Seniors celebrate time with the team

Friday, March 6, 2009

Senior center Matt Kleinmann stands outside of the Kansas locker room at Allen Fieldhouse and says it’s all starting to sink in.

Photo by Weston White

Senior center Matt Kleinmann slams down a dunk with 11 seconds left in the Nebraska game.

How Saturday’s 3 p.m. game against Texas will be his last home game with the Jayhawks. How he’ll be able to watch himself celebrate for the rest of his life whenever a clip is shown of last year’s team rushing the court after winning the national championship. How he’s become the only player in Kansas history to win five regular season conference championships.

“I certainly picked the right five years to be here,” Kleinmann says. “That’s for sure.”

Kleinmann has seen 142 Kansas victories since his redshirt season in 2004-2005, compared with only 29 losses. In addition to his five regular season Big 12 Conference championships, he’s won three Big 12 Tournament titles and, of course, a national championship.

Photo by Ryan McGeeney

Senior guard Brennan Bechard drives toward the basket around a Nebraska defender during the Jayhawks’ 70-53 vicotry in Allen Fieldhouse.

It might be hard to realize, but the 6-foot-10 walk-on from Overland Park, who has played only 192 minutes in his career, is one of the most winningest players to ever attend Kansas. Kansas coach Bill Self couldn’t be happier for him.

“To win five regular season titles,” Self said, “that may never, ever, be done again in anyone’s career, obviously because you have to redshirt to do it. This will be a big deal for him.”

Saturday’s game, where Kansas can clinch the outright championship with a victory or tie with a loss, will serve as a chance to celebrate it all. Kleinmann and walk-on senior guard Brennan Bechard will be honored as part of Senior Day.

Although Kleinmann, who has scored 45 points in his career, and Bechard, who has 18 career points, don’t have statistics or accolades to gawk at, Self says they’ve consistently helped the Jayhawks in practice. Their teammates agree.

“Those are the guys that really make us good,” sophomore center Cole Aldrich said. “Those are the guys that should really get some credit for our successes here.”

Both Kleinmann and Bechard had other opportunities out of high school, but didn’t want to pass up a chance to play for the school they grew up following. Kleinmann received a scholarship offer from University of the Pacific and recruiting interest from schools such as South Florida, Valpariso and Yale.

Bechard, a Lawrence native, spent a year at Barton County Community College in Great Bend before walking on at Kansas.

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SENIOR NIGHT Kansas vs. Texas Saturday, 3 p.m. Allen Fieldhouse TV: CBS (Channel 5, 13) Can’t make it? Check Kansan.com for running commentary throughout the game.

“It’s just been a ton of fun,” Bechard said. “The different guys I’ve been able to play with — it’s just been an amazing experience. I’ll leave here with one of the best experiences of my life. I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Asked what he will remember the most about the experience, Bechard listed a number of things including hearing the roar of the crowd while running onto the floor. Kleinmann had similar feelings.

“I think I’ll remember running out of the tunnel,” Kleinmann said. “I think I’ll remember just having that feeling of Saturday morning, light coming through, people just going nuts and we run on the court. I think that’s the most exciting moment, consistently, every game.”

But Kleinmann doesn’t want to get too sentimental. He mentions that Kansas still has the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA tournament ahead.

Their performances in those events, Kleinmann says, are what will determine this team’s legacy. As for Kleinmann’s legacy, it’s already decided. Come Saturday he will have five Big 12 regular season championship rings.

“I’ve got them all fitted for the same finger,” Kleinmann said. “I might try to get a Michael Jordan-like picture with all the rings.”

— — Edited by Liz Schubauer

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