CNNSI.com - 2000-01 Men's NCAA Basketball Preview - CNNSI.com's Kansas preview

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Kansas Jayhawks

Powerful roster could have long run

Last season

24-10, 11-5 Big 12 (NCAA second round, lost to Duke)

Coach

Roy Williams (13th season, 329-82; 329-82 overall)

Projected starting lineup

G Kirk Hinrich, 6-3, So.
Started the final 13 games as a freshman; didn't look green at all when the Jayhawks nearly upset Duke.

G Jeff Boschee, 6-1, Jr.
Freed from point at end of last season to concentrate on his favorite pastime: shooting threes; he hit 81 of 195 (41.5 percent).

F Kenny Gregory, 6-5, Sr.
Second-team All-Big 12 slasher with a 41-inch vertical.

F Nick Collison, 6-9, So.
Steady power forward who can score from inside and out; started all but one game freshman year.

C Eric Chenowith, 7-1, Sr.
One of the league's most imposing centers, but has yet to live up fully to the promise of his early career.

Top guy off the bench

F Drew Gooden, 6-9, So.
Broke KU's rookie record for double-doubles in a season with nine, passing some guy named Danny Manning.

Key games

vs. UCLA (Nov. 9 in Coaches vs. Cancer Classic). The Jayhawks don't waste any time, taking on Watson & Co. to start the season.
at Oklahoma (Jan. 13). The Sooners could be KU's toughest obstacle on the way to first place.
vs. Missouri (Mar. 4). Can Roy's kids outplay Quin's kids to close the regular season?

Outlook

You don't just turn down North Carolina for nothing, but Roy Williams isn't dumb. The coach said no to his alma mater to steer what may be the most talented Jayhawks squad since 1996-97, when Jacque Vaughn, Raef LaFrentz and Scot Pollard ruled Lawrence. KU's only loss of any significance is defensive stopper Nick Bradford, but six players who played at least 20 minutes per game are back, and that's not including gunner Luke Axtell, who missed the end of last year with a medical condition. The Big 12 is theirs to lose.

--Adam Thompson