JAYHAWK
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Basketball
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The Kansas Track and Field team prepares for the 1998 Big 12 Indoor Championship this weekend in Ames, Iowa. SEE PAGE 4B
Senior Night - Kansas vs. Oklahoma
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Commentary
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Seniors say goodbye to field house
As the clock ran down during Kansas' victory last night against Oklahoma, the field house faithful began a familiar chant for Coach Roy Williams to put C.B. McGrath in the game.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1998
Williams, who at the moment was more concerned with the game than with the sentimental aspects of the night, quickly silenced the fans by pressing a finger to his line and shouting.
his lips and shouting,
"Let me coach!"
Sorry, Coach. The fans just can't help it. They have too much love for the seniors to keep it bottled up.
And they're particular about things, especially on senior night.
Eric Weslander
sports@kansan.com
Before the game, the fans made it clear that they wanted to send McGrath, Raef LaFrentz and Billy Thomas out in proper fashion.
After the playing of the national anthem, the field house announcer made the outlandish suggestion that fans wait until after the introduction of seniors to sing the Alma Mater and the Rock Chalk Chant.
Weslander is a Louisville, Ky., junior in
lournalism and is the sports editor.
The players took a bow. LaFrentz, McGrath and Thomas ran off of the field house floor for the last time, and the crowd gave a final roar.
In what was an indication of the energy that would fill the field house throughout the night, thousands of pompom haired, face-painted, rabid fans put their arms around each other and sang their own rendition of the Alma Mater, without the band.
Uh-uh.
"Every time I've run through that tunnel, it's been a dream come true," LaFrentz said.
So Coach Williams, many apologies about the chants. Sorry if the Alma Mater fouled things up, but it just had to be that way.
It may have caused some delays in the night's program, but the fans were so overwhelmed with the field-house atmosphere that everything had to be just right.
They even stayed in tune.
The fans in Allen Field House last night were not just watching a basketball game, they were saying goodbye to their heroes.
And then the fans had some last words from Raef LaFrentz, who kept from crying even though his father couldn't.
In addition to the fans' extra energy, what made last night so special was that the love was going both ways. It was something fans had anticipated all season. The seniors with a microphone talking directly to the masses.
An emotional C.B. McGrath said his goodbyes to the crowd and tried to keep a straight face.
It was a perfect night.
"They all think I'm going to cry," he said of his teammates, who were huddled together along the bench. "They've got all these side bets."
Don't feel bad, C.B. I guarantee you weren't the only one crying.
"I was born without brothers," he said. "I'm very fortunate that I came here, and I have all these guys."
They were right. As he thanked Coach Williams for giving him a chance four years ago, the tears came.
Then, in a classic moment in Kansas basketball history, Coach Williams walked out onto the court and yanked on the power cord of an ESPN cameraman who was practically shoving his camera up McGrath's nose.
The crowd had a laugh at the bewildered cameraman's expense, and Roy proved that even on senior night, there's no nonsense in the field house.
In true form, Billy Thomas made a special effort to thank all of the friends and family members who were at the game—one by one he. He also talked about how the Kansas coaches and players had become part of his family.
Billy Thomas Shreveport, La., senior
"Thanks for believing in me and helping me get through those tough times. . I love you guys"
C. B. McGrath Topeka senior
"I'd like to thank Coach Williams just for giving me a chance...that's all I needed."
"Every time I've run through that tunnel. .it's been like a dream come true."
Raef LaFrentz Monona, Iowa, senior
THREE SENIORS SAY FAREWELL
TO THEIR TEAMMATES AND FANS
One last rock chalk
As tradition, the Kansas seniors are drenched with flowers for the hard work and dedication that they have shown to the University and the fans. C.B. McGrath, Billy Thomas, and Reef LaFrentz were each honored before their last name in Allen Field House. Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN.
Jayhawks' win comes Sooner instead of later
By Tommy Gallagher
tgallagher@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
One more year.
Forward Paul Pierce left Kansas fans craving one more season as he led the Jayhawks to a 83-70 victory against Oklahoma in Allen Field House on Senior Night.
Pierce scored a game-high 31 points, including 15 consecutive points in the second half. He controlled the game's tempo and helped the Jayhawk seniors leave with a perfect 58-0 record during their careers at the field house.
Despite talk about his possible departure for the NBA draft this summer, Pierce deflected any speculation about his plans after the win.
“That never entered my mind at all,” Pierce said. “It’s been so much fun coming in here and winning so many games that I’m just happy we were able to send this senior class out with a win, which is the way it should be.”
Kansas led 15-12 early in the first half before going on a 17-2 run, which allowed the Jayhawks to have a 32-14 lead. But the Sooners rallied, outscoring Kansas 14-3 and closing to within eight points at halftime.
Oklahoma showed great determination against the Jayhawks, but Kansas had too much depth.
Kansas and Oklahoma played even midway through the second half. And when the Sooners closed to within 55-48 with 10
"We battled back throughout the game when we could have easily folded," Sampson said. "That shows how tough we really are. But then in the end, the difference was Paul Pierce. We could not stop him."
Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said his team played tough in a hostile environment.
See KANSAS on page 3B
"I was probably more uptight about this game than about any other one this season. I wanted these kids to leave here the way they should, and the only way to do that for Roy Williams was with a win." Roy Williams
Roy Williams coach
Senior C.B. McGrath says thank you to his teammates, coaches and fans during Senior Night. McGrath, Roof LaFrentz and Billy Thomas were honored last night at Allen Field House. Photo by Steve Puppe/KANSAN.
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