhawks struggled with in the first half) to give KU a 19-point lead.

A pair of back-to-back dunks by Kaun gave him 19 points for the game and KU a 54-31 lead with a little more than 15 minutes to play.

Micah Downs connects on his first three-poninter, a long one from the left side, to give KU a 60-36 lead.

KU’s Julian Wright becomes the last Jayhawk freshman to score Wednesday as he knocked down a pair of free throws with 9:27 to go to give KU a 64-42 lead.

KU freshman Brandon Rush joined Kaun in double figures with an emphatic reverse dunk and foul. Rush missed the free throw but got the rebound and scored on another lay-in.

Kaun hit a banker to give him 21 points and KU a 74-50 lead with 7:00 to go. He followed that bucket with a pair of free throws for 23 points, despite connectiong on only 3-of-10 charities.

Giles added a pair of free throws to become the third KU player in double figures.

Another jumper by Rush gives the freshman 17 points and 10 rebounds for the game, after having just two points in the first half.

Holding on to a 86-55 lead with 2:45 to go, KU red shirt freshman walk-on Matt Kleinmann enters the game for his first action of his Kansas career.

A reverse lay-up and free throw by Mario Chalmers gave KU a 89-59 advantage.

A head-and-shoulders fake by Wright for a lay-up gave KU a 91-59 advantage with a minute to go.

Kleinmann scored the first bucket of his KU career off a nice feed from Wright to give KU a 93-61 lead.

Jeremy Case ended the scoring with a three-pointer before the buzzer after a cross-court feed from Wright.

Halftime

KU big men Sasha Kaun and C.J. Giles combined for 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting. The pair has also grabbed six boards.

The Jayhawks shot 56.3 percent (18-of-32) in the first half, while Fort Hays State fired at a 44.4-percent clip (8-of-18).

KU hit 5-of-11 threes, while FHSU hit 3-of-7. But the Jayhawks struggled at the free-throw line, hitting just 3-of-12, while the Tigers were 8-of-11.

KU outrebounded Ft. Hays St. 20-12, and had 11 more assists (14-to-11). KU had 10 turnovers while Fort Hays State had 16.

KU had twice as many points in the paint 16-to-8 as the Tigers. The Jayhawks also held a 22-9 advantage off points off turnovers.

KU’s Jeff Hawkins had nine points on 3-of-3 three-point shooting, while Mario Chalmers led Kansas’ new freshman with five points. Sophomore Russell Robinson had six assists to go with three points.

Fort Hays State was led by Tyrone Shephard’s nine points.

First Half
The Kansas University basketball team’s first step of the 2005-06 season is underway as the Jayhawks are taking on Fort Hays State at Allen Fieldhouse tonight.

Only one of KU’s heralded freshman was in the starting line-up in Mario Chalmers, who showed some nervousness on the Jayhawks first possession when he overthrew an alley-oop high off the backboard.

But he made up for it moments later when Chalmers scored the game’s first points, nailing a long jumper from the right corner which was ruled a two-pointer.

Kansas senior guard Stephen Vinson joined Chalmers in the starting line-up alongside Russell Robinson, C.J. Giles and Christian Moody.

Another freshman Brandon Rush came in on KU’s first substitution.

An early highlight for KU came when the sophomore Robinson swiped away the basketball and took it the length of the court for a one-handed dunk and an 8-0 lead with 16:09 left.

Another freshman Julian Wright came in with 15:29 left in the first half.

Sophomore C.J. Giles has showed an improved touch from outside, leading KU early on with six points including two mid-range jumpers from the baseline.

Rush got his first KU bucket on a short shot that took a long bounce before swishing in. The score gave KU a 12-0 lead.

Fort Hays State finally scored its first bucket with about 13 and half minutes left in the half.

Sophomore Sasha Kaun stole away the game’s biggest highlight from Robinson when he threw down a monster dunk over a FSHU player in the lane.

The Jayhawks forced the Tigers to commit nine turnovers in the first eight minutes.

Freshman Micah Downs was the last first-timer in the game at the 11:16 mark.

On the game’s third dunk, Robinson found Kaun this time. Robinson cut though the lane and lofted a nice pass that Kaun caught and thundered home.

FSHU’s Jeremy Atwater responded with a one-handed jam back the other way.

A three-pointer from Jeff Hawkins just before the 10-minute mark gave KU a 19-7 advantage.

Giles nailed another shot outside of the key to give KU a 22-12 lead with just over eight minutes left in the half. The bucket also gave Giles eight points.

A three-pointer by Tiger Tyrone Shepard cut KU’s lead to 22-15 with 7:39 left.

Another three-point play by Shepard less than a minute later cut Kansas’ advantage to 22-18.

Hawkins responded with back-to-back three-pointers to put KU back on top by double digits with 5:39 to go in the half.

Vinson got in on the outside action, knocking down a three of his own a minute and a half later.

Chalmers knocked down a three from the top of the circle for a 36-25 with 2:52 left in the first half.

So far for the game Kansas has 10 turnovers and 10 assists.

KU big man Kaun scored on back-to-back-to-back possessions down low to give KU a 40-27 lead with a little under a minute.

KU fans got the look from the freshman they probably anticipated when Downs scored his first points off a high-flying lay-up thanks to a nice feed from Chalmers. KU went on a 9-0 lead to close the half 44-27.

Pregame
Kansas University’s basketball team kicks off its exhibition season tonight with a 7 p.m. contest against Fort Hays State.

The defending Big 12 regular season champions have won 22 straight exhibition games dating back to 1995, but most of Wednesday’s anticipation, as far as Jayhawk fans are concerned, is aimed at the debut of four KU freshmen in Mario Chalmers, Micah Downs, Brandon Rush and Julian Wright.

“I think getting guys some meaningful minutes in front of a crowd where they can generate a little confidence and play a way whether good things happen or don’t, you play the same way, is important,” said KU coach Bill Self, who starts his third season at Kansas.

“I’ll be ready,” Chalmers added. “We’re out to show that our freshman class isn’t that inexperienced. We’re going to come out and try to keep up the KU winning tradition.”

The Jayhawks — which return eight letterwinners including lone returning starter Christian Moody (KU’s leading returning scorer at 5.8 points per game) — are meeting for the fifth time, and just second time in exhibition play. KU has won all four of the previous meetings dating back to a 93-55 Kansas win in 1994.

KU’s Self has posted a 47-16 record in two years in Lawrence. Overall Self is 254-121 in 13 seasons. Fort Hays State is coached by Mark Johnson, who is 79-36 through five seasons as the Tigers skipper.

Fort Hays State opened its exhibition season on Sunday when it pulled out a 59-58 victory over the Dreambuilders in Hays.

The Tigers were 18-10 last year and finished third in the East division of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

In addition to at least four new starters this season, Kansas basketball has a new look because of upgraded facilities.

The storied Allen Fieldhouse enters its 51st season with a new floor, new scoreboard, improved lighting, freshly painted bleachers and a brand new Booth Family Hall of Athletics on the east side of the Fieldhouse.

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