Aaron Miles, Russell Robinson and Keith Langford will play in the same backcourt at times this season.

During those stretches, and others with Michael Lee in the game, fans may be unable to decipher which Kansas University men’s basketball player is the point guard.

“I’d like to play with three point guards, where whoever gets it, brings it,” second-year KU coach Bill Self said.

Self is not hung up on the traditional labels of 1 being the point guard, 2 shooting guard, 3 small forward, 4 power forward and 5 pivot.

“I hope we’re just able to recruit good players, put them out there and have them figure it out as opposed to, ‘You are a 2, 3, 4 or 5,”’ Self said. “I don’t like doing that. The five best perimeter players are going to play, no matter how big they are, as long as there’s a true point in the game.”

This year, Miles and Robinson are the conventional point guards on KU’s team. However, Langford and Lee can bring the ball upcourt as well as Jeff Hawkins and Nick Bahe, plus, when healthy, Jeremy Case and Stephen Vinson.

During KU’s exhibition trip to Canada, KU played at breakneck speed when Miles, Lee and Robinson were in the lineup together.

“Coach Self wants to play fast. We want to play fast,” Miles said. “The way to play fast is outlet it on both wings. You just go. When we are in practice sometimes, you get a glimpse of it.

“When we were in Canada you saw it some. I can get it and pitch ahead, or Russell can get it and pitch ahead. It’s going to be fun. With two guards you can pressure the ball a little more. That can speed the tempo also.”

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The 6-foot-1 Robinson likes the idea of not being labeled as a point guard or shooting guard. Next year, after Miles graduates, he and 6-1 recruit Mario Chalmers will share point and two-guard duties.

“Definitely we’ll both bring it up,” Robinson said. “It was one upside in recruiting me. I played a lot of 2-guard much of my (high school) career. I was a combo guard. It’s what I see myself as. It’s how I’m used to playing,” the New York native added of the guard closest to the ball taking it out of bounds and racing up court.

“It’s how I was playing when coach Self recruited me in high school and AAU. It’s what I’m used to.”

He thinks having multiple ballhandlers is the way to go.

“When you have more than one person who can push the ball,” Robinson said, “it makes for a good transition game. Sometimes it’s harder for defenders to match up.”

The Jayhawks are talking about running a lot this season and could average more than last year’s 75.8 points per game.

“Last year we didn’t push it as much as we’d like to. It was our fault as players. We didn’t run enough,” Miles said. “Picking up Russell gives us a lot more quickness and speed. Michael Lee running, J.R. (Giddens), Keith, Russell, Alex (Galindo), whoever comes in the game. We’ve got some big men who can get up and down the floor, too.”

“It will not be breakneck speed,” Self said of this year’s pace, “but I think we can play faster than last year, pressure more than we did a year ago. More speed? Sure, because we have more depth.”

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Ceremony dates revealed: KU has announced the dates for its five jersey-retirement ceremonies this season. Bill Bridges’ jersey will be hung in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse at halftime of the TCU game Dec. 9. Walt Wesley’s will be hung at the South Carolina game Dec. 18; Darnell Valentine’s at the Texas game Jan. 29; Bud Stallworth’s Jan. 31 versus Missouri and Dave Robisch’s Feb. 27 against Oklahoma State.

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Bumps, bruises update: Wayne Simien, who took a shot to the nose at practice, wore a protective mask at Thursday’s workout. Self said he didn’t know if Simien would need to wear it in Sunday’s game against Washburn.

Freshman Galindo, who suffered a groin injury at Late Night in the Phog, practiced Thursday for just the seventh time of the season.

“I’ve gotten a lot better. I need to keep getting in shape. I’m not 100 percent, but getting there,” Galindo said. “I was kind of mad I missed shots in the game (four versus Emporia State on Sunday). I felt good. I wasn’t nervous. It was fun playing in the fieldhouse.”

Vinson may not be playing in the fieldhouse for a while. The junior guard’s groin injury, suffered when he slipped on a towel during a boot camp workout in early October, has had him out of action since the start of practice Oct. 15.

“I did it in boot camp,” Vinson said. “I toughed out boot camp a bit, which might not have been too smart of me.

“They think I’m getting closer. It’s frustrating not being able to play. This is the longest I’ve gone without playing. I just want to enjoy playing basketball again. It’s going to be at least a week (until he practices).”