The tradition, history of KU men’s basketball

By Joshua Anderson

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

I’m sorry, Xavier Henry, Michael Snaer, or any other player who spurned a recruiting offer from the University of Kansas men’s basketball program, but I just don’t get it.

Granted, I don’t know the whole story of any recruiting process. As much as I would like to travel with Bill Self on the recruiting trail, I never have and never will.

Henry said he wanted to play with his brother at Memphis. Snaer said he loved the coaches, players and atmosphere at Florida State. I understand family comes first and the Florida beaches are great, but this is Kansas basketball.

The two high school sensations sat side-by-side in the front row for Late Night at the Phog, yet committed to other universities. My theory is that they weren’t able to see the Kansas 2008-2009 introduction video because the seats were too low and it strained their necks to look up.

Kansas could sell prospects based on the video alone. It opens with a powerful statement: 1,947 victories. In all of NCAA D-I basketball, only Kentucky and North Carolina have a higher total. The image looming behind that statistic is even more persuasive. Behind it is Wilt Chamberlain, smiling with wide-open arms, welcoming all to Allen Fieldhouse.

Sparks flash and static shocks as Sherron Collins raises one finger to the sky signaling the Jayhawks dominance over the Missouri Valley, Big Six, Big Seven, Big Eight and Big 12 conferences — 51 conference titles.

Next, appears an instant legend, Mario Chalmers, raising his fists in celebration. Where some teams can only dream of going, Kansas is a frequent competitor in the Final Four.

An image of coach Larry Brown holding a 1988 national champion newspaper emerges onto the screen. His voice has been selling the program since the video opened. His now-famous quote echoes throughout the Phog.

“There is no better place to coach. There is no better place to go to school, and there is no better place to play.”

The music blares out and 110 years of Kansas basketball history flashes before your eyes in a matter of seconds. When it comes to rest, it lands on the man himself; James Naismith, the creator of basketball.

Photos of players from more than a century of basketball stand separated from the background. They are immortalized in time. Images telling recruits that they too could be remembered forever.

Live actions swings in and the greats are shown: Paul Pierce, Danny Manning, Drew Gooden, Scott Pollard, Raef LaFrentz and Julian Wright. The voice of Bob Davis is in the background boldly exclaiming the great moments in KU history.

The crowd goes wild as images of Kansas’ national championships flash one after another. The 22-year-old legend, Mario Chalmers, hits the game-saving shot against Memphis, and soon after, Davis proclaims, “KU: National Champions!” Words and images seal the deal, letting everyone know how unique Kansas is.

The Glory — Kansas cuts down the nets. The Power — a high-flying dunk. The History — a basketball falls into a wooden bucket. The Legends — Manning shakes his fists. The Titles — last year’s team holds Kansas’ most recent trophy.

Images flash lightning-fast across the screen once more before the video rests on a Kansas flag with one word written boldly across it.

The word was the major selling point all along — The Tradition.

— — Edited by Brieun Scott

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