Considering Smith devised most of those schemes and taught them to KU Coach Roy Williams, that's saying a mouthful. But it's true.

Smith knew the Jayhawks inside and out even before he started preparing to meeting Ku in the Final Four semifinals at 4:42 p.m. Saturday in the New Orleans Superdome.

"The college team I watch on TV the most is Kansas," said Smith, a KU alum who played on the Jayhawks' 1952 national championship team.

"I watch them because of Roy and Vanderbilt because of (former Tar Heel aide) Eddie Folger more than anybody, and Kansas was on TB more than Vanderbilt."

Later, talking about KU's backcourt, Smith pointed out that Rex Walters is shooting 87.3 percent from the free throw line, Steve Woodberry is shooting 87.9 percent and Adonis Jordan is shooting 78.9 percent All those numbers were right on the mark.

"I've followed them closely," Smith said. " I know Rex struggled early, in Hawaii and before then, but has it going now. I know you're in pretty good shape late in the game with those three at the line.

"I know they certainly enjoy playing defense. I know for a fact adonis does because he was instrumental in defeating us in the 1991 Final Four (79-73 in the semifinals)."

Talking about KU's inside trio of Richard Scott, Eric Pauley and Greg Ostertag, Smith said the Jayhawks present a lot of problems when they throw the ball into the deep post.

"They did it 23 times against Indiana and got 12 scores," he said. "That's how good their inside game is."

On the perimeter, Smith noted that KU has four players who shoot from 41 to 44 percent from 3-point range. Sure enough, Woodberry is hitting 44.6 percent, Walters 42.4, Patrick Richey 41.7 and Jordan 41.4.

"They take a lot of 3-pointers, and they make a lot of 3-pointers," Smith said.

"That's not the only thing that bothers you, but it shows what a well-rounded team Kansas has."

WILLIAMS AND SMITH talked on the phone Sunday night and agreed to try to down play the pupil vs. mentor angle that received so much attention in 1991.

"We decided it was probably overdone, and we said we wouldn't talk much more about it," Smith said Wednesday when he was asked about that relationship.

"We'll still be close friends after the regardless of who wins.

"We're happy when each team wins, but we want our team to win this game."

Smith pointed out that Williams isn't nearly as close to the Tar Heels as he was in 1991 because he helped coach that year's senior class when they were freshman at North Carolina. But Roy still isn't a total stranger to this year's team.

In addition to helping recruit George Lynch, Henrik Todl and Brian Reese, Williams also coached Lynch in the 1991 Wold University Games and Eric Montross in the 1992 Olympic Development Team.

KU's TRAVELING party leaves for New Orleans at 3 p.m. today from Forbes Field and will practice in the Superdome at noon Friday. The workout will be open to the public.

Williams wants the Jayhawks to enjoy the Final Four experience, but he also wants to maintain the normal routine on the road as much as possible.

"We'll treat it like a regular game except there will be a lot more alumni and media around than there usually is at a road game," Williams said. "We've scheduled our team meetings late at night, so that will somewhat serve as a curfew.

"We'll give them time to get around the city, look around and enjoy the Final Four atmosphere. But if you ask the guys, the most important thing is the basketball game."

ON A SAD NOTE, Nellie Lee Frederick, the mother of KU Athletic Director Bob Frederick, died Tuesday night in Pratt. Funeral arrangements haven't been made.

THREE TAR HEEL players, forward Brian Reese, guard Donald Williams and center Matt Wenstrom, missed practice Wednesday, but should be ready to play Saturday. Williams has the flu, Reese has a cold and Wenstrom twisted his knee in practice Tuesday.