Kansas basketball has never had a player score a triple-double. On several excruciating occasions last Sunday, I was afraid KU’s Drew Gooden would back into that with 22 points, 15 rebounds and 10 or more turnovers. Charitably, he committed only six of the Jayhawks’ 20 giveaways against Oklahoma. Consider that faint praise.

People went nuts Sunday wondering when KU would finally get off a shot rather than losing the ball or blowing a crippie, a la the Holy Cross flounder. Let’s hope the OU disaster and Thursday’s bunglefest can be cathartic. Without Kirk Hinrich on the floor, it better be. If Nick Collison keeps taking disappearing potion in big games, even miracle-worker Keith Langford can’t save the Jayhawks.

Langford’s wondrous three-point caper to tie it at 46 was the turning point of Thursday’s game.

All-American Gooden got a painful lesson from quick and alert OU about how his minimal ball-handling skills and sometimes questionable shot selections could plague him as an NBA performer. He must have his best game yet if KU is to get past Stanford. He and everyone else, especially the struggling Collison.

Drew, bless his talented, effervescent soul, at times has seemed more eager to impress pro scouts instead of running the offense. How often has he tried to bleed through a crowd and get off a shot at any cost?

But he’s a disarming devil. Just when you find yourself yelling, “No, Drew, no, no!” it turns out “Â great shot, Drew, way to go!” He didn’t make All-America being a liability. Still, unless he curbs his tendency to hog (and lose) the ball, there are terrible nights ahead against quick and crafty pro defenders.

Whatever Drew’s faults, no Jayhawk has ever been as quick to react as an offensive rebounder. Where does he come from sometimes?

As for triple-doubles, KU’s had people get close, like Jerod Haase, Darnell Valentine, Danny Manning, Dave Magley, Mark Randall, Mike Maddox, Scot Pollard and Greg Ostertag. But no cigar. If they’d kept blocked shots in the 1950s, Wilt Chamberlain would be in the three-ply bin.

Another guy who got cheated by statistical laggards was Oscar Robertson. No assists were listed in 1958-59-60 when Oscar was double-doubling in points and rebounds at Cincinnati. In 1961-62 in the NBA he averaged a triple-double for a whole season  then a whole career. Magic Johnson had a triple-double against KU in 1979, only guy ever to do that.

As for scintillating negatives, ever tell you about my quadruple-doubles in KU intramural ball in the mid-1940s? Ten or more missed shots, 10 or more bungled rebounds, 10 or more steals by opponents and 10 or more assists  by charitable foes who would pick me up after I’d either stumbled or been knocked down. If they’d kept blocks of my shots, I might have had some quintuple-doubles.

KU senior Jeff Boschee keeps having ankle problems and clearly hasn’t been up to par. The much quicker and active Hollis Price turned Jeff upside down in Kansas City, minimizing the hobbled Boschee’s shot chances and firing for key baskets.

This is something KU has to deal with throughout the NCAA grind, even moreso with Hinrich in drydock. Even at full speed, Boschee doesn’t have the quickness and agility of some prospective foes. If he continues to be plagued by flat wheels, the Aaron Miles-Keith Langford-Brett Ballard combine will have crucial pressure. Heal, kid, heal! “Cute,” as Boschee is regarded by so many females, he’ll look a lot more adorable to everyone if he goes on a trey rampage, excels with assists, doesn’t get whipped on defense and closes some of the big gaps created by Hinrich’s loss.

Kansas was going to have a tough enough battle against Stanford with Hinrich. Without Kirk there’s grave peril. KU isn’t dead yet, but it’s in the intensive care unit. Wonder if Roy Williams will go with three big man starters (Wayne Simien No. 3) against the lofty, burly Stanfordites.

Interesting future scenario about KU and Missouri, both of which are due to lose two noted starters. Senior Boschee and junior Gooden will be gone from KU, senior Clarence Gilbert and probably junior Kareem Rush from MU.

Will their departures be as harmful as first glance would indicate?

Kansas could field a lineup of Nick Collison, Wayne Simien, Kirk Hinrich, Aaron Miles and Keith Langford. Red-shirt Jeff Hawkins and freshman Michael Lee can help along with some touted newcomers. The Simien-Langford-Miles trio could evolve as the current junior Triplets Terrific did?

You don’t replace Gooden and Boschee overnight, but they may not be as indispensable as we are inclined to think if talented holdovers keep developing.

MU has had questionable chemistry with the ball-hogging Gilbert and the erratic Rush. There are returnees like Arthur Johnson, Rickey Paulding, Travon Bryant; good newcomers are due. Will the Gilbert-Rush exit allow others guys to come out of the shadows and realize their full potential?

The Big 12 will be loaded again next year, with Oklahoma and Kansas as traditional powerhouses, Texas stronger and deeper, Missouri again ready to challenge for a title and all the other clubs improved.

We’ll miss old Drew and Jeff, but don’t hang any crepe for the Jayhawks just yet. They’ll still have to be reckoned with in 2003, no matter what happens in the challenging 2002 windup.