The lowdown
2000-01 record: 26-7; 12-4 in Big 12 (t2nd)
Final Ranking: No. 7 ESPN/USA Today; No. 12 AP
Postseason: Lost to Illinois 80-64 in third round of NCAA Tournament.
Three Questions for 2001-02
1. Will the Jayhawks play more uptempo and less halfcourt basketball without Eric Chenowith? Can Drew Gooden and Nick Collison be all the Jayhawks need in the post?
2. Can Keith Langford and Aaron Miles come in and contribute immediately, helping offset the loss of Kenny Gregory?
3. Will Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Boschee be as productive in the backcourt? Will they continue to make 3s at a high percentage? Will they ever become a defensive liability?
Three Key Facts
1. The Jayhawks simply dominated teams on the boards last season, outrebounding 27 of its 33 opponents. Kansas finished seventh in the nation in rebounding margin and for the first time in school history, KU had four players on the same team grab at least 200 rebounds.
2. The Jayhawks will mostly use a three-guard lineup in 2001-02, with starters off last year's team -- Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Boschee -- joined by Miles, Langford, Michael Lee and even Bryant Nash in the backcourt rotation. Hinrich has started 46 straight games for Kansas, while Boschee is a three-year starter.
3. The Jayhawks have won 10 straight season openers, 28 straight home openers and 36 straight games in the month of November.
Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: Kansas clicks and makes a run for the Final Four and the national title.
Worst case: Once again, they fall a game or two short of the Final Four.
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Key Players Returning
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Player
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Yr.
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Drew Gooden
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Jr.
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F
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6-10/230
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PTS: 15.8 | REB: 8.4 | AST: 1.7
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Nick Collison
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Jr.
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F
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6-9/250
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PTS: 14.0 | REB: 6.7 | AST: 2.2
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Kirk Hinrich
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Jr.
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G
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6-3/180
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PTS: 11.5 | REB: 4.1 | AST: 6.9
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Jeff Boschee
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Sr.
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G
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6-1/185
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PTS: 11.1 | REB: 2.4 | AST: 3.4
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Key Losses
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Kenny Gregory
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F
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6-5/208
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PTS: 15.6 | REB: 7.3 | AST: 2.4
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Eric Chenowith
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C
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7-1/270
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PTS: 9.5 | REB: 7.6 | AST: 0.8
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Kansas Signings
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht.
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High School/College
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Keith Langford
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G/F
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6-4
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Fort Worth, Texas/North Crowley H.S.
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Michael Lee
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G
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6-2
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Portland, Ore./Jefferson H.S.
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Aaron Miles
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G
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6-0
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Portland, Ore./Jefferson H.S.
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Wayne Simien
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F
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6-8
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Leavenworth, Kan./Leavenworth H.S.
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