Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Coach Bill Self spoke to an audience of fans, players and coaches at the annual postseason banquet Tuesday night. The Danny Manning “Mr. Jayhawk” award was given to junior guard Russell Robinson.
This year’s postseason awards banquet was missing one important thing: awards.
The event, which recognizes the men’s basketball team at the end of the season, was instead a tribute to the team. Coach Bill Self said that it would be unfair to give individual awards because the team was successful this season because of its teamwork.
“All these guys could have scored more points than they did, and all these guys could have played more minutes than they did,” he said. “But they didn’t, because that gave us the best chance to go 33-5.”
Only one award was handed out. The team annually votes to recognize one player as “Mr. Jayhawk” because of his overall contributions to the team. This year it was given to junior guard Russell Robinson. On a team with no seniors, Robinson assumed the leadership role and helped develop the younger players.
After the team was recognized, Self addressed one of his players. He turned to sophomore guard Brandon Rush, who is currently debating whether or not to enter the NBA Draft.
“Whatever you decide, I’m cool with it,” Self said. “But if you come back, I’ll line up and play against anybody, anywhere. Because we’re going to be good.”
Aside from the lack of individual awards, the event was different in another way as well. It was held at the Holiday Inn Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive, where a meal was served in the large banquet room. In previous years, the event was held in an auditorium and did not include food.
Self said he enjoyed the new format because it provided an intimate environment for fans and players to mingle.
The master of ceremonies for the evening was broadcaster Dave Armstrong, who began by saluting former broadcaster Max Falkenstien, who turned 83 years old on Tuesday.
pullquote
I want all my guys to become head coaches.
-coach Bill Self
When Self took the microphone, he first recognized the assistant coaches. Tim Jankovich was not on hand, as he was preparing for his new job at Southern Illinois, a job for which Self said the former assistant coach was well-suited.
“I want all my guys to become head coaches,” Self said.
An especially loud ovation went to the man who will take Jankovich’s place, former Jayhawk great Danny Manning. Self said that a lot of NBA greats wouldn’t do the dirty work that Manning did on a daily basis when he worked with the team.
Instead of beginning the awards, Self made his announcement that none would be given.
He cited several examples of awards that would have to be split between several players. He said that an academic award would have to be split between Sasha Kaun, a computer science major, and Matt Kleinmann, an architecture major. Both are on pace to graduate a semester early and are maintaining a grade point average well above 3.0.
A free-throw award would go to sophomore guard Mario Chalmers, but freshman guard Sherron Collins finished just one free-throw away from tying.
Self said that if a most valuable player award was given, it would be shared among sophomores Rush, Chalmers and Julian Wright.
The evening ended with fans and boosters being cleared out of the room, giving the players the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company for the remainder of the evening. It was something Self was looking forward to.
“I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed being around a group of guys and a staff more than I have this year,” he said.
Kansan senior sportswriter Michael Phillips can be contacted at mphillips@kansan.com.
— Edited by Katie Sullivan
Morning Brew: Jankovich flies with Redbirds
Former Kansas assistant coach finds niche with Illinois State
The All-American Kansan
Julian Wright will go to NBA
After two years at Kansas, Wright decides it's time to go. He ...
Self closes with a quip
Despite absence of ‘team leader,’ banquet closes out the season in good ...
‘Mr. Jayhawk’ times five
Self honored all five Kansas seniors with the Danny Manning "Mr. Jayhawk" ...
Seniors say ‘goodbye’
Sayers recognized for lifetime achievement
Lew Perkins and Brandon Rush also received awards from the Kansas City ...
Jayhawks’ stars share the spotlight
Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich’s numbers have decreased as younger players take ...
Speed's the key
Southern Illinois will try to slow Thursday’s game down, but Kansas can ...
‘Cream of the crop’ recruits visit Lawrence
Three high school standouts watch ring ceremony this weekend.
Robinson named to Wooden watch list
Thomas Robinson joins three other big 12 players to compete for the ...
Assistant coach leaving at season's end
Tim Jankovich agrees to take head coaching job at Illinois State.
Erratic play holds freshmen out against UCLA
Freshmen Elijah Johnson and Thomas Robinson struggled Sunday and played only five ...
Teams end season with honors
Russell Robinson steals show on defense
Robinson’s impressive defense on USC’s O.J. Mayo caught his coach’s attention.
Six Jayhawks receive postseason awards
Brandon Rush and Julian Wright made the All-Big 12 first team with ...
Self relishes post-championship experience, season
Veteran players say Self is prepared to coach a basketball team with ...
Rush earns All Big 12 First Team ...
Collins wins Sixth Man of the Year; Chalmers, Robinson named to Big ...
Brew: Ladies night out in Allen Fieldhouse
Sports reporter Hannah Wise spent Thurday night at the "Ladies Night Out ...
Great expectations of sophomore duo
Coach Bill Self expects sophomores Darrell Arthur and Sherron Collins to turn ...
Rush signs up for NBA
Rush met with Self to discuss the pros and cons of leaving ...
Basketball stars keep KU tenure short
Former coach Roy Williams recruited players who were likely to stay four ...
Collins and Aldrich to return next season
At the postseason awards banquet, Collins and Aldrich confirmed reports that they ...
Team continues celebrating Orange Bowl victory
At Saturday’s football banquet, coaches handed out awards, including the Ray Evans ...
Season considered success despite loss
The Jayhawks ended their season prematurely with a 68-55 loss to the ...
Self guarantees toughness in rivalry game
When Kansas and Kansas State last played, KU had a perfect record ...
Three little guards make a big effect
The point guard trio of Russell Robinson, Sherron Collins and Mario Chalmers ...
Nordstrom: Senior leadership on display
Russell Robinson has displayed his selfishness on the court throughout his career. ...
Free throws secure victory
Kansas still has no definitive leader, but this year’s balanced team is ...
Players stay focused, humble
Russell Robinson set his cell phone on vibrate and Julian Wright said ...
Robinson signs on to play for Jayhawks
Washington, D.C. product joins standout Elijah Johnson in Kansas’ incoming class
Texas’ Augustin disappoints in neck and neck ...
Augustin’s teammates picked up the slack and pushed for 72-69 against Kansas
Support for Robinson family coming in many ...
From regular fans across the nation to the NCAA, people are doing ...
Jayhawks enjoy time with Special Olympians
Despite loss to Iowa State, Jayhawks host clinic
Just how good is Kevin Durant?
The Texas freshman is being compared to Kansas great Danny Manning. See ...
Players vying for minutes
The men’s basketball team’s depth provides a challenge for athletes wanting more ...
Late-game cleanup work made pretty
Fans and teammates agree that Teahan’s ability to hit three-point shots in ...
Jayhawks drawing comparisons to 2008
This year’s squad and the national championship team have several major differences.
Championship team returns to court
This weekend, about 230 former players, coaches and managers will be at ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID