Kansas University definitely could use one of those âÂÂfeel-goodâ menâÂÂs basketball victories tonight.

You know, a win where lots of KU players force lots of turnovers and score lots of points against NCAA Div. II Central Missouri State.

Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse with a telecast on channels 13 and 38.

âÂÂIâÂÂm not going to say âÂÂ’swagger,â but weâÂÂve got to get some of the bounce back,â KU coach Roy Williams said of his 2-2 Jayhawks, who are coming off double-digit losses to North Carolina and Florida last week in New York.

âÂÂWe were shook after the North Carolina game. I donâÂÂt think thereâÂÂs any question about that,â Williams added, referring to the 67-56 loss. âÂÂWe played like it in the first half of the Florida game (a 83-73 setback). We felt better about the way we played the last 15 minutes.

âÂÂI still think weâÂÂre shook a little bit, yet itâÂÂs so early in the season itâÂÂs not time to be shook. ThereâÂÂs nothing to gain from being that way. What you have to do is try to do the best you can every possession. If we do that, itâÂÂll be fine.âÂÂ

The Jayhawks, who will be without Kirk Hinrich (back strain), are not 100 percent physically, but are OK mentally after some soul searching at a team meeting after a turkey and ham dinner Sunday night at Williamsâ house.

âÂÂWe just talked. I was trying to make sure our players donâÂÂt overreact and our coaches donâÂÂt either,â Williams said. âÂÂItâÂÂs not like weâÂÂve fallen off the top of a bridge or forgotten how to play basketball.

âÂÂI talked to a bunch of coaches yesterday reminding me we lost to some good teams. You look at some schedules around the country âÂÂ: if we played Alvamar Tech four times weâÂÂd be 4-0.

âÂÂ(At the meeting) I asked them one question specifically: Tell me or tell yourself what was your thought process before the Carolina game or the first six to eight minutes of the Carolina game?

âÂÂThat was it,â he added. âÂÂWeâÂÂre not having any closed door meetings or playersâ meetings without coaches. WeâÂÂre not panicking.âÂÂ

Senior Nick Collison said he believes the Jayhawks were simply shocked the Tar Heels, who run many of the same plays as the Jayhawks, started in a spread offense, throwing KUâÂÂs players out of whack mentally.

âÂÂWe were caught up in how spaced out (on the floor) they were,â Collison said. âÂÂWe prepared for more of the type of game we play âÂÂ:quot; pound it inside, play the passing lanes. Buy it wasnâÂÂt all that. We had plenty of time to get used to it. We just need to focus and play a lot better.

âÂÂWe donâÂÂt have our identity right now. What will be successful for us? We have to find out.âÂÂ

Of the team meeting, Collison said: âÂÂWe watched a little tape. We obviously didnâÂÂt play well. We talked about the commitment we need every single day at practice. It was a couple people talking about how we have to focus. It was a reminder not to panic, but it is time to get going.âÂÂ

Collison said he believes the team meeting has been a bit overblown in the press. He says the meeting was nothing like some others held earlier in his career.

âÂÂI think there were chemistry problems then, guys were arguing with each other,â he said of moments in his freshman year when KU was blown out at Oklahoma State and lost 10 games. âÂÂItâÂÂs nothing like that. ItâÂÂs pretty obvious we all have to get better. ThereâÂÂs nobody pointing fingers. Everybody is pointing the finger at themselves realizing we havenâÂÂt done everything we can. ThereâÂÂs really no chemistry problems. We are not playing well together yet, but thereâÂÂs no guys upset at each other. It was not a big deal.âÂÂ

As far as some players being late or right on time for the bus or team meetings in New York, Collison said, âÂÂLittle things like that are possible signs of people not being as committed as they should be. Those issues have been addressed. WeâÂÂll see how people act and how we play the rest of the season.âÂÂ

As far as on-court issues tonight, Williams said both Jeff Hawkins and Michael Lee have been spending some time on the blue team, or first team, at practice.

âÂÂWeâÂÂve got to find somebody to come in as the sixth or seventh man,â Williams said. âÂÂWe need some of those guys to come in and help us by not hurting us. Jeff Carey was a prime example of what we need. He very seldom got in the game and hurt us. He had very few games where he scored in double figures âÂÂ:quot; one in his career âÂÂ:quot; but when he came in, the effectiveness of our defense didnâÂÂt go down and he was very unselfish passing and setting screens and our effectiveness on offense didnâÂÂt go down, either.âÂÂ

âÂÂ:quot; Assistant sports editor Gary Bedore can be reached at 832-7186.