[sedated]

LAWRENCE, KS - Many fans began the season contemplating the recent recruiting woes for Self and company – the ineligibility of 3 of KU’s incoming freshmen, and the loss of highly-touted recruit Kaleb Tarczewski to Arizona. But the fans that packed Allen Fieldhouse for last night’s game against Fort Hays State left clamoring about the possible birth of a star – KU’s freshman point guard Naadir Tharpe.

Tharpe struggled his first time dawning a Kansas jersey, giving away 9 turnover in his debut last week. But Tuesday night’s performance left fans giddy not only at his stat line – 19 points, including 3/3 from the free throw line and 2/3 from 3-point range, 7 assists, 4 steals, and only 2 turnovers – but at the way it was accomplished: a drive through the big men in the lane for an off-balance lay-up, a fade-away mid-range jumper off glass, and a behind the back dribble around a screener before nailing a 3-point shot. As the game got later, his play got better.

“The thing about it is with young kids, when they figure out that they don’t know, then they’ll get better faster,” Self said. “I thought Naadir did a much better job tonight of just making a simple play. A bunch of simple plays added up turned out to be great. Maybe we’re starting to realize that a little bit.”

Tharpe’s play may have only been overshadowed by the return of KU’s star forward, Thomas Robinson. Robinson finished the game with 22 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks in his 28 minute debut. Robinson showed no ill-effects from the knee injury that had all of Jayhawk Nation holding its breath, but is now no more than a footnote on a season where Robinson is expected to shine.

“I thought he played pretty well,” KU coach Bill Self said. Robinson’s only blemish was going 0-for-2 from three-point range. “He was a little tight early. He got the first basket of the game, then made a little 14-footer after that. He was in good rhythm. I think he was under control and did some nice things.”