Rock chalk ballhawk. (Midwest Region Champion).(University of Kansas basketball)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

How good was Aaron Miles at Jefferson High in Portland, Ore.? He was a McDonald's All-American and the state's player of the year. He was the nation's winner of the Morgan Wooten Award, which honors success on the court and in the classroom. He was student body vice president. He quarterbacked the football team to a league title. In short, he was perfect--except for one thing. The hotshot point guard couldn't play a lick of defense.

"I wish you could've seen him that first day of practice," says senior Brett Ballard, the point guard on Kansas' B squad. "Back then I wanted Aaron to guard me--it was the best chance for me to score and earn some playing time."

Miles and fellow freshman Keith Langford have come to embody this KU team's suddenly dominant defense, which is lost on many in the shadow cast by the Jayhawks' spectacular offense.

Miles' latest conquest was Oregon's Luke Ridnour. According to coach Roy Williams, Langford played his three best defensive games of the season in the second round, regional semifinal and regional final.

Along with junior Kirk Hinrich, they give Williams three dogs to sic on an opposing player who likes to shoot 3s.

"To defend a guy like Ridnour," Miles says, "you've got to get out on him and move your feet. I wasn't doing that early in the year. I was reaching a lot. Back in high school I was able to stop guys just because I was physically more talented. But a lot of guys in college are stronger than me and quick, too."

What makes these Jayhawks so terrific isn't merely their versatility on offense, though it's remarkable. Their work on the boards--Drew Gooden and Nick Collison outrebounded the Ducks by themselves--and their defense make them the most complete team Williams has coached.