Monday, April 7, 2008
SAN ANTONIO — After he ended any chances of a North Carolina comeback by scoring eight points down the stretch and completed yet another one of his great games this season, Brandon Rush looked into the Alamodome crowd to find his mom and grandma. He smiled.
Rush couldn’t ask for anything better. He’s one victory away from a national championship and playing the best ball of his career. It’s not where the junior guard envisioned being after declaring for the NBA Draft last season, but he’s happy where he’s at.
Junior guard Brandon Rush answers questions during an afternoon press conference at the Alamo Dome. Rush scored 25 points in the Final Four game against North Carolina.
“It definitely means the world to me,” Rush said about this opportunity.
Everyone’s heard the Rush injury story by now. A dunk went horribly wrong last June. A knee popped. A NBA career had to be put on hold.
Those unexpected events brought Rush back to Kansas for his junior year. Instead of experiencing his first pro training camp in the fall, he was rehabbing his knee for hours with Kansas’ training staff, sometimes four times a day. It could get tough at times.
“You could just tell how bad he was feeling,” senior forward Darnell Jackson said. “One time, I could remember watching him. He was in tears, just pushing, pushing, pushing.”
As much as it hurt Rush, Kansas coach Bill Self knew Rush’s injury was a positive for the Jayhawks. Once Rush announced he was returning to school, Self called a meeting and told the them they had just gotten better.
The same could be said for Rush. Before the season started, Self talked about how his player had to become a “new Brandon.” He wanted Rush to rely less on his athletic ability and more on technique and fundamentals.
After struggling for much of the season to regain his athleticism, everything’s started going right for Rush in the postseason. He scored 28 points against Texas A&M and 19 against Texas in the Big 12 Tournament and was named player of the tournament. His run has continued in the NCAA Tournament. Rush is averaging about 16 points a game.
“His play has evolved this year in large part due to his health,” Self said, “because he’s gone from 80 percent to 90 percent to 95 percent, and now he’s as close to whole as he’s been. We’re very proud of that, and the timing couldn’t have been better.”
Rush’s improved game was on full display against the Tar Heels. He scored 25 points despite missing five of his seven three-pointers. Instead of continuing to shoot from the outside, Rush changed his approach. He finally drove to the basket more often and finished consistently.
“It’s big for me,” Rush said, “but it’s definitely big for us. In order for us to win, somebody’s going to have to step up and make plays.”
He’ll get another opportunity to be the man for Kansas tonight. If the Jayhawks get the victory, Rush could easily be named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. He’s also likely elevated himself into at least the last first round of this season’s NBA Draft because of his postseason.
Rush may not have originally wanted to play for the Jayhawks this season, but sometimes things turn out differently for the better.
“Being here has been one of my main goals,” Rush said. “This could be the perfect ending to a good story.”
— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
Rush on the road to recovery
Junior guard hopes to return by start of December after several months ...
Rush has torn ACL
An injury to Rush's right knee will keep him out for at ...
Still no word from Rush
Brandon Rush could withdraw his name from NBA Draft if he does ...
Brandon Rush sets sights on NBA
A senior year is uncertain for Rush, whose focus on the NCAA ...
Twenty-eight points later
Rush finds out that he plays best when he lets the game ...
Wheeler: Rush makes impressive return
Brandon Rush has had eight months of recovery after under going knee ...
Jayhawks off to the NBA
Brandon Rush and Darrel Arthur declared their intention to enter the NBA ...
Rush gains a competitive edge to impress
Brandon Rush scored 19 points against Missouri at Monday night’s game. The ...
Basketball players make plans for next year
Several Kansas players received attention from scouts this year, but Mario Chalmers ...
Rush's ACL surgery deemed a success
Junior Brandon Rush underwent surgery for a torn ACL, and could be ...
Rush signs up for NBA
Rush met with Self to discuss the pros and cons of leaving ...
Brandon Rush declares for NBA Draft
The sophomore guard will keep the door open for a return to ...
Rush to overcome injury
After healing the scars of a negative family legacy as a freshman, ...
Rush still undecided about draft
Brandon Rush will announce by the end of the week whether he ...
The Rush that almost never happened
After projections put Brandon Rush outside the first round of the NBA ...
Dent: Rush’s best choice may be to ...
When the staying at Kansas and going pro are placed side-by-side, Brandon ...
Beasley presents challenge for Kansas
K State’s star player could give Kansas a run for their money.
Rush rises after Self's plea
After being named the Big 12 Tournament Most Valuable Player, Brandon Rush ...
On Senior Day, ’05 recruits are missed
Rush, Chalmers, Wright, and Downs, though moved on, may have formed Kansas’ ...
A wild night at the draft
Five Jayhawks were selected in this year’s NBA Draft, but each was ...
High expectations for KU alumni in the ...
All eyes, especially Cole Aldrich’s, are on NBA rookies Brandon Rush, Mario ...
Brandon Rush knows defense
If your looking for point totals to demonstrate Brandon Rush's value, look ...
Summer full of injuries for basketball team
Brandon Rush tore his ACL and withdrew from the NBA draft to ...
Chalmers faces tough competition in draft
Mario Chalmers will be entering the NBA Draft without an agent, meaning ...
Collins sits on the borderline in the ...
Sherron Collins has undeniable talent, but size could hurt him in the ...
Analysts, coaches predict big finish for Jayhawks
The Kansas men’s basketball team is used to the premature hype. For ...
Jayhawk rookies starting to shine in NBA
Rush, Chalmers look to All-Stars for guidance in NBA
Letter of intent signing puts team over ...
Kansas coach Bill Self has said that Rush would enter the NBA ...
Rush, Arthur headed to the NBA
Brandon Rush and Darrell Arthur announced their intentions to enter the NBA ...
Rush declared eligible
Profiling the legends: Rush and Chalmers
Brandon Rush and Mario return to Allen Fieldhouse next weekend for Legends ...
Rush may join team against Ichabods
Brandon Rush could play tonight against Washburn if Kansas coach Bill Self ...
Predictions for Robinson and Taylor in the ...
The two players’ basketball skills get analyzed and questioned for the upcoming ...
Simien makes move to minister
Former Kansas basketball player Wayne Simien has turned from NBA to sports ...
Self strives to make first trip to ...
Leading three different teams to the Elite Eight, Kansas coach Bill Self ...
Julian Wright will go to NBA
After two years at Kansas, Wright decides it's time to go. He ...
Despite missed shots, Rush shows signs of ...
Rush was supposed to return to the game this week, but came ...
Senior welcomes reduced role on the court
A viable reserve and a better shooter, Kaun has shown his resilience ...
Hornets "extremely happy" to have Wright
Former Jayhawk Julian Wright was drafted by the New Orleans Hornets on ...
Kansas’ victory over Missouri gets personal for ...
Brandon Rush’s performance in Saturday’s game wasn’t the best, but it helped ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
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
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID