LAWRENCE, Kansas -- The Kansas Jayhawks absorbed
another blow to their front line.
With big man C.J. Giles already suspended, the Jayhawks will be
without starting center Sasha Kaun for three to six weeks due to
a right knee injury.
Kaun suffered a partial tear to his patella tendon when planting
himself before jumping in a team workout Sunday.
"We had a rough day yesterday," Kansas coach Bill Self said at a
press conference Monday. "He (Kaun) won't need surgery. He
can't do much immediately, but the rehab process won't be known
until we find out in a few days how the injury looks."
A junior, the 6-11 Kaun averaged 8.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in
33 games last season, including 29 starts.
The injury comes less than two weeks after Giles was suspended
for unspecified off-court issues.
When asked about the 6-10 junior, Self said that his future
remains uncertain.
"We'll visit sometime this week," he said. "My focus is not on
C.J. Giles. My focus is trying to get our team better and right
now he's not part of our team and he may never be a part of our
team. I am not going to make a final decision until I have had
a chance to visit with him and check some things out."
Giles averaged 6.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in 33 games last
season, including 13 starts.
The Jayhawks, ranked third in the preseason USA Today/ESPN
coaches poll on Friday, will probably give significant minutes
in the middle to freshman Darrell Arthur. Sophomore Julian
Wright will also help anchor the lane.
Kansas opens the regular season against Northern Arizona on
November 11.