It probably is a good thing Late Night in the Phog was held during fall break this year.

With Kansas University’s entire student body in town, there wouldn’t have been enough room to accommodate everybody in Allen Fieldhouse for Friday night’s season-opening hoops extravaganza.

The 16,000 fans came mighty close to filling the building.

“This is why it’s the most special place to play and coach college basketball and be a fan of college basketball,” KU coach Bill Self said. “It’s fall break, and we get 16,000 people here cheering what I think is the best basketball team in America.”

KU’s coach had all 16,000 fans on their feet bringing down the house when he told the fans: “We’ve never been more jacked about a season than we are this year. Go Jayhawks!”

Basketball almost was an afterthought again this year thanks to frenzied pre-scrimmage activity, which included skits and dancing by members of the men’s and women’s teams.

But scrimmage the Jayhawks did at midnight, the White team battling back to beat the Blues, 27-24, while eight basketball recruits — Mario Chalmers, Micah Downs, Julian Wright, Martynas Pocius, C.J. Henry, Cole Aldrich, Matt Bouldin and Jerry Smith — watched from the first row of stands behind the bench.

Alex Galindo hit a pair of threes and scored 10 points — although the stat sheet had him with seven — for the winners, while Michael Lee tallied six. Wayne Simien and Sasha Kaun had four boards apiece.

Keith Langford had nine points off 4-of-7 shooting in a losing cause. J.R. Giddens grabbed five rebounds and Christian Moody four in a somewhat ragged contest.

Kansas University freshman Sasha Kaun goes up for a shot while Jayhawks, from left, Wayne Simien, Christian Moody and Darnell Jackson await a possible rebound. The scrimmage was part of the first official practice of the 2004-05 basketball season, which concluded early this morning in Allen Fieldhouse.

“That was bad basketball there during the scrimmage,” Self said, “but I could care less. We’ll get ’em at practice and work on some things. The best thing is nobody got hurt.”

As far as the Late Night entertainment … hypnotist Tom Silver, who performed along with Dallas Mavericks’ mascot Mavs Man, didn’t need the power of suggestion to convince KU’s fans to have a good time. KU’s six freshmen started things on a high note, holding a “dance off” inspired by the movie, “You Got Served.”

Russell Robinson started the dance competition, shaking his feet for 15 seconds, followed by solos from C.J. Giles, Darnell Jackson, Matt Kleinmann and Alex Galindo.

The final contestant, Sasha Kaun, prepared to dance, clapped his hands, two female dancers taking his place, Kaun winning the competition by yelling, “You suckas got served!”

In a spoof of the show “Behind the Music,” three members of the Temptations — Nick Bahe, Jeremy Case and J.R. Giddens — pulled females from the stands to serenade them to the tune, “My Girl.”

Another crowd-pleasing spoof featured KU’s senior class of Aaron Miles, Lee, Langford and Simien dressed in tuxedos for a dream sequence at a wedding.

Kansas University basketball fans Lieke van de Liefvort, front left, and Megan Simpson, front right, cheer before the start of Late Night in the Phog. The annual celebration of the start of the college basketball season ended early this morning at Allen Fieldhouse.

Two members of KU’s 1988 title team — Danny Manning and Mike Maddox — asked several questions of the Fab Foursome:

“Do you promise to honor your commitment to this season, their teammates, to each other and Kansas basketball?” they were asked by Maddox.

“We do,” the four said together.

“Do you promise to lead your team through blood and sweat, through wins and losses, through practices and the tournament?” Manning asked the group.

“We do.”

“Do you seniors promise to do all that is within your power to continue the tradition of Kansas basketball and win a championship?” Maddox asked the four.

“We do.”

Kansas senior Blair Waltz, front, shows off her dance moves during Late Night. Waltz didn't play during the women's basketball team's scrimmage because of an injury.

“You four seniors came for the tradition. You’ll leave as a part of it. You may touch the trophy,” Manning intoned, the four KU seniors embracing the actual 1988 NCAA title trophy.

Then all the Jayhawk players took part in a circle dance to the songs “Step in the name of love,” and “Drop it like it’s hot.”

In what has become a mini-tradition, the Jayhawks mimicked David Letterman’s Top Ten list.

Moody, Jeff Hawkins, Moulaye Niang and Stephen Vinson read the “top 10 things to see, hear and do this basketball season:

Hawkins’ No. 10: “Start the season off right and go to Late Night in the Phog.”

Niang’s No. 9: “Hear the roar of a sellout crowd at every home game.”

Vinson’s No. 8: “See KU bring the Big 12 championship back where it belongs.”

Moody’s No. 7: “Watch Moulaye Niang become the top Senegalese scorer in KU history.”

Hawkins’ No. 6. “Hear the Rock Chalk Chant in Bramlage Coliseum.”

Niang’s No. 5. “Watch the most underrated point guard in the country become the all-time assist leader.”

Vinson’s No. 4. “Go to St. Louis for the Final Four and stop in Columbia for an NIT game.”

Moody’s No. 3. “Watch the best senior class in the nation.”

Hawkins’ No. 2. “Watch us help the seniors finish what they started four years ago.”

Niang’s No. 1 thing to do this basketball season: “Watch us hang another banner in Allen Fieldhouse.”

KU coach Self enjoyed the entertainment.

“I thought the crowd was great. The skits were actually decent,” he grinned. “I think the Temptations was good. I thought the senior skit with Danny and Mike was good. I think the best performer of all is Nick Bahe. Whether he dances or whatever … he’s awesome.”

The Jayhawks will practice this afternoon for real. Unlike Friday night, it’s closed to the public.

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Recruits visit: Eight recruits were on hand for Late Night, including three who have already verbally committed to KU — Mario Chalmers, 6-1, Bartlett High, Anchorage; Micah Downs, 6-8, Juanita High, Bothell, Wash.; and Julian Wright, 6-8, Homewood Flossmoor High, Flossmoor, Ill.

Also on hand were Martynas Pocius, 6-5, The Holderness School, Plymouth, N.H., who has a final list of KU and Duke and C.J. Henry, 6-3, Oklahoma City, the son of former KU standout Carl Henry. Henry is one of the top baseball pitchers in the country and is expected to be a top pick in the 2005 baseball draft.

Cole Aldrich, 6-10 sophomore from Bloomington, Minn., was on hand, plus Matt Bouldin, 6-5 junior from Denver and Jerry Smith, 6-2 junior from Wauwatosa, Wis.

6Sports video: KU fans cheer season’s start 6Sports video: Jayhawks prepare for Late Night Hear Bill: Late Night in the Phog comments Photo Gallery: Late Night in the Phog 2004 2004-05 schedule