New York ? ItâÂÂs been an ordeal for Kansas UniversityâÂÂs Kirk Hinrich just to get dressed the past couple of days.

âÂÂI canâÂÂt even put on my shoes. I have to lie down on my bed,â said Hinrich, KUâÂÂs senior guard.

He was in a world of hurt both physically and mentally Friday night after the Jayhawksâ 83-73 loss to Florida in the Preseason NIT consolation finals at Madison Square Garden.

The loss was KUâÂÂs second in three days in the Big Apple, making Hinrich and his teammates feel rotten to the core.

âÂÂI feel really sore,â said Hinrich, who hit just one of seven threes and scored five points in 31 minutes against the Gators.

The 6-foot-3 preseason All-American suffered a back sprain in the first half of KUâÂÂs 67-56 semifinal loss to North Carolina on Wednesday.

Kansas dropped to 2-2 on the season, its worst start since 1987-88.

âÂÂIf you told me weâÂÂd come in here 2-0 and come out 2-2, IâÂÂd have told you you are crazy,â said Hinrich.

The Jayhawks arrived as the countryâÂÂs No. 2-ranked team, but figure to drop somewhere between 10 and 20 next week.

The good news Friday, if there was any good news, is that doctors believe Hinrich does not have a serious injury.

âÂÂThey think heâÂÂll be fine. ThereâÂÂs some inflammation in there (back),â KU coach Roy Williams said, noting an orthopedic specialist and spinal specialist both believe Hinrich has a sprain.

HeâÂÂll undergo tests in Lawrence with results expected Monday.

More positive news is the Jayhawks showed some gumption in slicing a 19-point second-half deficit to two.

The bad news is that Florida cashed 14 of 31 threes compared to KUâÂÂs three of 16.

Also, the Jayhawks canned just 37.5 percent of their shots and hit 22 of 36 free throws, including a 10-of-20 effort in the first half that proved costly as the No. 7-ranked Gators built a 38-26 halftime lead.

âÂÂThey are very good shooters. The problem we had, we didnâÂÂt do a good job guarding the basketball, guarding the dribble,â Williams said. âÂÂTheyâÂÂd penetrate and pitch to an open guy. The first half we had trouble guarding screens at the top of the key. (Justin) Hamilton was able to get inside and pitch out.âÂÂ

Also, the Gators hit some bombs with a hand in the face. Matt Walsh and Matt Bonner hit three threes apiece, each scoring 22. Anthony Roberson and Brett Nelson also cashed three treys each.

KU cut a 55-36 deficit with 16:15 left to 61-59 at 7:31, but Walsh calmly iced at three.

Keith LangfordâÂÂs bucket Ãi¿½” he had a team-leading 17 points Ãi¿½” sliced the gap to 64-61 at 6:53, but Nelson respond with a three.

After Nick Collison hit a pair of free throws to cut the gap to 71-66 at 3:38, Bonner and Walsh buried consecutive threes to give the Gators an insurmountable 77-66 bulge at 2:37.

âÂÂYou have to congratulate them for making some big plays when we had them running,â Williams said.

He was willing to congratulate his team for one positive.

âÂÂI do believe we competed tonight,â Williams said. âÂÂWe cut it to six and they made three in a row, and the guys could have folded their tents. We got it to a two-point game. IâÂÂm pleased how we competed. If we do that, weâÂÂll be all right.âÂÂ

Of KUâÂÂs three-point shooting woes, the coach was asked if he longed to see, say, former Jayhawk Jeff Boschee on the court.

âÂÂYou do, but you canâÂÂt do anything about that,â he said. âÂÂIâÂÂd like to say we can get Mike Newlin or some of those great NBA guys, or Calvin Murphy, but we canâÂÂt draft anybody. WeâÂÂll try to coach the guys we have. TheyâÂÂve got to try to become better shooters and weâÂÂll see what they can do.âÂÂ

He said HinrichâÂÂs misfiring was clearly because of the playerâÂÂs back woes. âÂÂHe doesnâÂÂt miss those shots,â Williams said. âÂÂYou look down âÂÂ: heâÂÂs 1-for-7. At worst heâÂÂs the second or third best shooter in Kansas history percentage-wise.

âÂÂHe wanted to play. HeâÂÂs a senior. We talked to his mom and dad about it. He tells me heâÂÂs not going to hurt himself, and the doctors tell me heâÂÂs not going to hurt himself, and he tells me he wants to play and thinks he can help us, IâÂÂll play him.

âÂÂThe kids get so much strength from him,â Williams said.

Hinrich and the rest of the Jayhawks had a miserable first half.

KU hit eight of 25 shots and 50 percent of its free throws in lagging by 12 at the break.

Collison took just two shots the first 20 minutes, though he did finish with 16 off 5-of-12 shooting. KU missed six threes with no makes, while Florida iced five of 13 treys.

âÂÂAt halftime I was concerned. I donâÂÂt think our pressure had done anything, whereas the second half I think our pressure did some things,â Williams said. âÂÂWe did some things the second half that helped us give me some hope on that part of it.

âÂÂThe first half I think we lost a little confidence. You miss free throws and do some of the things we did âÂÂ: you canâÂÂt do that and beat a team like Florida.âÂÂ

The Jayhawks will return today to try to regroup for WednesdayâÂÂs 7 p.m. battle against Central Missouri State.

âÂÂI didnâÂÂt think weâÂÂd come here and be 0-2,â Collison said. âÂÂI was shocked yesterday (after North Carolina game). Today we just got beat. North Carolina was the most embarrassed IâÂÂve been in basketball after a game. WeâÂÂve just to figure out how to play. Everybody is trying to figure it out, too, but at least we competed down the stretch. ItâÂÂs a matter of being comfortable. WeâÂÂre definitely not clicking right now.âÂÂ