Thursday, November 1, 2007
Cole Aldrich planned to go trick-or-treating last night. It was all about keeping the tradition.
FILE PHOTO
“I love trick-or-treating,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve taken a year off trick-or-treating, and I’ll probably do it until I’m 30.”
This Halloween wasn’t quite the same, though. He couldn’t eat his candy Halloween night because of Kansas’ exhibition game. Blame it on the early start. Aldrich, a freshman center, wanted to be prepared for his first debut today against Pittsburg State at 7 p.m.
That’s right. Today. One day after Halloween, three weeks after practice started and eight days earlier than the Jayhawks’ first exhibition game two years ago. This is Jayhawk basketball’s earliest start since 2000.
What gives?
Well, Kansas is playing host to The Jayhawk Classic this season, and games for the tournament start Nov. 9. The Jayhawks have to get some playing experience before the season starts, even if it means the team has less time to practice.
Early starts are nothing new for college basketball. Several other teams started the season before Kansas to prepare for early season tournaments. Louisville had its first exhibition game Monday night. Memphis starts its regular season on Nov. 5.
Outside of Aldrich’s Halloween traditions, Kansas hasn’t changed much to accommodate for the early start. The Jayhawks haven’t had many long practices because Kansas coach Bill Self doesn’t want to wear them out for their eight November games. But with several upperclassmen, less time to practice isn’t a big deal.
Senior guard Rodrick Stewart thinks the early start is a blessing.
“It’s definitely more urgency knowing that we play earlier this year,” he said. “Guys just can’t take any day off. We might walk in the gym one day and not feel like going that hard. But just knowing that the season is right around the corner, you have no choice but to take it seriously and take every day like it’s your last. You have no choice but to get better.”
The seniors and juniors have been practicing for years. They know how to play the Jayhawk system and play with each other, but the freshmen are at a slight disadvantage. College has been a blur for Aldrich and freshman guard Tyrel Reed.
“It’s come real fast,” Reed said. “I feel like I just moved into the Towers the other day.”
The freshmen have had to put in extra time after practice to get familiar with the Jayhawk system and keep up with the veterans. Aldrich said he looked at a handbook with all the plays in it every night after he finished doing his homework.
If Aldrich and Reed learn the system soon, they could still have trouble finding minutes. Kansas returns everyone from last season’s Elite Eight team except Julian Wright. Expectations are high again. The Jayhawks are ranked No. 4 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and are favorites to win the Big 12 for the fourth straight year.
The season may be starting early, but none of the players are complaining. They’re excited, even Aldrich. He doesn’t mind waiting a little longer to eat his candy.
“It’s going to be fun,” Aldrich said. “They said to just enjoy it. Not too many people get to go out there with 16,300 people cheering for you.”
— Edited by Kaitlyn Syring
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