Friday, Oct. 12 No. 5 may be too low for this team. Nobody has two better forwards than Drew Gooden and Nick Collison, and that will be the most consistent feature of the 2002 Jayhawks. Gooden is a physically gifted scorer, passer and rebounder that is on the verge of superstardom. Collison is tough, skilled and has every post move in the book. The key for the Jayhawks will be guard play. Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Boschee are both good shooters and passers with the ability to hit from deep, but the "X-Factor" will be freshman Aaron Miles. If Miles make the transition as easily as he ran it in high school, Roy Williams will have the flexibility to use three guards and trap more with his run-and-jump defense. Kansas may not be particularly deep, but has the parts to reach Atlanta.

5
Kansas
LAST SEASON: 26-7
2001 FINAL RANKING
ESPN/USA Today: No. 7

Why No. 5?
The reasoning for Kansas' top-five ranking rests mainly in the frontcourt. Nick Collison and Drew Gooden are two of the top forwards in the country. They can finish in the post, but aren't traditional post players. They don't plod down to the lane and simply wait for someone to throw them the ball. They go and get it. They can beat teams with their play along the baseline or in the middle of the lane. They're agile and versatile on the defensive end, too. And neither is as good yet as they could be. Both players can be more dominant in a game once they become even more assertive. The backcourt isn't as flashy, but it's experienced and possesses a pair of heady guards in Jeff Boschee and Kirk Hinrich. Neither is afraid to take the big shot and has the range to make big 3s and the ability to get into the lane. Any criticism of Kansas not being athletic enough on the wings isn't warranted any more. Aaron Miles should make an immediate impact and rotate in or start along side Boschee and Hinrich, giving the Jayhawks a third ballhandler. Miles should also help on the defensive end, applying needed ball pressure. Keith Langford played well this summer and showed that he can be a scorer as well as a quick defender. Add Langford and a defensive specialist in Michael Lee, and the Jayhawks have more depth and quickness on the perimeter. Kansas will need rebounds and a bit of a scoring pop off the bench from Wayne Simien when Collison and/or Gooden are out of the game. They'll also need another forward, whether it's Bryant Nash or Jeff Carey to come in and make a contribution

Will Rise If ...
Gooden and Collison stay on the floor, become even more assertive and aren't afraid to be greedy. The guards can hang with most in the nation but they've got to improve defensively and work on their halfcourt game. Kansas can run its break with the best teams and can get Gooden and Collison transition baskets or pull-up for quick 3s. But they've got to be as effective in the halfcourt.

Will Fall If ...
Kansas doesn't get help off the bench. They're deeper on the perimeter than they were last season but they need to more than just show up. Kansas needs production from its perimeter reserves and whatever they can get off the bench from the frontcourt will be welcomed. This team has the chance to get to the Final Four, but the margin is a little thinner than the four teams in front of them.

-- Andy Katz, ESPN.com

SCOUTING REPORT: One Big 12 coach's take on the Jayhawks

“

You've got to take away transition from them. They're going to push it down and look early for a basket. You've got to take that away. They might be the best team in America in scoring off secondary break sets. If you can take that away and get them into their halfcourt offense then they're easier to defend them. Once you get through the secondary break, you can't let the ball get inside too easy. It's no different this year with Gooden and Collison. Offensively, you've got to handle their man-to-man defense. You can't have a lot of turnovers against them. You've got to have a smart point guard against them to pick up the traps against them. When it comes you've got to be able to handle it. ”

2001-02 KANSAS ROSTER
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Key 2000-01 Stats
(3) Brett Ballard	Sr.	G	6-1/175	PTS: 1.5 | FG%: 32.3 | 3PT%: 30.1
(13) Jeff Boschee	Sr.	G	6-1/185	PTS: 11.1 | FG%: 42.7 | 3PT%: 36.0
(22) Jeff Carey	Sr.	F/C	6-11/250	PTS: 1.6| REB: 2.1 | FG%: 54.3
(4) Nick Collison	Jr.	F	6-9/250	PTS: 14.0 | REB: 6.7 | FG%: 59.7
(0) Drew Gooden	Jr.	F	6-10/230	PTS: 15.8 | REB: 8.4 | FG%: 51.6
(2) Lewis Harrison	Sr.	G	6-0/170	PTS: 0.4 | REB: 0.3 | AST: 0.6
(1) Jeff Hawkins	Fr.	G	5-11/175	Redshirted last season, but will have to fight for minutes in talented backcourt
(10) Kirk Hinrich	Jr.	G	6-3/185	PTS: 11.5 | REB: 4.1 | 3PT%: 50.5
(50) Todd Kappelmann	Sr.	F	6-9/230	PTS: 0.3 | REB: 0.4 | AST: 0.4
(5) Keith Langford	Fr.	G	6-4/200	Athletic, but outside shot may keep him from seeing too much PT this season
(25) Michael Lee	Fr.	G	6-3/210	May play best defense of three guards in 2001 recruiting class
(11) Aaron Miles	Fr.	G	6-1/175	Could crack starting lineup if Williams goes with three-guard attack
(15) Bryant Nash	So.	F	6-6/205	PTS: 0.7 | REB: 1.2 | AST: 0.3
(23) Wayne Simien	Fr.	F	6-9/215	Playing time may depend on condition of shoulder; if healthy, he'll contribute
(34) Chris Zerbe	Sr.	F	6-5/235	PTS: 1.9 | REB: 0.6 | FG%: 68.4
Head Coach: Roy Williams (355-89, 13 years) Assistant Coaches: Neil Dougherty, Joe Holladay, Ben Miller Home Court: Allen Fieldhouse (16,300); Lawrence, Kan.

2001-02 KANSAS SCHEDULE

November 19: Ball State (a) 20: Houston/UCLA (b) 21: Maui Invit. 28: Pittsburgh St.

December 1: at Arizona 4: Wake Forest 8: Missouri-K.C. 12: at Princeton 15: S.C. State 22: at North Dakota 29: Tulsa (c)

January 2: Valparaiso 5: at Colorado 9: Nebraska 12: at UCLA 15: at Oklahoma St. 19: Oklahoma 23: at Iowa State 26: at Texas A&M 28: Missouri

February 2: Colorado 4: at Kansas St. 9: Texas Tech 11: at Texas 16: Baylor 18: Iowa State 24: at Nebraska 27: Kansas St.

March 3: at Missouri 7: Big 12 Tournament