Kansas University’s men’s basketball program received positive national publicity Tuesday night.

The Jayhawks were featured as one of the country’s 10 “powerhouse programs” by ESPNU on the cable network’s first original series, “Honor Roll.”

UCLA, Michigan State, North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky and Indiana were the other men’s team’s honored. Kentucky Wesleyan’s Division II men’s team also was mentioned, as were the Connecticut and Tennessee women’s programs.

ESPNU can be seen locally on Sunflower Broadband Channel 141.

¢ Chalmers’ take: KU freshman point guard Mario Chalmers was asked to rate his own performance through the first 12 days of the season: “I think I’ve been doing OK in running the team and shooting the ball. The thing I need to do is cut down on turnovers in scrimmages,” said Chalmers, who has been trading off at the point position with senior Jeff Hawkins. “It’s a friendly competition,” Chalmers said.

Speaking of the rookies, Chalmers said freshman Micah Downs’ shooting had been strong at practice and, “Brandon (Rush) and Julian (Wright) are both doing well. The team is coming along great.”

¢ Patient leader: KU coach Bill Self seemed amused when told some of his players indicated the coach, who can be vocal at practice, had been “patient” with his young team the first couple weeks of the preseason.

“Probably not as patient as I should be,” Self said. “We’re getting them to understand how hard you have to work and with a sense of urgency. You have to play every possession.”

Asked to rate his squad’s progress, he said: “We’re a lot farther along than a week ago.”

¢ Fast-paced players: Sophomore guard Russell Robinson said the team had been pushing the ball on the offensive end.

“I think we will run,” he said. “We are real athletic, have a lot of athletes. We’ve got depth. In order for everybody to be happy we have to run, get playing time for everybody.”

As far as Robinson playing more two guard than point guard this season, Self said: “I would rather whoever gets it breaks it, (but) Russell has been a secondary handler right now.”

¢ Langford out: Former KU guard Keith Langford was cut Tuesday by the Houston Rockets. The Rockets also waived forward Chuck Hayes. Langford averaged 2.3 points and 0.7 assists in three preseason games with Houston.

¢ Gooden hobbled: Former KU forward Drew Gooden has been hobbled by a swollen right knee. In seven preseason games, Gooden has averaged 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds. He’s made two of 44 shots for 59 percent.

¢ Gridiron great: Future KU basketball player Sherron Collins continues to excel in football. Collins, a wide receiver, caught three touchdown passes in Chicago Crane’s 32-28 victory Friday over CVCA. Collins has been rated the No. 10 senior basketball player in the country and No. 2 point guard overall by Rob Harrington of USA Today. Future North Carolina player Tywon Lawson of Oak Hill Academy is the No. 1 point guard.