TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2004
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3B
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Shannon O'Connor hands senior guard Aaron Miles a drink during this weekend's scrimmage. Managers work for the team between 35 and 45 hours weekly.
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By B.J. RAINS
sports@kansan.com
KANAN SPORTWRITER
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Fans of Kansas basketball can rattle off the names of all 17 players on this year's team. Few, however, can name the team's student managers.
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Fans may not appreciate the hard work of the managers, but coaches and players do.
"They are the unsung heroes of the team," senior guard Mike Lee said. "They get no credit. No one sees all of the behind the scenes work that they do. All of us players notice, and really appreciate it."
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Managers spend between 35 and 45 hours a week working for the team. On game days, they arrive two-and-a-half hours before tipoff.
"Before the game, we put the uniforms on their chairs, we fold towels, and we do laundry. We also get the court and benches ready, for both the Jayhawks and the opponents." Justin Bauman, head manager, said.
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Bauman works with four other full-time managers: Shannon O'Connor, Tegan Thornberry, Steven Davis and Matt Wolfe. The managers arrive two hours early for each practice. Among other things, they make Gatorade, wash the players' uniforms, and make sure the balls have enough air.
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Being a manager has benefits. Besides building lifelong relationships with players and coaches, managers get free gear.
"It's not a glamorous job on the surface, but while I've been here working with the team, we've gone to two Final Fours and an Elite Eight," said O'Connor.
Managers choose to be managers for different reasons. Most, however, want to someday end up as basketball coaches.
Lawrence Franks, a former manager for Bobby Knight at Indiana, became the interim head coach of the New Jersey Nets of the NBA in 2004, and proceeded to win his first 13 games as a head coach. Bauman
has similar aspirations.
"I want to someday be a Division I head coach, and what better way to learn, then from Coach Self, and the best coaching staff in America," Bauman said.
Coach Bill Self said this year's basketball managers are the best in the business.
The players consider the managers a part of the team, said J.R. Giddens, a sophomore guard.
If the team wins the national championship, not only do the players and coaches get rings, the managers do as well.
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The managers do a little bit of
everything, even baking cookies.
*Tuesdays are known to the men's basketball team as "Tegan Tuesdays." Each Tuesday during the season, Thornberry bakes
goodies for the team.
goodbye.
"I did it once during my first year, and the players requested them again. After that, I just started doing it every Tuesday, and here I am three years later, still doing it," said Thornberry.
"Not only do they help us out on the court, they help us off the court as well. The cookies are a bonus." Galindo said.
Alex Galindo, freshman forward, already noticed how valuable the managers are to the team.
To the players, the cookies are a perfect example of the little things that the managers do for them, and just like those cookies, a national title in April would taste real nice.
— Edited by Steve Vockrodt
If you pick the winning teams, and beat The Kansan sportswriters, you could win free textbooks from UBS, Wheat State Pizza gift certificates, and a T-Shirt!
Read Jonathan Kealing's picks in Friday's Kansan Winners will be published in Tuesday's Kansan.
Submit picks to UDK business office in 119 Stauffer-Flint hall by Thurs. @ 4 pm
Phone:
○ Kansas vs. Tulsa ○
○ #9 Ohio State @ Cincinnati ○
○ Oklahoma State @ UCLA ○
○ Miami (OH) @ #8 Michigan ○
○ Murray State @ UCONN ○
○ #13 Cal @ Air Force ○
○ Richmond @ NC State ○
Memphis @ Ole Miss
○ W Kentucky vs. #12 K State ○
- #2 Oklahoma @ Bowling Green *
2 Oklahoma @ Bowling Green
10 Missouri, Arkansas State
18 Misouri vs. Arkansas State
N. Illimois @ #22 Maryland
Division III
Wash Lvs, Mt Union
Wash U vs. Mt. Union
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