110 YEARS OF KANSAS BASKETBALL
FAVORITE MOMENTS IN JAYHAWK BASKETBALL
PHOTO COURTESY OF SPENCER RESEARCH LIBRARY
ALL OTHER ABOVE PHOTOS KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Students share their favorite times in the long history of Kansas hoops
BY AARON FRANCIS
The University of Kansas men's basketball is a tradition in itself.
And with any long-standing tradition, there are always highlights that will stick more than others.
There are many highlights that one could reference in regard to Kansas basketball history: Anything from Naismith inventing the game to winning the national title in 1988 to being the best and winningest team during the '90s, with teams like the '96-'97 squad that featured stars such as Jacque Vaughn, Scott Pollard, Greg Ostertag, Raef LaFrentz and Paul Pierce, among others.
Of the many moments in Jayhawk basketball history, Olathe freshman Jeff Brown picked '96-'97 team lead by Pierce.
"I was in second grade, and I went to the 22nd game of the season. That was my first game as a fan," Brown said. "It was a great year for seniors. It was an unforgettable year."
The team went 32-1 that year and was ranked No.1 in the nation in the Associated Press Poll.
Even though the closest followers of the team could tell you many statistics and details, there are also those who enjoy different aspects of Kansas basketball. Senior Lauren Gunn has always enjoyed the atmosphere, as well as the more simple things about the game.
"I just like going to the games and getting free tickets from my boss," he said.
Similarly, sophomore Ryan Jones also
top 5 moments
Fifteen students participated in an unofficial poll to rank the top five moments in Jayhawk basketball history.
Listed in order of first place votes:
1. Victory against Texas in the 2006 Big
12 Championship, avenging an earlier loss that season. (18)
2. The 73-46 drubbing of No.19 Kentucky on Jan. 7, 2006. (4)
3. The 2003 Final Four appearance and NCAA Championship runner up to Syracuse.(10)
4. The 1988 NCAA Championship. (5)
5. The 1996-1997 team finishing 32-1, ranked No. 1 in the nation. (4)
enjoyed the more sentimental side of his experience with KU basketball.
"I won a piece of the court that was signed. I was working at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. It was kind of random," he said.
Fans can cite many moments in the first 110 years of Jayhawk basketball as their favorite.
While most may disagree as to what their particular favorite moment is, one thing certain is that many more are to come.
1998-1999: Not a great time to be a Jayhawk. Eric Chenowith regressed and Kenny Gregory missed jumper after jumper to send Kansas to a fifth-place finish in the Big 12. Fortunately, the team showed signs of life with its youth. Freshmen Nick Collison, Kirk Hinrich and Drew Gooden all played major roles by the end of the year.
1999-2000: Ladies, meet Jeff Boschee. The hairless wonder from North Dakota jumped on the scene his freshman year and was smoking-hot from the outside. His three-point shooting lifted the Jayhawks to the Big 12 Tournament Championship and earned him the tournament's MVP award. A heartbreaking overtime loss to Kentucky in the second round of the NCAA Tournament ended the season.
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN