ESPN.com - No. 2: Kansas

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Tuesday, November 12, 2002
No. 2: Kansas

By By Seth Wickersham

Last Season: 334, Final Four


	Collison wants to inspire tears of joy in Coach Williams.

Roy Williams, caught crying. Always happens in March, after another Tourney exit. But this year the tears flowed again in October, when a video of last spring's Final Four team was shown at a pep rally. Yes, the semifinal loss to Maryland is still fresh, and that's okay -- because there's a lot to smile about, too. The Jayhawks return three starters from a 160 Big 12 squad, including the All-America inside-out senior duo of Nick Collison (15.6 ppg) and Kirk Hinrich (14.8 ppg). With Drew Gooden gone, the 6'9" Collison must do even more. But it's Hinrich, a supremely skilled combo guard, who makes KU click. Though Williams plays it cool ("People are picking us to finish first in the conference -- I'm just shocked"), he could be crying tears of joy in April.

One Step Ahead: Try several steps ahead. In the down-and-dirty Big 12, Kansas keeps above the fray by outrunning the pack. "Last season their transition game was as quick as I've ever seen it," says Missouri's Quin Snyder. Expect more of the same this season, with fluid 6'9" soph Wayne Simien filling Gooden's lane.

One Step Behind: Last spring and the one before, KU was sent packing by bigger, tougher, meaner opponents (Illinois in 2001). While sleek and smooth up front, the Jayhawks lacked a nasty enforcer. And with no returning player standing taller than 6'9", they could once again trip up against a strong post offense.

2002-2003 NCAA PREVIEW
MEN
1. Arizona Wildcats	9. Georgia Bulldogs
2. Kansas Jayhawks	10. UCLA Bruins
3. Oklahoma Sooners	11. Alabama Crimson Tide
4. Pittsburgh Panthers	12. Kentucky Wildcats
5. Florida Gators	13. Virginia Cavaliers
6. Texas Longhorns	14. Michigan State Spartans
7. Duke Blue Devils	15. Xavier Musketeers
8. UConn Huskies	16. Indiana Hoosiers

This article will appear in the November 25 issue of ESPN The Magazine.