Kansas University’s men’s basketball players are back in their hometowns for a much-needed break before the start of first-semester classes Aug. 22.
The women’s players are off to Italy for a foreign tour of exhibition games.
In other words, there’s no better time than now to spruce up the Allen Fieldhouse floor for the 2011-12 season.
Workers started their current project July 28 and will be finished the first week of September.
“That floor was put down in 2005. Every year we’ve refinished it,” noted Jim Marchiony, KU associate athletic director for communications/media relations. “When you refinish it year after year, the paint starts to be affected. What we did this year was strip it all the way down to the wood, repaint and refinish it.
“Right now, it looks like a hardwood floor, basically. They’ll repaint everything.”
McGary’s final list
KU has not made the final cut for No. 5-ranked Mitch McGary, a 6-foot-10, 260-pound senior power forward from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.
McGary told ESPN.com’s Dave Telep his final six schools are: Kentucky, Duke, Michigan, Maryland, North Carolina and Florida.
The Chesterton, Ind., native was asked if any other schools could remain in the mix.
“Maybe if another school stays in contact, but I kind of wanted to narrow it down to these six,” McGary said. “I’ve got strong feelings about these six schools.”
KU’s No. 1 big-man priority is No. 12-rated Kaleb Tarczewski, a 7-foot, 220-pound senior from St. Mark’s High in Southborough, Mass., who has a final four of KU, Arizona, North Carolina and Kentucky.
Smart to visit A&M
Marcus Smart, a 6-4 senior from Marcus High in Flower Mound, Texas, will make an unofficial visit to Texas A&M this weekend, Vype Magazine reports. The No. 24-rated Smart is considering KU, Texas, North Carolina and others.
Jones to visit KU
Matt Jones, a 6-4 junior shooting guard from DeSoto (Texas) High, plans to make an unofficial visit to KU in September, according to Rivals.com. The No. 27-rated player in the Class of 2013 is considering KU, Duke, Memphis, Florida, Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M and others.
Markieff to Greece?
Marc Spears of Yahoo!Sports reports that Markieff Morris is in “advanced negotiations with Greek team Panthianakos.” Morris was drafted No. 13 in the first round of the 2011 Draft by Phoenix. The current NBA lockout and belief that the entire 2011-12 season will be canceled reportedly has hordes of NBA players looking for landing spots overseas for the upcoming season.
