KU cruises to 88-49 exhibition victory over Fort Hays State

Kansas women's head coach Bonnie Henrickson got her first taste of KU basketball Tuesday night with a 88-49 exhibition win over visiting Fort Hays State. The Jayhawks did not trail the entire game and held the Tigers to just 26 percent shooting from the field.

KU senior Crystal Kemp led all scorers with 22 points on nine of 12 shooting. Kemp also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds and blocked three shots. Junior Kaylee Brown added 17, while senior Aquanita Burras rounded out the double-figure scoring with 15.

“I was very happy tonight with the offense that came from our defensive pressure,” Kansas head coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “Are ability to get up and down the court like we did tonight will help us come regular season.”

Kansas will round out the exhibition season next Tuesday, Nov. 16, when the California All-Stars travel to Lawrence. The 2004-05 campaign will officially begin Nov. 21 with the Jayhawks hosting the University of Texas Arlington.

Season tickets are still available for the women’s basketball season. For ticket information you can contact KU athletics at www.kuathletics.com.

Jayhawks No. 1 in Associated Press preseason poll

The Kansas men’s basketball team received its second No. 1 preseason ranking Monday when it stood atop the Associated Press’ Top 25. The Jayhawks received 25 first-place votes and 1,697 points from the national media panel, edging Wake Forest, which had 22 first-place votes and 1,680 points.

The Demon Deacons were the first of three straight Atlantic Coast Conference teams in the poll, and six teams from the league were in the Top 25.

Wayne Simien leads four starters back for Kansas, which lost to Georgia Tech in the NCAA Tournament's regional finals last season. The Jayhawks were ranked No. 1 for one week last season and they have been ranked No. 2 in five of the last 12 preseason polls.

The last time the Jayhawks entered the season ranked No. 1 was 1956-57, when Wilt Chamberlain led them to the national championship game, a triple-overtime loss to North Carolina.

Senior Wayne Simien named Associated Press preseason All-American

Kansas senior forward Wayne Simien was named to the Associated Press Preseason All-America team Tuesday. Simien earned AP third-team All-America honors last season. He is on numerous preseason All-America teams for 2004-05 and is the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year in both the coaches and media polls.

Wake Forest’s Chris Paul received 55 votes from a national media panel to make the team along with four seniors: Lawrence Roberts of Mississippi State (50 votes), Simien (50), Julius Hodge of North Carolina State (41), and Hakim Warrick of Syracuse (33).

“To be mentioned as one of the top five in all of college basketball is a great honor,” Simien said. “At Kansas, we have an opportunity to play at such a high level competitively, to play with great guys and under a great coach—that’s definitely what has gotten me here.”

The last Kansas Associated Press Preseason All-America selection was Kirk Hinrich entering the 2002-03 season.

“This is probably more of a tribute to what Wayne has done in the past,” said Kansas head coach Bill Self. “I can honestly say he is our most improved player so hopefully he'll continue to build off what he has already done.”