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teedubya · 01-09-2005, 03:04 AM

Roy Williams won't watch team he created

SIMIEN SEARCHING FOR A CAST; 23 SCOUTS FROM 21 NBA TEAMS WILL BE AT RUPP

By Jerry Tipton

HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

Although his team does not play today, former Kansas coach Roy Williams does not plan to watch the Jayhawks take on Kentucky.

"I'm not trying to be corny, but I really have a hard time watching the Kansas kids play," he said. "It hurts so much when they don't do well."

Williams coached at Kansas for 15 seasons before leaving for North Carolina in 2003. He recruited the senior core of the Jayhawks' team: guards Keith Langford, Aaron Miles and Michael Lee, plus forward Wayne Simien.

"Nucleus class," Williams called it. "I told them I'd build other recruiting around them."

No Simien

During his on-line chat Friday, Kansas star Wayne Simien was asked when he might return from a thumb injury sustained on Dec. 18.

"Right now the doctors and I are shooting for Iowa State (next Wednesday)," he wrote. "We are experimenting with different types of casts. So hopefully we can find one that is sturdy enough for my hand but will not hurt anyone else."

UK forward Chuck Hayes played against Simien on the AAU circuit. "You have to bring your lunch pail when you go against Big Wayne," he said.

SEC 1-12

Kansas Coach Bill Self dismissed any suggestion that the SEC's 1-12 record against ranked teams held significance.

"We don't play the SEC," he said. "We play Kentucky."

Kentucky claimed the SEC's only victory against a ranked team, and that victory required a comeback from a 16-point deficit at Louisville.

Through games of last weekend, the Big 12 Conference was 4-5 against ranked teams. Kansas had that league's only victory against a top-10 team. The Jayhawks rallied from a 16-point first-half deficit to beat No. 9 Georgia Tech 70-68.

"You can see the balance in college basketball today," UK Coach Tubby Smith said. "When scholarships were reduced to 13 (from 15), the basketball world changed a lot. The good teams are still going to get the good players, but you're seeing a lot of mid-majors get outstanding players as well."

Charitable opportunity

The Red Cross and Fifth Third Bank are sponsoring a charity effort in and around Rupp Arena today. Donations, which are tax deductible, will be for victims of the recent tsunami.

Scant seating for media, scouts

Seating will be at a premium for reporters and NBA scouts.

UK issued 75 extra media credentials for the game. Those went to such outlets as the New York Times, New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, ESPN.com and The Sporting News.

UK also expected 23 scouts representing 21 NBA teams to attend. Those scouts include former UK player Irving Thomas (Lakers) and former Kansas players Kevin Pritchard (Trail Blazers) and Milt Newton (Wizards).

Foot fetish

Kansas guard Keith Langford is noted for his footwear. If he's not playing well, he's likely to change shoes to change his luck.

He's been known to change shoes and/or socks at halftime. The fetish goes back to high school.

"I hate the fact that it gets to me sometimes," he told the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World two seasons ago. "But it does, and when the urge comes to change the shoes, I guess I'll have to."

Self-interest in series

Kentucky and Kansas will play again next season in Lawrence. That will end the contract.

Coach Self said he wanted to extend the series, which once was one of college basketball's best.

"When I got here, I really wanted to play them," he said. "Hopefully, the series will go as we anticipate, and it'll continue for years."

01-09-2005, 03:04 AM	#3
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9480002	Roy Williams won't watch team he created SIMIEN SEARCHING FOR A CAST; 23 SCOUTS FROM 21 NBA TEAMS WILL BE AT RUPP By Jerry Tipton HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER Although his team does not play today, former Kansas coach Roy Williams does not plan to watch the Jayhawks take on Kentucky. "I'm not trying to be corny, but I really have a hard time watching the Kansas kids play," he said. "It hurts so much when they don't do well." Williams coached at Kansas for 15 seasons before leaving for North Carolina in 2003. He recruited the senior core of the Jayhawks' team: guards Keith Langford, Aaron Miles and Michael Lee, plus forward Wayne Simien. "Nucleus class," Williams called it. "I told them I'd build other recruiting around them." No Simien During his on-line chat Friday, Kansas star Wayne Simien was asked when he might return from a thumb injury sustained on Dec. 18. "Right now the doctors and I are shooting for Iowa State (next Wednesday)," he wrote. "We are experimenting with different types of casts. So hopefully we can find one that is sturdy enough for my hand but will not hurt anyone else." UK forward Chuck Hayes played against Simien on the AAU circuit. "You have to bring your lunch pail when you go against Big Wayne," he said. SEC 1-12 Kansas Coach Bill Self dismissed any suggestion that the SEC's 1-12 record against ranked teams held significance. "We don't play the SEC," he said. "We play Kentucky." Kentucky claimed the SEC's only victory against a ranked team, and that victory required a comeback from a 16-point deficit at Louisville. Through games of last weekend, the Big 12 Conference was 4-5 against ranked teams. Kansas had that league's only victory against a top-10 team. The Jayhawks rallied from a 16-point first-half deficit to beat No. 9 Georgia Tech 70-68. "You can see the balance in college basketball today," UK Coach Tubby Smith said. "When scholarships were reduced to 13 (from 15), the basketball world changed a lot. The good teams are still going to get the good players, but you're seeing a lot of mid-majors get outstanding players as well." Charitable opportunity The Red Cross and Fifth Third Bank are sponsoring a charity effort in and around Rupp Arena today. Donations, which are tax deductible, will be for victims of the recent tsunami. Scant seating for media, scouts Seating will be at a premium for reporters and NBA scouts. UK issued 75 extra media credentials for the game. Those went to such outlets as the New York Times, New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, ESPN.com and The Sporting News. UK also expected 23 scouts representing 21 NBA teams to attend. Those scouts include former UK player Irving Thomas (Lakers) and former Kansas players Kevin Pritchard (Trail Blazers) and Milt Newton (Wizards). Foot fetish Kansas guard Keith Langford is noted for his footwear. If he's not playing well, he's likely to change shoes to change his luck. He's been known to change shoes and/or socks at halftime. The fetish goes back to high school. "I hate the fact that it gets to me sometimes," he told the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World two seasons ago. "But it does, and when the urge comes to change the shoes, I guess I'll have to." Self-interest in series Kentucky and Kansas will play again next season in Lawrence. That will end the contract. Coach Self said he wanted to extend the series, which once was one of college basketball's best. "When I got here, I really wanted to play them," he said. "Hopefully, the series will go as we anticipate, and it'll continue for years."
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