ESPN Men's Basketball

Originally Published: October 29, 2004

KU depth a source of strength

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By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
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LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Bill Self isn't wasting any time with a player who doesn't rebound or defend or who commits silly fouls.

Granted, this is practice, but Self has the luxury that few coaches do at this or any time of the season.

He has depth, plenty of it. There are 14 players who could see themselves on the court for significant minutes.

Yes, more than half are role players or specialists who aren't going to be the difference between Kansas winning or falling short of a national title. That responsibility falls at the feet of seniors Wayne Simien, Aaron Miles, Keith Langford and sophomore J.R. Giddens.

Nonetheless, Kansas has set out the first few weeks to try and get a handle on the depth that wasn't an option a year ago. Having multiple players at every position has made Jayhawks' practices intense and challenging for players and staff. Self and his assistants need to manage the roster to open the season with defined roles and the necessary harmony to make a run for the title.

"We do have potential problems," Self said of the numbers that he enjoyed during Elite Eight runs at Tulsa in 2000 and Illinois in 2001. "But we're creating an atmosphere of playing hard. If you have upperclassmen trying to get the time, then you could have problems. Since they're mostly freshmen recruited to help the seniors win, then that's different."

Self told the players the spot next to Simien is open. That's because David Padgett left for Louisville. Freshmen C.J. Giles, Sasha Kaun and Darnell Jackson are vying to start there. Fellow freshman Russell Robinson is the likely backup to Miles at the point and will share some shooting guard minutes behind Langford with senior reserve Michael Lee.

Junior guard Jeff Hawkins, freshman forward Alex Galindo (who originally signed with UTEP), sophomore guards Jeremy Case, Nick Bahe, junior forwards Christian Moody, Moulaye Niang and freshman center Matt Kleinmann are simply going to have a hard time getting minutes.

"Nine is the right number," Self said of a rotation. "You need five perimeter players and four big guys. You can't play with less than four big guys the way we play because you're going to get into foul trouble. They know we're going to sub after two fouls."

Whoever is next to Simien will draw the opposing team's top offensive player. The reason? So, Simien stays out of foul trouble.

"There will be inexperienced fouls because the freshmen will try and block shots, jump at everything and not play smart," Self said. "The reason I don't think we'll end up having problems is that these guys were recruited knowing who the best players were on this team. They also know they might not play that much."

Everyone wants to play major minutes, but so far the coaching staff has instilled a team attitude that could do wonders for the Jayhawks come March. There is heated competition, but players understand the rotation is starting to take shape and they're not complaining.

"I just want to get on the court and get a rebound," Jackson said. "I love Kansas. I'm glad I'm here."

Jackson said he was at 250 pounds when he arrived at Kansas. Surgery on his ankle to remove bone fragments as well as a bout with pneumonia trimmed him down to 237. That put him on the white team, off of Simien's blue team.

"If you work hard, you can get the blue jersey," Jackson said. "I was on blue at the start, but now I'm on white trying to get back."

Jackson is the burliest of the three freshmen forwards, whereas Giles is probably the most defense-oriented with his long, wiry build. He, too, has been battling sickness, losing nearly 25 pounds after a bout of food poisoning.

"I was scared I was going to have to redshirt, but I worked hard when we went to Canada (over Labor Day)," said Giles, who originally signed at Miami but won an appeal to transfer and play right away at Kansas after Perry Clark was fired.

"I'm trying to get as close as I can to a starting position," Giles said.

Kaun is a hybrid of the other two, an international player who has mid-range skills but has the potential to be a physical presence in the lane. He's relishing the competition.

"If someone doesn't do their job, then someone is right there to sub for you," Kaun said. "If you don't practice hard, then somebody is right behind you to jump on your back. It definitely pushes you to go harder since we're all fighting for a position."

To a player, none of them think that more than 10 players should be in the rotation. They understand that means someone isn't going to play. The reality remains that four seniors are gone after the season and there is a good chance, if he has a breakout season, Giddens could follow.

"Between eight and nine," Robinson said of how many players should be in the rotation. "That gives everybody just enough time to go out there and play hard and get rest. Coach has done a good job of putting it up in the air to get everybody playing hard."

Robinson has the best shot to get quality minutes. He will spell Miles, possibly for as many as 10 to 15 minutes a game.

"I played a lot of minutes last year," Miles said of his team-high 33.8 minutes a game. "I got tired. Russell can play with me or if I'm out. We should play until we get tired and maybe not go more than five minutes without a sub."

The onus is on the seniors as much as the coaching staff to ensure there is locker room chemistry instead of griping about minutes. Complaining would be difficult, especially if, as expected, the Jayhawks are one of the top two teams in the country throughout the season.

"Ultimately, it's not about playing time, it's about having the bodies available in case of foul trouble," Langford said. "We shouldn't care if someone gets two fouls in the first half or if our big guys get into foul trouble with four fouls. The guards and the seniors are expected to be the ones who carry the load."

Every team is going through role definition in October and into early November. But Kansas, like Wake Forest, has more depth than any other national contender. How the Jayhawks manage it now will determine how they will deal with it in February and March.

"It's pretty good on paper right now," Simien said of the depth. "We did some good things in Canada and in practice so far. But it still comes down to the fact that the young guys still haven't played in a big-time game yet."

1. Wayne Simien looks like he's ready for a player of the year campaign. Self can't say enough kind words about Simien's work ethic. He expects Simien to bust out with 20-plus points and 10 rebounds a game on a regular basis. Simien, finally free of any shoulder issues this past summer, seems to be in his best shape. He's also taking his game farther out onto the perimeter and making shots. The Jayhawks don't hesitate to look for him to stretch the defense with jump shots in the hope that he'll be able to lure a defender out to the perimeter at times.

Simien's leadership is also apparent. He's clearly the team's go-to scorer and is taking on a Nick Collison-like role with this team.

2. Giddens is stronger and carrying himself like a senior. You wouldn't know Giddens is two years younger than Langford, Simien, Miles and Lee by the way he carries himself in practice. He has the air of a senior and commands as much respect as his older teammates. Giddens also looks thicker in his arms. He was sidelined for much of the summer after having two surgeries on his foot, the second one to insert a wider pin. He also had a torn meniscus in his knee.

Giddens is simply a player and always seems to be around the ball. Expect him to have an impact in nearly every game.

3. Kansas should be No. 1 on New Year's Day. The Jayhawks were originally supposed to be in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic but didn't have an exemption to play in the tournament. If they had one, then they would have been in New York for two games. Instead, the Jayhawks have a schedule that is loaded with home games. They don't leave Lawrence until Jan. 9 for a game at Kentucky. Kansas will be tested with games against Pacific, Vermont, Saint Joseph's, South Carolina and Wisconsin-Milwaukee, but the games are all at home. Kansas will have its toughest challenge against Georgia Tech on New Year's Day. That game could be a 1 vs. 2 matchup on ESPN. Texas A&M opens Kansas' Big 12 slate on Jan. 5 in Lawrence. Expect the Jayhawks to be 10-0 going to Kentucky.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. His Weekly Word on college basketball is updated Fridays throughout the year.