Yes, the sun still shined in Lawrence the mornings after Kansas UniversityâÂÂs menâÂÂs basketball losses Wednesday night and Friday night.

And at least one Jayhawk player preferred to look at the bright side as the Jayhawks carry on after dropping back-to-back games to North Carolina (67-56) and Florida (83-73) at the Preseason NIT last week in New York.

âÂÂWe played two good teams,â sophomore point guard Aaron Miles said. âÂÂWeâÂÂre going to bounce back and be all right.

âÂÂI felt really pleased with our performance in the second half,â Miles added of a second-half effort against Florida that saw KU cut a 19-point deficit to two, surrendering after a barrage of Gator three-pointers. âÂÂWe showed a little heart and enthusiasm.âÂÂ

In New York, KU exhibited some offensive woes from the outside, hitting just five of 25 three-pointers.

Miles was asked which player he could envision stepping up for the departed Jeff Boschee this season to sink the deep shot.

âÂÂEverybody else on the perimeter,â the 6-foot-1 guard said. âÂÂI missed two (against Florida), but as long as they feel good, IâÂÂm confident. I was going to shoot the next one, too. I feel every time IâÂÂm going to make it.âÂÂ

Miles hit four of 18 shots in the two games in New York, icing one of five threes. For the year, heâÂÂs averaging 5.3 points a game off 23.1 percent shooting (six of 26). HeâÂÂs made two of eight threes and logged six assists per game.

âÂÂItâÂÂs not like IâÂÂm hunting for them, but I expect to make them,â Miles said of three-point shots. âÂÂEverybody is going to drop down and have us try to beat them from top. They donâÂÂt think we have good shooters, so weâÂÂll have to show them.

âÂÂI am trying to be offensive minded. IâÂÂm going to try to attack the defensive boards a little bit so we can help start the fastbreak quicker.âÂÂ

Miles averaged 7.1 points a game his freshman year on 40.4 percent shooting. He hit 13 of 45 three-pointers and had 252 assists against 102 turnovers. He crushed the Jayhawksâ freshman assist record and dished out the second most assists in a season in KU history.

âÂÂI feel very confident in my ability to shoot the ball,â he said. âÂÂI worked all summer on my jumper.âÂÂ

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Food, glorious food: On Sunday, the Jayhawks had a late Thanksgiving dinner at the home of KU coach Roy Williams and his wife, Wanda. The Jayhawks, of course, were in New York on Thanksgiving Day.

Williams described the dinner during his KU basketball class several weeks ago at the Lied Center.

âÂÂWe have 49 pounds of turkey and ham, five pies, 300 rolls from scratch,â he explained. âÂÂWanda does every bit herself. Last year she made over 300 rolls, pecan pies, pumpkin pies. We had four turkey breasts, one full turkey. Stuffing one turkey is all I did.âÂÂ

ItâÂÂs one of the Williamsâ favorite days of the year. Roy Williams lives for his wifeâÂÂs dinner rolls, noting he hid several last year, since the year before they were gone by the time he entered the food line.

âÂÂIn the recruiting part I tell âÂÂem, âÂÂ’ItâÂÂs a family. IâÂÂll be concerned about you the rest of your life.â ItâÂÂs one of the things we do as a family,â the coach said.

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Gregory in England: Former Kansas player Kenny Gregory is playing for the Chester Jets in the British Basketball League. He averaged 25 points and 4.6 rebounds in four games. Gregory, a 6-foot-5, 208-pound guard, is hitting a sizzling 64 percent from the field. HeâÂÂs made five of 10 threes.

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Boschee heads home: Former Kansas guard Jeff Boschee signed his book âÂÂLong Shotâ at bookstores in North Dakota over the weekend.

The 22-year-old Boschee, a native of Valley City, N.D., is selling his book in both Kansas and North Dakota.

He says heâÂÂs now leaning toward playing pro ball next season after this year of recharging his basketball batteries. The book chronicles his case of burnout during his junior year at KU.

âÂÂIâÂÂd like to play for a few years, whether itâÂÂs overseas or I get picked up here,â Boschee told the Associated Press on Saturday at a signing in Minot, N.D. âÂÂMy goal, though, is to be a college coach someday. IâÂÂve learned so much from coach Williams. HeâÂÂs a guy who has taught a lot of college coaches.âÂÂ

Boschee is enjoying his first winter without organized basketball since he was in elementary school.

âÂÂItâÂÂs been nice to walk into practice every day and not get yelled at,â Boschee said. âÂÂI still work out with the (KU) team, but itâÂÂs stress-free âÂÂ: nice and relaxing.âÂÂ