110 years of basketball celebrated

Monday, February 18, 2008

Former Kansas basketball players, coaches and trainers filled James Naismith Court in Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday, during halftime of the Jayhawks’ game against Colorado, to celebrate 110 years of basketball at the University of Kansas.

More than 200 former members of the team returned for the celebration. Guests spanned eight decades of Kansas basketball. Players from the Phog Allen era to the Bill Self era stood shoulder-to-shoulder and received applause from the crowd.

Photo by Mindy Ricketts

Members of the 1988 championship-winning basketball team, including assistant coach Danny Manning (far right), are honored at half time Saturday afternoon during the Kansas-Colorado game. Former players from different eras of Kansas basketball came on the court for the ceremony commemorating 110 years of Kansas basketball.

Recent players like Wayne Simien (2001-2005) received more applause from the student section. Jayhawk legends such as Bud Stallworth (1969-1972) and Darnell Valentine (1977-1981) received roaring applause from the entire crowd.

But the loudest cheering was saved for the members of Kansas’ 1988 national championship team. The group came out after a video from the last seconds of their championship game was played. Assistant coach Danny Manning left his clipboard behind at halftime, and celebrated with his teammates.

The current players also honored the 1988 team by wearing retro uniforms from the 1988 season during the game.

“I love retro,” said senior forward Darnell Jackson after the game. “I wish we wore them every game.”

James Gill, a 61-year-old Wichita resident and Kansas alumnus, said that reliving the team’s history was a breathtaking experience for him.

“There’s all those guys I grew up watching out on the court. I still remember their best moments,” Gill said.

Although most students were less than two years old or not even born when Kansas won it all in 1988, they still admired the former players and coaches.

“It was a pretty special experience getting to see all the old players and everything Kansas basketball stood for, for 110 years,” said Clark Kebodeaux, Olathe senior.

The former players and coaches sat on the south side of what was usually part of the student section for the game. A few took over for the students, trying to distract free throw shooters by waving their arms. But the most animated person in the stands was former coach Larry Brown. Brown, who coached the 1988 championship team, left his seat on a few occasions to applaud the players’ work. Brown also visited the current team during its practice Thursday.

Associate athletics director Jim Marchiony said that Kansas Athletics celebrated the anniversary of Kansas basketball every five years.

Marchiony said the former team members also attended a pre-game brunch and a post-game banquet as part of the celebration.

— Edited by Jessica Sain-Baird

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