PRESEASON OUTLOOK:
With the loss of eight players from last years team (including four seniors, three transfers, and one medical), plus the addition of three freshman recruits, a transfer and two redshirts, KU fans will see a completely different team in 2006.

The 2006 Jayhawks will be extremely young, and only have one starter returning.  On the positive side, however, Bill Self should have a deep rotation of quality players.

Frontline
Based on his performance this past year, you have to figure that 6’8 Christian Moody will be a starter in the frontcourt, providing senior leadership. The other one or two slots will be filled by a committee of sophomores, 6’11 Sasha Kaun, 6’9 Darnell Jackson, and 6’10 C. J. Giles. 

Wings
Three new additions to the team, Julian Wright, Brandon Rush and Micah Downs come to KU with impressive credentials. Rodrick Stewart, a transfer from Southern Cal will be eligible mid-semester.

Guards
If he lives up to the pre-season hype, it looks like Mario Chalmers will be the point for the Jayhawks on ’06, although Russell Robinson could be a starter if he’s able to cut down on turnovers.  Look for Jeff Hawkins and Jeremy Case to push both.

Here's how I see it.  With all that talent, Self is going to have a problem selecting a starting unit and allocating playing time.  Moody's senior leadership will likely make him a lock for a starter position, at least early in the season.  Giles should nail a starting slot, if he bulks up over the summer, although Kaun should give him a challenge.  I expect that Chalmers will be given every opportunity for running the team, although don't count out Robinson, who was impressive early this past season before going into a funk.  Wright, Rush and Downs will fight it out at for the shooting guard and small forward positions.

Redshirt freshman Matt Kleinmann, transfer Roderick Stewart and walk-on senior Stephen Vinson probably won’t see much but mop up time.

Fun Fact:
The 2006 Jayhawks have the 2^nd best defensive record in KU history since 1975, with a rating of 54.9 (based on adding blocks, steals, and the opponents missed field goals, then dividing by number of games played).

 The best defensive KU team during that period was in 2002, a team composed of Hinrich, Collison, Gooden, Boshee, Miles, Simien and Langford.  They achieved a defensive score of 55.2.

KU vs. Kentucky, 1/7/06: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/newell_post/2009/may/29/brandon-rushs-jayhawk-flashback-kentucky-172006/