Just for a minute, think back to the year 2005. Think back to when Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, Julian Wright, and Micah Downs were all freshmen. Russell Robinson, Shasha Kaun, C.J. Giles, and Darnell Jackson were just sophomores. That team was loaded with talent. Talent that had proven nothing and beaten no one. They had to learn to win, but first, they had to learn to practice like winning teams practice.
After an early season loss to St. Joseph’s, the 2005 Jayhawks were 3-4 on the season. Those young Jayhawks then rattled off seven wins in a row, 17 of 19, finishing 24-8. They went on to be co-champions in the league and win the conference tournament.
That 2005 team had no idea how to win on a consistent basis. They had to learn, and it started in practice. The coaching staff leaned heavily on guys like Christian Moody and Jeff Hawkins, who had practiced against Nick Collison, Wayne Simien, and Kirk Hinrich. It started slow for those Jayhawks, but eventually their work ethic and effort caught up to their natural talent.
Now fast forward through the conference titles, the player honors, the Elite Eight, Final Four, and the National Title game that those players on that 2005 roster accomplished. Their talent was undeniable, as seen by their draft status, but their willingness to learn, get better, and work as a unit was what made them special.
Watching the 2008 edition of the Jayhawks, it almost feels like Groundhog Day when thinking back to that 2005 team. There is a lot of talent, but they haven’t really figured out how to put it all together. Missed lay-ups, missed defensive assignments, taking bad shots, and picking up bad fouls – it’s all there with this young team. The veteran leaders this time are junior point guard Sherron Collins and sophomore center, Cole Aldrich. Neither of whom played that role in the past, but now bear all of that responsibility.
As we all saw last Saturday, and we saw against teams like St. Joe’s in 2005, a young and inexperienced team can look pretty rough at times. Ugly, uneventful, and uninspired is how to best describe the game against UMass. A game in which, on paper, the Jayhawks should have easily walked away with a win.
“You shouldn’t have to crack the whip to be a good practice team, especially coming off some pretty stale performances in practice last week and in the UMass game. I think if you’re a good practice team and really want to get better, then the coach doesn’t have to send a message verbally on those particular days. We have to become a more consistent practice team, there’s no doubt about that. You can say coach-speak, but over time, you play like you practice. You may, every now and then, play a great game when you practice poorly, but if you’re a consistent practice team you’re probably going to play to the level of your practice,” coach Bill Self said in his weekly press conference.
With six days full of practice and a little thing called finals, Temple comes calling and they are riding a pretty big wave into Lawrence after upsetting top 10 Tennessee team last weekend. The Owls are 5-3 on the season, but looked like they were rounding into form in their 88-72 win over the Volunteers.
The 2008 Atlantic 10 conference player of the year, senior Dionte Christmas, leads the Owls in scoring at 21 points per game. Christmas broke out against Tennessee with 35 points. That performance certainly has Kansas taking notice.
“I think they’re good. Fran (Dunphy)’s a great coach, he always has been. He won big at Penn. (Dionte) Christmas is a terrific player and he’s not their only piece. They were very, very impressive against Tennessee. They play two bigs, they can play small but they traditionally like to play two big guys and play a lot of high-low and do a lot of things to get Christmas shots. They’re a nice team. Very nice,” said Self on Temple.
Saturday’s game certainly presents a challenge for the young Jayhawks. The Owls are experienced, have veteran leaders, and have good coaching. They won’t be intimidated by playing inside Allen Fieldhouse in front of 16,300. If anything, they will be very confident knowing that UMass upset Kansas on a neutral floor just a week earlier.
The Jayhawks must come into Saturday’s game with a chip on their shoulder. A determination to show the Kansas fans, and the country, that this Kansas team will be much like those before them. Winners. In order for that to happen Saturday, it had to have started in practice.
