C.J. Giles sensed something special about the 2005-06 Kansas University men’s basketball team in June at the first session of summer school.

“Right away, we just jelled. The whole summer we jelled a lot better than we did last year,” Giles, KU’s sophomore forward, said of a team that brought in three freshmen (a fourth, Brandon Rush joined the squad Sept. 3) and a semester transfer to replace four graduated seniors and three transfers.

“We all hung out. We all connected. Once the season started, it was not that hard to get it going,” Giles said.

Because of solid team chemistry, Giles said he had a feeling KU would click in Wednesday’s exhibition opener against Fort Hays State.

He was right. The Jayhawks had 24 assists off 35 baskets in a 96-62 victory.

“I knew we’d have a lot more highlights,” Giles said. “The best thing we did is, we were unselfish and were good in transition.”

Obviously, one exhibition victory does not make a season, but on opening night KU showed signs that a summer of hard work paid off.

“The main reason was the height advantage,” 6-11 center Sasha Kaun said of the reason he exploded for 23 points off 10-of-11 shooting, “but we all have worked pretty hard getting more physical, stronger and more athletic.

“Over the summer working out in the weight room, getting tougher and stronger … that’s the biggest thing right now.”

KU freshmen Mario Chalmers, Micah Downs and Julian Wright, who were here during the summer, plus Rush, who joined the team in September, combined for 41 points and 22 rebounds and nine assists against Hays, while sophomores Kaun, Giles, Russell Robinson and Jeremy Case together tallied 39 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.

“I think our freshmen were a lot more confident than we were last year,” Giles said. “The freshmen have to do a lot more this year.

“Last year, we couldn’t just run and jump into everything because we had the four seniors. So we could sit back and learn. But this year, our freshman class has to jump in and at least help a little bit. That’s why I think they stepped up in our first game.”

Coach Bill Self likes the mix so far.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt right now our veterans would beat your younger guys (in a game) just because they know what they are doing,” Self said.

“We’ve got to find somebody else to play with them. In the exhibition games we’re playing a lot of people a lot of minutes. I think a good mix early will have a blend of older guys with freshmen as opposed to putting all the freshmen out there together.”

The Jayhawks practiced Friday and will go again today and Sunday in preparation for Monday’s 7 p.m. exhibition against Pittsburg State. The regular-season opener is Friday versus Idaho State.

It remains to be seen whether sophomore Darnell Jackson, who has been practicing with the team but did not play in Wednesday’s exhibition, will play Monday.

Self has said Jackson “has an eligibility issue we can’t elaborate on.”

On Friday, Self, who would not comment on specifics, said, “I don’t know (his status). Like I said before, we hope to know something for sure by Monday.”