John Crider knows firsthand what itâÂÂs like to play basketball in a jam-packed Allen Fieldhouse.

âÂÂIt gives you chills,â said Crider, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound shooting guard/small forward who toiled for Kansas for two seasons and one semester before transferring to Washburn University in January of 2001.

The former Horton High all-stater, who scored 15 points in WashburnâÂÂs exhibition opener last Saturday against DawsonâÂÂs All Stars, will start for the Ichabods during tonightâÂÂs exhibition battle at Kansas.

Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse, with a live telecast available on channels 13 and 38 (cable channel 15).

It promises to be a night the former Jayhawk will never forget.

âÂÂI love that school. I love the fans,â said Crider, who signed with KU as part of âÂÂJohn Crider Dayâ festivities on April 8, 1998, in Horton. âÂÂI love that place (Allen Fieldhouse). IâÂÂve not been in there since I left.âÂÂ

Crider, who admits heâÂÂll be a bit nervous for tonightâÂÂs homecoming, left KU for one reason – playing time.

Crider, who averaged 31.1 points and 11.1 rebounds his senior year at Horton High and exploded for 52 in a game against McLouth, never was able to earn meaningful minutes at Kansas.

The writing appeared to be on the wall after he played mop-up minutes in KUâÂÂs season-opening exhibition of the 2000-01 season.

Crider asked KU coach Roy Williams for a transfer shortly after that game.

âÂÂI just wanted to play. I love playing the game,â said Crider, whose six-hour personal workouts were the stuff legends were made of back during his high school days in Horton.

âÂÂIâÂÂve stayed hungry. I feel great getting ready for a game, knowing IâÂÂll play. It makes it more fun knowing IâÂÂll be in the game.âÂÂ

Williams, who was a high school standout back in North Carolina, but couldnâÂÂt make the varsity team at the University of North Carolina, knows that feeling. So he was supportive of Crider when Crider asked for his transfer.

âÂÂJohn Crider is a great youngster from in-state that we hoped would work out here,â Williams said. âÂÂWe knew it was going to be difficult for him to start with. John was just not very happy. As soon as he told me he was not very happy, I said, âÂÂ’Well, then, the best thing to do is see if we can find a place where youâÂÂll be happier.â I think thatâÂÂs what heâÂÂs found at Washburn.

âÂÂLast year, I would check the Washburn box score and IâÂÂd check and see how many minutes and shots John got. All of a sudden I was like a parent. I check on John before IâÂÂd check to see if they won the game.

âÂÂWeâÂÂll be very happy to see John, and hopefully our crowd will give him a great, great reception, too.âÂÂ

Those who know Crider are hoping the reception rivals the loud standing ovation former Jayhawk Adonis Jordan received when introduced as a starter before last weekâÂÂs exhibition against EA Sports.

âÂÂHe loved KU. He loved it so much he probably stayed there a year too long. If the people love KU they should cheer him because heâÂÂs like them,â Washburn coach Bob Chipman said. âÂÂObviously heâÂÂll be excited. You want to come back and show you can play, one of those deals, but heâÂÂs played enough ball that he will be able to settle down and play his game.âÂÂ

Crider averaged 5.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 22 games last season. That followed his KU career in which he missed 24 of 25 career shots, including all 15 three-point tries.

âÂÂHis top strength? Just probably the fact every high school girl in Topeka falls in love with the way he looks,â Chipman quipped of Crider. âÂÂHis strength is his versatility. He is a good jump-shooter, coming off screens. HeâÂÂs probably best at medium-distance jump-shooting. He has a good knack for the ball, will go get you a rebound.

âÂÂHeâÂÂs not a flashy passer but a solid passer. He can drive it but would prefer to shoot the jumper. Defensively heâÂÂll hound you. Roy taught him that.âÂÂ

Crider is proud of his defense.

âÂÂComing from KU, you learn to play defense there under coach Williams. He is great,â Crider said. âÂÂTo play in college you have to play defense. (Offensively) I like to take it to the hole, come off screens. I think I am a confident shooter.âÂÂ

It took awhile for him to regain his confidence after not making a splash at Kansas.

âÂÂThat is automatic. You donâÂÂt sit on anybodyâÂÂs bench and not lose all confidence,â Chipman said. âÂÂWhen he got here, he was down. It takes some time getting some success in games. He played well many times last year.âÂÂ

Admittedly it is easier to make an impact in NCAA Div. II than Div. I.

âÂÂThere are bigger athletes (in Div. I),â Crider said. âÂÂThe speed of the game is still pretty fast, but overall there are better athletes in Div. I.âÂÂ

For the most part, standouts like Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich arenâÂÂt found on Div. II rosters.

âÂÂThe best memory I have is being around the guys,â Crider said. âÂÂNick and Kirk are great. I saw some of the other guys at WashburnâÂÂs camp this summer.âÂÂ