
Here at KUsports.com, we like to do things a bit differently.
Be it handicapping the odds on KU's next head basketball coach or giving you the chance to butt heads against the Journal-World's sports editor on weekly college football picks, we pride ourselves on giving our readers more content than they (or we) know what to do with.
One of these overkill pieces we've decided on for this year is a preview of many of the Jayhawks' basketball games. Not a typical preview like you'll find in the Journal-World and on this site, but a virtual one. That's right, we're taking previews to the next level by giving you the best possible look at each week's match up — a video game simulation.
Each week KU has a game, we'll simulate that contest using EA Sports' NCAA March Madness 2005. If the real Jayhawks have two or more games that week, we'll pick the top one (or maybe two, come the Big 12 Conference season, Big 12 Tournament and NCAA Tournament) and pit KU against its real opponent(s). Just like in our football X-Factor simulations, the game will control each team, so as to not unfairly affect the outcome (because we all know a good video game player can defeat KU with IUPUI nine times out of 10).
We'll then give you a rundown of the game, just as if it were a real tilt. We'll include a full box score, pictures (or screen captures, if you prefer) and video highlights. Too much, you might say? Pshaw, we reply. As KU fans have proven for years, there is no such level as "too much" when it comes to covering the Jayhawks (even the virtual ones).
Yes, we're homers, so we've bumped up some of the Jayhawks' ratings. Wayne Simien starts out at 91, which seems far too low for the player who very possibly could win every national player of the year award. And 88 for Aaron Miles? We're pretty sure every KU fan would agree that's too low for such an experienced and talented point guard.
We didn't raise anyone to perfect levels or anything; just to ratings that we felt were both more correct and more fitting for KU's current roster.
We added some players not originally in the game — Christian Moody, Darnell Jackson and Alex Galindo — but had to take out some others — including Jeff Hawkins and Moulaye Niang — because the game's roster is smaller than the real-life one.
Even with these changes, we know we're not set for the season, but we're ready for anything that may happen during the next few weeks.
C.J. Giles plays himself into the starting center spot? He's starting in the virutal game, then. Darnell Jackson proves he can't be scored on down low? Up goes his defensive awarness rating.
We know this is a bit silly, but that's what we're all about — having fun and talking about the Jayhawks. If you have any thoughts or ideas about this weekly feature, let us know in an e-mail. We'd love to hear from you about this (especially if you like it).
- Nick Collison : C-F, Seattle Sonics
- Drew Gooden : F-C, Chicago Bulls
- Kirk Hinrich : G, Chicago Bulls
- Raef LaFrentz : F, Portland Trailblazers
- Paul Pierce : G-F, Boston Celtics
- Scot Pollard : C-F, Boston Celtics
- Billy Thomas : G, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Jacque Vaughn : G, San Antonio Spurs Julian Wright : F, New Orleans Hornets
- All-time list of 'Hawks in the NBA
- Watch this space as we track recruits for the 2007-08 Jayhawks.
- » North Mesquite WR Daymond Patterson named all-state
- » Ransburg leads Harrisonville to third straight 3A Missouri title































2003, 2004, and 2007 EPpy Award Winner.