TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2003
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN - 5B
Gooden returns to Allen Fieldhouse
Praises current team's performance; talks of transition from college to pro
By John Domoney
jdomoney@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Entering a stretch of games against Colorado, Arizona and Texas, each member of the Kansas men's basketball team and coach Roy Williams would probably love to have Drew Gooden in a Jayhawk uniform for his senior season.
"I think about it every day," Gooden said. "I try to keep things to myself when I fantasize about playing in college, missing games against Missouri, Texas, Arizona, UCLA. But I'm fulfilling a dream in the NBA. I'm still glad I left for the NBA."
Instead, the Jayhawks will have to settle with seeing Gooden's uniform hanging in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse. Gooden returned to Lawrence Saturday for the Kansas State game.
These days Gooden is a working man for the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA. After being selected fourth overall by the Grizzlies in last year's draft, Gooden has made his mark in Memphis and is being considered around NBA media circles for Rookie of the Year honors.
All of this success came for Gooden after he completed his three-year career at Kansas after last season's team went 16-0 in the Big 12 Conference and lost to eventual national champion Maryland in the semifinals of last year's Final Four.
Williams said the decision to
"I try to keep things to myself when I fantasize about playing in college missing games against Missouri, Texas, Arizona, UCLA. But I'm fulfilling a dream in the NBA. I'm still glad I left for the NBA."
drew Gooden
Former Kansas Jayhawk and current for
ward for the Memphis Grizzlies
send the team back to the locker room during Gooden's halftime speech was tough.
"These kids played with Drew," Williams said. "I fought about it in my mind about letting them stay out to listen to Drew, but I didn't think it'd show proper respect to Kansas State."
With his team in the locker room, Williams stayed on the court during the ceremony to speak about Gooden. The two shook hands before the opening tip against K-State.
"For three years, this young man busted his tail and put up with a lot from me," Williams said to the fans at halftime. "He came a long, long way on the court. He made the right decision to go to the NBA, yet there's never a game where he sees highlights on SportsCenter he wouldn't rather be here with you.
"For three years I loved watching him run up and down the court, defend, rebound. This youngster grew as much as any player I ever coached."
Saturday night was Gooden's first game in Allen Fieldhouse without being in uniform since leaving the team. He said he was caught up in the atmosphere.
"It's really fun to watch them," he said. "It's the first time I watched a game from the stands. Now I know how much fun the fans have watching us."
Being a fan in the stands also gave Gooden an opportunity to critique Kansas' performance without the injured forward Wayne Simien on the floor.
"I mean, they have a great team," Gooden said. "They are playing well. With Simien not in the game, Jeff Graves is doing a great job. With Wayne, it's a tough team to beat."
Gooden said the most difficult part of the transition to the NBA had been to learn a new system after Sidney Lowe was fired and replaced by Hubie Brown as head coach of the Grizzlies early in the season.
One thing that has not changed for Gooden has been his interest in his former team. Gooden said he used some of his rookie contract to ensure he would be able to watch Jayhawk games in Memphis.
"I got the DIRECTV sports package just so I can watch the Jayhawks," Gooden said.
— Edited by Lindsay Hanson
Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images
Drew Gooden averages 13 points and 5.8 assists for the Memphis Grizzlies in his rookie season. Gooden signed a three year, $9.0 million contract with the Grizzlies July 3, 2002, forgoing his senior year at Kansas.
Brandon Baker/Kansan
Drew Gooden accepts his retired jersey during halftime at the Fieldhouse. Gooden's number was retired and displayed to honor his retirement from the Jayhawks.
Scott Revnolds/Kansan
Former KU forward Drew Gooden hugs coach Roy Williams. Williams' speech honored Gooden during the retirement or his number.
Brandon Baker/Kensan
Drew Gooden Sr. and Drew Gooden Jr. laugh during the Jayhawks victory over Kansas State. The Goodens returned Saturday to the Fieldhouse to retire Gooden's number at halftime.