Notebook

KU suffered nine early turnovers in falling behind ‘Zona, 20-4.

“Arizona’s pressure early set the tone for the whole game. You can’t simulate that in practice,” Kansas coach Bill Self said.

“I knew they were quick,” C.J. Giles said after his two-point, 10-rebound effort, “I didn’t know they were that fast. I could have done more. My mind-set was into the game before the game, but not during the game for some reason.”

Giles said the Jayhawks “came out real flat. We were so hyped coming out here (to Hawaii), but I guess their speed shocked us. We were so flat. If we would have played like we’re supposed to, we could have won that game.”

¢ Kaun can: Sasha Kaun had 12 points off 5-of-9 shooting with six rebounds in 22 minutes. He fouled out with 4:51 left.

“Sasha was our best player tonight,” Self said. “It’s hard to get too excited.”

¢ Ex-Jayhawks on hand: NBA executives and former Jayhawk players Kevin Pritchard (Portland Trail Blazers), Milt Newton (Washington Wizards) and former KU assistant R.C. Buford (San Antonio Spurs) scouted the game.

¢ Stats, facts: KU is 1-1 for the first time since 2001-02. … KU is 6-4 all-time in Maui and 6-3 lifetime versus Arizona. … KU’s 49 points were lowest in its 10 games in Maui. The previous low was 75 against Illinois in 1987. … KU hit four of 19 threes and had just 10 assists against the 27 turnovers. … Arizona hit an anemic 28.3 percent, including four of 14 threes.

¢ Exempt games: Pencil in 2009 for KU’s next appearance in Maui.

“One of the first things I did when we got to KU was call Wayne Duke (former tourney chairman, now emeritus) and ask about ’09, to put us in for ’09,” KU senior associate AD Larry Keating said.

The NCAA is expected to change its rule allowing teams to compete in exempt tournaments two times every four years to one per year.

KU will play in the Preseason NIT in 2007 and Maui in 2009. If KU is allowed to play in tourneys in ’06 and ’08, the likely events would be either the Coaches Vs. Cancer Tourney or Guardians Classic, which involve two games on campus before heading to New York and Kansas City, Mo., for the semifinals and finals.

The Spencer group also has tourneys that involve a pair of home games with ultimate destinations of South Padre Island, Texas, and Las Vegas, which could be possibilities.

“I’m told the council will vote on it at the January convention. It must be OK’d by the presidents commission in March,” Keating said. “It sounds like it’ll be done.”

¢ Lots of media: Over 100 media were credentialed, by far the most ever for the Maui Invitational. Tickets are all sold out except for games involving Chaminade. The only schools to return tickets initially were believed to be Chaminade and UConn.

¢ Money matters: KU does not receive a guarantee payment for playing in the tournament. The tournament does pay for airfare, hotel rooms and per diem money for a traveling party of 25.