No. 4 Kansas to sit Preston pending car investigation

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) No. 4 Kansas will keep forward Billy Preston on the bench at least until Its investigation into an on-campus incident with a vehicle is completed.

''We're definitely going to hold him until we get to the bottom of this,'' coach Bill Self said Thursday, a day before the Jayhawks play South Dakota State.

Preston was held out of Tuesday's win over No. 7 Kentucky after the university's compliance department sought to get a ''clearer financial picture'' following a single-car incident involving him on Saturday. The school said Preston's car hit a curb, causing minor damage to the tires. No police report was filed.

The incident left enough questions that Self decided to keep Preston out of the Kentucky game not long before tipoff. Preston also missed the opener against Tennessee State after missing curfew and failing to attend classes the following day.

Asked who the car Preston was driving was registered to, Self couldn't provide an answer.

''I can't comment on any of that stuff, but when we have a resolution to it we'll be sure to let everybody know,'' Self said Thursday.

The timetable for Preston's return was unclear. Self acknowledged that there is some complexity to the situation, but said he believes it will be settled soon.

Self said he hasn't seen Preston since the team returned from Chicago as they didn't practice yesterday, but that he's been ''very positive'' when communicating via text.

If Preston is unable to go against the Jackrabbits, the Jayhawks will once again have to deal with the almost non-existent depth they had against Kentucky. Only seven scholarship players were available, and just two were part of the frontcourt.

''We've got to prepare like we're not going to have him,'' Self said. ''And then it would be a bonus if you did. But we'll certainly prepare like we're not going to.''

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