A couple of weeks ago at media day, coach Ritch Price expressed his concern over a young Kansas rotation. And why not? The top four starters only had a combined 17 career starts at Kansas heading into this season.

Consider Price thrilled, overjoyed and pleasantly surprised by his starters thus far this season.

“What I’ve really felt great about is that we’ve played five games and got five quality starts,” he said. “I can’t even imagine opening the season and getting five as good starting pitching performances that we’ve received.”

Juniors Cameron Selik and Shaeffer Hall, sophomore T.J. Walz, and freshman Lee Ridenhour have all pitched well enough to get victories in each start they’ve had this season. When you look at Kansas’ record (2-3), the bullpen hasn’t held up well enough heading into this afternoon’s matchup against North Dakota (0-4).

“We’re not playing scared and guys are competing,” Price said of his bullpen. “They just need to continue to get more reps and believe in themselves and they’ll be fine.”

But among the quartet of quality starters, Hall has easily separated himself as the staff ace this season. In two starts the lefthander from Lee’s Summit, Mo., has pitched 14 innings and given up only two runs with six hits and three walks. It’s been an impressive showing that included a no-hitter, which led him to acquire numerous national awards the past week.

“He’s (Hall) come up real big for us, I’ve been really impressed by him,” sophomore third baseman Tony Thompson said. “He has tons of confidence out there.”

Price echoed Thompson’s sentiments about Hall as well. Price has been impressed with not only the quality of Hall’s talent and success on the field, but also the quality of a person he is off of it.

“He’s a very mature individual and a first-class young man,” Price said. “I think he’s relishing in the opportunity he’s been given and his first two starts have been absolutely fabulous.”

With all the talk of Hall and his accomplishments so far it would be easy to forget how important the other three starters have been to the team as well.

Price has said how impressed he is with what Selik, Walz, and Ridenhour have done so far. Selik was a relatively unknown factor coming into this season, however. Both Hall and Walz pitched last season with the Jayhawks and Ridenhour was a highly touted freshman.

Selik is a transfer student out of Grossmont College, a community college in California. But Price is very hopeful for good things to come after Selik’s strong start against Memphis last week in which he only surrendered two runs in six and two thirds innings.

“Without question we really like what he (Selik) brings to the table,” Price said. “He has a very good curveball and an outstanding changeup as well.”

But one good week isn’t enough for Price. He expects for his young rotation to build off the performances they had this last week and work on it towards the future.

“It’s certainly something to build on and certainly the best we’ve opened the season with,” Price said.

— — Edited by Casey Miles