One of the most delightful moments during Kansas’ Tuesday basketball victory over Florida Gulf Coast could be an indication of why the Jayhawks will surprise a lot of observers this season. They get along and they eagerly back each other for success.

Matt Kleinmann, the ultra-popular senior sub, had a pair of free throws and missed the first. Second attempt, he clanged the ball off the glass and it dropped through the hoop. Not exactly planned. Shift the camera to the KU bench. It went nuts with its enjoyment, smiles, howls, hand-slaps, a laundry list of how to appreciate somebody who is such a team-oriented loyalist.

You knew Kleinmann would draw plenty of jabs from his pleased teammates, same as walk-on Jordan Juenemann did the previous game after scoring his first Mount Oread bucket. The bottom line is that these guys sense their mission, pull for each other and could be downright nifty come January.

Productive chemistry seems to be building as Bill Self and his staff decide who can do what and with which and to whom and coax it out of this young but uncertain group.

The Jayhawks have had the luxury of target practice in their first four outings and now face a bona fide opponent, Washington, which has the full capability of shooting back.

There are bound to be more huffs and puffs against a demanding slate as the Jayhawks wend their way to their Big 12 Conference opener here Jan. 13 against Kansas State. But by then KU could be a solid title contender.

The Self staff seems to have caught the imagination of their charges and secretly thinks their kids can be doggone good. The never-ending soap opera about the Morris twins’ eligibility had to be frustrating; that BB gun incident with one of the kids was face-slappable. Then Marcus in one early game seemed to resent advice from Cole Aldrich, with a scowl. That needed attention. You’re not untouchable yet, son.

Yet whatever the personality glitches are with the newcomers, the coaching crew seems to recognize what they must do to draw the best from a very talented and athletic group. Holdovers Aldrich, Sherron Collins, Conner Teahan, Brennan Bechard, Tyrel Reed, Chase Buford, Brady Morningstar and Kleinmann already have bought into the system and will help shape the neophytes. As the celebration after Kleinmann’s free throw indicates, they get along pretty well. When Mario Little conquers his ailments and joins in, things might get even better.

Meanwhile, the outlook is not exactly brilliant for a Jayhawk football team with quarterback Todd Reesing, receiver-quarterback Kerry Meier and running back Jake Sharp nursing injuries that are tough to clear up even with a week’s layoff. Bad ankles, hamstrings and bruised ribs don’t vanish in a day or two. I still think Reesing, warrior that he is, refused to admit he had ankle hindrances for last year’s Missouri game.

The Jayhawks face some major adjustments before they meet Missouri in Kansas City. The good news is that the Tiger leviathan that was supposed to dominate the Big 12 North this fall has flaws of its own — the kind that a proud KU team dying for a 7-5 record and a reputable bowl game can exploit.

Stranger things have happened in this Border War.