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Beginning Monday, June 21st,
2004 CHN began unveiling 144 Team previews in 144 Days. CHN ranked the
nations top 144 teams, and is unveiling one per day leading up until the
opening day of the 2004-05 Season.
Bookmark the
144 Teams in 144 Days home page, and check back
each day to see which team is previewed next.
#2 Kansas Jayhawks
Big 12
2003-04: 24-9, 12-4, 3rd
2003-04 postseason:
By
Joel Welser
 Seniors Aaron Miles, Keith
Langford and Wayne Simien all have Final Four experience. They’ll be
looking for one last chance to do great things, and this time they might be
able to go home with a national championship. Head coach Bill Self had some
ups and downs his first year in Lawrence, but things should be settled down
now after everybody has been together for a season.
Who’s Out: The frontcourt
loses a couple impact players. David Padgett, who averaged 6.5 points and
4.5 rebounds per contest, transferred to Louisville after his freshman
campaign. Forward Jeff Graves leaves behind an average of 6.4 points and
4.9 boards. Bryant Nash never saw many minutes, but played in 30 games for
the Jayhawks. Guard Omar Wilkes is headed to California after just one
season in Lawrence.
Who’s In: Padgett and
Graves will have to be replaced by freshmen. The most likely candidate to
step into the Kansas frontcourt is Sasha Kaun. The 6-11, 235 pound Siberian
native isn’t a very physical player, but has a knack for scoring away from
the basket. Darnell Jackson is extremely athletic for a 6-8, 240-pounder.
His offense still needs to be polished, but his tenacious defense and
rebounding skills will give him a chance to see major minutes. C.J. Giles
will contribute on the defensive end as well. He’s 6-10, but needs to add
some strength to battle under the basket. Walk-on Matt Kleinmann will
provide more depth for the Jayhawks frontcourt. Combo guard Russell
Robinson will add a much needed back up to point guard Aaron Miles.
Robinson will have to compete with returnee Jeff Hawkins for those minutes
off the bench. Alex Galindo might be asked to become the other long range
threat, along with J.R. Giddens. The 6-7 Galindo is an excellent wing
player and should see some playing time off the bench.
Who to Watch: The backcourt
is loaded with J.R. Giddens, Aaron Miles and Keith Langford starting and
Michael Lee, Jeff Hawkins, Russell Robinson and Alex Galindo on the bench.
The frontcourt has more questions, or at least one question. Who will play
alongside All-American Wayne Simien? No matter who it is, Simien will have
to be the leader and teacher of the freshmen. The 6-9, 255-pounder is a
big, bruising type. Simien will fight his way to the basket for the easy
points. He isn’t just an inside force though, he can step outside, shoot
the three or take his man on the dribble. As a junior last year, Simien
averaged 17.8 points and 9.3 rebounds. Those numbers could get even better
if Simien has to handle more of the load under the basket then Coach Self
anticipates.
Projected Conference Rank:
Senior leadership and superb young talent has proven to be a lethal
combination come March. Sasha Kaun or one of the other freshmen big men
will have to step up and become a major contributor, but by March they are
hardly freshmen anymore. Consistency was a problem with the Jayhawks last
year, but with a senior running the point in Aaron Miles, consistency should
be less of a problem. They’ll be good all year and a tough schedule will
have Kansas prepared to earn 1st in the Big 12 and make a deep
run in the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Post-season
Tournament: NCAA
«
Team #3 ,
Team #1 »
Email Joel Welser:
jwelser_chn@ameritech.net
Chat About CHN's Top #144
Ranking:
http://pub14.ezboard.com/fcollegehoopsnetfrm8
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