Probably won’t happen, but this Kansas team has the tools and the anchorman to give college basketball a little different look between now and March.

I’m talking about the mid-range jump shot Keith Langford can execute so well to relieve the heavy pressure for three-point buckets. Langford can jink and corkscrew in and around the paint in such athletic fashion that he creates all kinds of 10- to 15-foot shots.

No question that Kirk Hinrich can be deadly with drives and jumpers between the basket and the trey arc. Keith and Kirk also are capable of loosening up the scenery with three-pointers. Now and then Michael Lee and Jeff Hawkins can strike from deep.

While Aaron Miles is a far cry from Jeff Boschee with three-pointers, he’s a decent poker once inside the arc.

With so much emphasis on the dunk and the trey anymore, why couldn’t a team with a solid crew of dedicated mid-range gunners drive opposing defenses nutty? Further, big man Nick Collison has a wondrous touch in the 10-15-foot area and might set up more crippies with well-calculated fakes.

Sad thing is that Wayne Simien had firmly established himself as a mid-range threat before he lamed a shoulder. Imagine how effective the offense could be with Wayne and Nick stepping out regularly and Langford, Hinrich, Miles et al taking closer jabs while the big guys protected the paint.

Kansas or anyone else would be crazy to forget three-point offensive schemes because the treys can factor so heavily in a close game. But fewer and fewer teams seem to be focusing on mid-range attacks, maybe because of a growing scarcity of good pure shooters due to the dominance of the dunk and the downtown fling.

KU seems to have the personnel to beat that rap, hold the fort until Jeff Graves, Bryant Nash and Moulaye Niang can help more and, glory be, Simien can get back into the mix.

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The NCAA, for all its failings, does the right thing by allowing college sports stars to get insurance covering in case injury wipes out their chances for pro wealth. I certainly hope Hinrich and Collison are insured to the maximum since they came back for their senior seasons. Down the line, I’d guess Langford and Simien may go that route.

The issue of insurance came to the fore recently when Miami sophomore running back Willis McGahee wrecked a knee against Ohio State. Turns out he has something like $2.5 million coverage. The bad news is he may never see a cent of that because the policy covers “permanent disablement”… unable ever to play again. He won’t accept that.

McGahee will undergo rehab, has declared he’ll go pro for next season, so even if he’s drafted high and gets a reasonable contract, he’ll see no insurance payout. Will some pro team take a chance on his recovery? Probably, but there’ll be no multimillion-dollar signing bonus, like $10 million, and no multiyear, zillion-dollar contract. The sad thing is he’s regarded as a medical risk and doesn’t get any insurance loot until he’s a verified cripple.

We thought Drew Gooden did well with his three-year, near-$10-million Memphis contract. He was insured, too, but that $10 million, plus endorsements, looks a lot better than a $2.5 million disability payout.

Any wonder why so many college gridders and cagers are signing early?

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There’s a big flap about a Raytown, Mo., basketball coach who used a paddle on high school players to boost their incentive, particularly in free-throwing. Despite all the long-term good done by the Bud Lathrop, now 67, he’s badly scarred in some eyes.

Ever hear of Fritz Knorr, onetime Kansas State athlete, head basketball coach (1945 and 1946) and an eventual KSU front office executive? Had him as my gym teacher at Northwest Junior High in KC and loved him, even though he popped my derriere several times with a short leather paddle he kept handy.

I was basket monitor, a job many wanted. I got excused early from a civics class to hand out the baskets; got to shower early and check the clothes containers back to the guys. Fritz told me at the outset, “Never let me catch you in the basket room with wet feet — mildew problem!”

One day when I thought the cat was away, I traipsed into the area dripping, pre-towel. All of a sudden I thought some crazed flat-tailed beaver had attacked my dampened butt. Three Knorr swats quicker than a mongoose can crunch a cobra.

Other guys loved it and I considered my red spots badges of honor. He loved me enough to send his very best. Learning about following orders didn’t ruin my life and I admired Fritz as much as ever — especially the day the class bully decided to take on The Coach and got turned inside out for his efforts. Fritz couldn’t save him, though. About 10 years later the guy killed four people in a KC area rampage. Never crossed Fritz again, though.

Could it be those quick pops from Fritz Knorr set me on the right path to avoid serial killerdom? Today Fritz would be in court by sundown, but only if somebody else tattled. I was a lot more scared of what I’d get at home if I fell into school trouble than what I’d get from somebody like Fritz Knorr.

He was fair, effective and caring but didn’t suffer fools. One of the best teachers I ever had the good fortune to encounter — even if he was a Wildcat zealot.