It won’t be a regular occurrence … just at a Feb. 17 home game versus Nebraska in support of college women’s basketball’s fight against cancer.

Jayhawk coach Bonnie Henrickson made the announcement at Tuesday’s tipoff of the American Cancer Society’s “Coaches vs. Cancer” program at Maceli’s.

“We’ve been involved quite a few years – women’s basketball coaches and men’s basketball coaches,” Henrickson said. “It’s a great opportunity to bring awareness and support to the cause.”

KU’s men’s and women’s teams will be raising money again this season with the “Three-Point Attack,” in which fans and businesses can pledge a certain amount for each three-pointer made by the Jayhawk players.

Mike Yoder

KU men’s coach Bill Self indicated $100,000 would be a reasonable goal. Details will be announced before the start of the season.

“We’ve been blessed in so many ways. Hopefully we can raise some money for a great, great cause,” Self said.

While supporting the women’s efforts, Self said the men wouldn’t be donning any pink during the 2007-08 campaign which opens with Friday’s Late Night in the Phog (6:45 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse).

“Two years ago we almost had pink uniforms. Our managers washed our red and white jerseys together. True story. We had to get new uniforms,” Self said. “We need to create more interest and enthusiasm and raise money for such a good cause. It (cancer) affects everybody in some way, shape or form.”

About 100 individuals attending a silent auction heard Self and Henrickson speak about their respective teams.

Mike Yoder

Self acknowledged the Jayhawk men will likely be ranked somewhere in the preseason top five with North Carolina, Memphis, UCLA and Louisville.

“I don’t think we’ll play to that early. We could, but we will not have a chance to be one of those elite teams until we have our full complement of guys,” Self said. Brandon Rush had right ACL surgery on June 1 and is expected to return to action Dec. 1 or a month on either side.

“It could be a blessing in disguise. We’ll be able to add a lot of young guys with experience. We’re pretty good,” Self continued. “We lost Julian (Wright to NBA) of course, and Brandon is not ready yet. Now it will allow Darrell (Arthur) to emerge. He is really talented. We saw glimpses of it last year. Physically he’s ready. He’s ready to take the torch.”

Henrickson, who took her team to Australia for a series of games this past summer, said: “I like how fast we are. If we make some layups, we’ll be OK.”

She said her freshman class of Krysten Boogaard, Nicollette Smith and Chakeitha Weldon was raring to go.

“It will be exciting to get the freshmen involved. If they can survive their dance at Late Night (Friday, 6:45 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse) we should be fine. That’s what the freshmen are most worried about,” Henrickson said with a smile.

“Especially our Canadian (6-foot-5 Boogaard). She’s real worried. I said, ‘Honey you are not here to dance. That’s not why we brought you here. Do the best you can and rebound, block shots and score for us. That’s all we ask.”’

¢ Late Night on TV: KU’s Late Night in the Phog will be aired on Metro Sports (Sunflower Broadband channel 37) on Friday. Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be live until 10:30. Actual Late Night is expected to run from 6:45 p.m. until 9:30. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is free.

¢ Recruiting talk: Self, who has received oral commitments from Travis Releford (6-foot-5, Roeland Park Miege) and Mario Little (6-5, Chipola JC) was asked Tuesday about the state of this year’s recruiting.

He can’t comment about specific prospects in accordance with NCAA rules.

“We’re doing fine. We’ve only brought in three young men so far (for visits) because we’re trying to work it in a way to give us the best chance on our top recruits.

“We are in really good shape with those three. As a matter of fact we got a commitment from one. It’s got to play out over the next three weeks. I don’t think it’s ‘nervous time,’ but as a coach you are always nervous about recruiting. We think there’s a possibility we could sign four, five or six in November. There’s also a possibility we won’t. The guys we want and the guys we are recruiting the hardest … we’re right there.”

KU has brought in Little, Quintrell Thomas (6-8, Elizabeth, N.J.) and J’Mison Morgan (6-10, Dallas) in for campus visits. Thomas and Morgan have yet to pick a school.

Twins Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris, 6-7 and 6-8 from Philadelphia, will attend Late Night.

“Marcus and Markieff are looking at all three schools right now,” Philadelphia Prep Charter coach Dan Brinkley told Rivals.com, referring to KU, Villanova and St. John’s. “If Marcus and Markieff feel right, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say they will commit to Kansas after the visit is complete. But they are planning to visit Villanova and have been going back and forth about a visit to St. John’s. All I can say right now is Marcus and Markieff like coach Self and Kansas.”

The twins attended Prep Charter last season and now are at APEX Academy, a prep school in New Jersey.

KU players in NBA: Spurs backup point guard Jacque Vaughn suffered a pulled calf muscle at practice on Sunday and missed Tuesday’s exhibition game. … Miami Heat backup forward Wayne Simien is a proud papa. His wife, Katie, delivered their first child, Selah Renae Simien, on Friday morning at 7 pounds, 3 ounces. Simien, who is coming off arthroscopic knee surgery, is limited to one practice a day. “It’s definitely a setback for him,” Heat coach Pat Riley said of Miami’s first-round pick in 2005, hampered by injuries and salmonella poisoning in his career. … New Boston Celtics forward Scot Pollard has a bone bruise and soft tissue inflammation in his ankle and has been unable to play in the preseason.