Wilkes’ dunks, Self’s 3s highlight practice

Kansas City, Mo ? Omar Wilkes’ dunking and Bill Self’s long-range shooting proved to be the highlights of Kansas University’s 30-minute NCAA Tournament workout Thursday night at Kemper Arena.

Wilkes, KU’s freshman guard from Los Angeles, converted several vicious spinning dunks and closed a dunk drill with a soaring slam after taking off just inside the free-throw line

Moments earlier Self, KU’s first-year coach, swished three of six three-point tries.

The show delighted 2,500 fans who attended KU’s brief workout, which came several hours after a harder, longer practice at UMKC’s gym.

“I think it’s a good way to end any practice, to dunk from inside the free-throw line,” the 6-foot-4 Wilkes said. “It was my initial idea to dunk from the free-throw line, but gravity said no.”

Wilkes wasn’t surprised by his coach’s three-point marksmanship.

“He does it before practice a lot,” Wilkes said of Self, a former Oklahoma State guard, showing off his shooting touch. “If he was a player on the team, I think he’d be one of our top three-point shooters.”

“Every now and then we’ll get in a little shooting competition,” junior Wayne Simien said. “He can shoot that little jumper. He’s played a little bit of basketball.”

Self waved to a cheering crowd after hitting his first three and shrugged after making his final trey attempt.

Kansas freshman Omar Wilkes dunks during a short public practice at Kemper Arena.

“A guy like me, they probably never dreamed I could throw one in the ocean. It’s why they cheered for me,” Self said with a grin.

Told some of the Jayhawks thought he had stagefright, Self deadpanned: “If that’s the case, they’ve had stagefright a lot of times. They’ve missed a lot of shots at times this year.

“Wearing a jacket and not being loose, I thought that was not bad.”

  • Injury report: J.R. Giddens (foot) and Keith Langford (knee) didn’t take part in the shootaround Thursday night. Giddens did practice in KU’s first workout of the day, while Langford shot on the side.

Both will play tonight against Illinois-Chicago.

“This is as healthy as we’ll get,” Self said. “I think adrenaline will allow our health to be fine.”

KU freshman J.R. Giddens dribbles the ball during practice. Giddens worked out earlier in the day at UMKC, but he sat out the evening practice at Kemper Arena. Giddens sported a boot to protect his ailing left foot.

Of his right-knee injury, which will require surgery to repair damaged cartilage, Langford said: “The whole point of not practicing is to have the energy to go in the game. I know it can’t get any worse, so I’m going to go all-out.”

Giddens said he likely would put his foot in a cast for some time after the season, but would not need additional surgery on his left foot. A screw was inserted in a bone to repair a stress fracture last offseason.

  • Freshman jokesters: Freshmen Nick Bahe, David Padgett and Wilkes stole the show in the locker room, mugging it up for the TV cameras.

Wilkes interviewed Padgett and Bahe, who did a spirited impersonation of Padgett.

“I think we’re loose as a team,” Wilkes said. “But also know we came here to take care of serious business. We know we are facing a tough opponent.”

“I’m not that good, man,” Giddens said. “Hopefully that’s in my future. Everybody wants to be rich. It’s my goal, what I’m working for, but right now I’m trying to be a key player for my team.

“I need to be more well rounded, a better rebounder, better slasher. I have a lot of things to work on before that can happen.”

  • Graves here this time: Jeff Graves is looking forward to playing in Kemper Arena. He was held out of KU’s game against Oregon because of disciplinary reasons earlier this year.

“It’s like my homecoming,” Graves said. “I’m excited to be here for my team this time.”

Asked if his teammates teased him about oversleeping two hours for an 11 a.m. practice earlier this season, he grinned, “Of course. If they didn’t get on me they wouldn’t be teammates.”

  • Nail-biters: The Jayhawks, a No. 4 seed, paid attention to close calls involving No. 4 seeds Wake Forest and Maryland on Thursday.

Wake Forest beat VCU, 79-78, while Maryland survived UTEP, 86-83.

“I watched the tournament get started,” Simien said. “These are the top 64 teams in the country. Anybody can beat anybody on a given day.”

  • Close calls: It’s true KU’s junior class has advanced to the Final Four the past two years. It’s also a cold, hard fact the Jayhawks nearly exited in the first round of the NCAA Tournament the same two seasons, nudging Utah State, 64-61, last March, after an equally scary 70-59 victory over Holy Cross in 2002.

“I hope it wouldn’t take that,” Self said, asked if the Jayhawks needed to play close first-round games to inspire them to a run to the Final Four.

The Jayhawks realize they’ve had some first-round troubles.

But a win is a win.

“I will never ask for a close game,” KU junior Michael Lee said. “But it’s all about winning at this point. Whether it’s a two-point win or 20-point win, you’ve got to take it and move on. Having been in close first-round games and making runs the last two years, I think has prepared us for anything.”

Self realizes the best way to avoid a quick trip home is to attack the Flames early.

“We cannot let them get in the comfort zone,” Self said. “They will definitely be a team that will not take a step backward.”