Jayhawks return to Allen

Kansas University’s men’s basketball players worked out in Allen Fieldhouse on Monday for the first time since late last spring.

The building, which has undergone significant renovations, was open for business for the late afternoon session of Bill Self’s basketball Boot Camp, which last week was held exclusively in Horejsi Center.

“It (fieldhouse) is available for use,” KU senior associate athletic director Larry Keating said Monday, indicating KU’s men’s and women’s players had been given the OK to practice on the new shiny, bouncy, maple hardwood floor.

The fieldhouse still needs touch-up work prior to the Oct. 14 Late Night in the Phog. The freshly painted seats, which have picked up dust from the sanding of the floor, will be cleaned from “top to bottom,” Keating indicated.

Also, new windows are in the process of being installed, as well as completion of wiring of the new center scoreboard and auxiliary boards.

Most noticeable Monday was the brightness of the arena.

“We’ve got more lights, brighter lights and updated fixtures. It’s much brighter in there, so bright that most strobe lights will be unnecessary this year,” Keating said.

TV, newspaper and magazine photographers may not need to use their own auxiliary lights to make their pictures appear clear this season.

“The building was 45 footcandle last year and is going to 235 footcandle – quite a difference,” Keating said.

He indicated 120 footcandle was recommended for “normal play, and for TV it’s 200 footcandle. We feel we’ve brightened up an older facility but have not in any way changed the feel of the place.”

Construction will continue on the Hall of Athletics, which will not be ready for use until next season. However, fans will be able to pass through the Hall into the fieldhouse this season, perhaps as early as Late Night, Keating said.

¢ Tickets on sale: Approximately 300 KU men’s basketball season tickets are available to members of KU’s Williams Educational Fund and those who would like to join the fund.

The tickets come from an allotment that the athletic department had earmarked for faculty and staff that have gone unordered.

Individuals can join the Williams Fund and order tickets by logging on to www.kuathletics.com and clicking on “Buy Tickets.”

Individuals who already are members of the Williams Fund who wish to purchase additional tickets but do not wish to make an additional contribution can do so by calling the ticket office at 1-800-34-HAWKS.

¢ Thomas, Langford in camps: Former KU guard Billy Thomas on Monday signed a free-agent contract with the Washington Wizards. The 29-year-old Thomas played the second half of last season with the New Jersey Nets.

Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets made it official Monday, announcing the signing of ex-Jayhawk guard Keith Langford to a free-agent contract. The Rockets also signed guard/forward Dion Glover and forward Chuck Hayes.

Langford has been working out with the Rockets the past several weeks.

Other Jayhawks in NBA camps: Raef LaFrentz, Paul Pierce, Boston; Jacque Vaughn, New Jersey; Scot Pollard, Indiana; Drew Gooden, Cleveland; Greg Ostertag, Utah; Kirk Hinrich, Chicago; Nick Collison, Seattle; Wayne Simien, Miami; and Aaron Miles, Golden State.

¢ Max is back: KU football and basketball color announcer Max Falkenstien, who has been out of action since undergoing emergency stomach surgery Sept. 7, confirmed Monday he planned to work Saturday’s KU-Kansas State football game. Falkenstien indicated he has been feeling fine and was eager to return to the microphone. He’s in his 60th season broadcasting the action of KU teams.

¢ Top class: Rivalshoops.com on Monday rated KU’s recruiting class of Brandon Rush, Julian Wright, Mario Chalmers and Micah Downs No. 1 in the country. Oklahoma State was tapped No. 2.

¢ Arthur completes visit to UNC: Darrell Arthur, a 6-foot-9 forward from Dallas, did not commit to North Carolina after his campus visit concluded Sunday. Arthur will visit Indiana this weekend and still has trips to make to KU (Oct. 14), SMU and Baylor. Rivals.com indicates the University of Texas also still is in the mix.