New York ? Kansas senior guard Kirk Hinrich practiced on Thanksgiving Day in preparation for todayâÂÂs game against Florida.

However, he practiced only on a limited basis and still is experiencing back pain sustained in WednesdayâÂÂs loss to North Carolina.

HeâÂÂs questionable for tonightâÂÂs Preseason NIT consolation game (5:30 p.m., Central, no TV).

Wayne Simien, who sprained his right ankle twice on Wednesday, practiced on Thursday and should be able to go tonight.

Hinrich will undergo tests when he returns to Lawrence. The senior guard has been frustrated because he felt back pain after merely landing on his feet after hitting a first-half layup against North Carolina.

HeâÂÂs been receiving treatment since the game.

âÂÂItâÂÂs pretty sore. I donâÂÂt know whatâÂÂs going wrong. Something happened and weâÂÂll try to fix whatever it is,â he said.

â¢

Lee chose Florida over KU: One of the top college basketball prospects in the class of 2001, St. Louis forward David Lee, chose Florida over Kansas, Missouri, Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky.

âÂÂWe tried to recruit David Lee extremely hard,â KU coach Roy Williams said of the 6-foot-9, 240-pounder from Chaminade High, who takes a 12.3 scoring, 8.0 rebounding average into tonightâÂÂs game.

âÂÂI think David is potentially one of the great players in college basketball.âÂÂ

Lee came off the bench to average 7.0 points and 4.7 boards a game his rookie season. HeâÂÂs a starter now and had nothing but great things to say about KU.

âÂÂKansas is a powerhouse school with great tradition,â said Lee, who toured KUâÂÂs Jayhawker Towers on his unofficial visit with Hinrich, Nick Collison and Drew Gooden. âÂÂCoach Williams is one of the best coaches in all of basketball. He brings in great players and always has great teams.âÂÂ

Lee was held to eight points off 3-of-6 shooting with four rebounds in 27 minutes of FloridaâÂÂs 69-65 semifinal loss to Stanford on Wednesday.

âÂÂI think IâÂÂve done an OK job,â Lee said. âÂÂMy teammates have done a great job of getting me the ball and thatâÂÂs my main focus, to make the most of every touch I get.âÂÂ

âÂÂI think weâÂÂre doing a much better job getting David touches,â Florida coach Billy Donovan noted prior to the Stanford game. âÂÂHeâÂÂs been impressive inside and he does as good a job of passing the ball out as any big man IâÂÂve been around.âÂÂ

FloridaâÂÂs top returning player is 6-10 Matt Bonner, who has been bothered by back spasms. HeâÂÂs averaging 10.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest.

Brett Nelson, a 6-4 senior guard, missed FloridaâÂÂs first three games because of a stress fracture in his right foot. He had five points in 19 minutes against Stanford. Nelson had considered turning pro after both his sophomore and junior seasons.

Freshman Matt Walsh, 6-6 from Holland, Pa., was ESPN.comâÂÂs player of the week last week after averaging 21.7 points, 5.7 assists and 4.7 steal averages in season-opening wins against Louisiana Tech, Eastern Illinois and Coastal Carolina.

âÂÂItâÂÂs amazing. I never expected to have a start like this to my career,â Walsh said. âÂÂThis is fun. Playing with guys that are so good, it makes the game so much easier being able to pass to guys you know can finish. Everybody has the same goal, to win and that makes it so much fun playing that style.âÂÂ

Freshman guard Anthony Roberson, 6-1 from Saginaw, Mich., averages 15.3 points and 2.3 boards.

âÂÂAnthony Roberson and Matt Walsh can score inside the lane by putting it on the floor rather than posting up and playing with their backs to the basket,â Donovan said.

â¢

Freshman ailing: Florida freshman Christian Drejer was a late recruiting coup, the 6-9 native of Denmark signing in August. However, he has not played this season because of a high ankle sprain – the pain was so intense he spent time in a hospital just to be able to sleep under care of doctors. He did not make the trip to New York and now itâÂÂs unknown how much heâÂÂll be able to contribute this season. Drejer had offers to play pro ball in Europe this season.

â¢

Gators need work: Florida coach Donovan said his team is in desperate need of practice time.

âÂÂThe thing that IâÂÂm upset about in a game like this … we should not be allowed to play again for a week,â he said after the Stanford setback. âÂÂWe need to practice and we havenâÂÂt practiced enough leading into this situation.âÂÂ