KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2010 / SPORTS
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MEN'S BASKETBALL
Chalmers makes cameo at camp
BY ALISON CUMBOW
alisonc@kansan.com
There were 400 young campers on one side and 400 KU students, alumni and basketball fans on the other on June 17. The stadium inside the Horejsi Family Athletics Center was alive with anticipation as spectators waited to see which basketball alumni would be making an appearance. Coach Bill Self teased the audience with an anecdote about players who had an "it" moment — including one of the University's own — and with that, the 800 fans started chanting his name.
“Mar-i-o!” “Mar-i-o!” “Mario!”
“Mario!”
They applauded, cheered and smiled with pride at the man who helped their dreams come true with his "it" moment in 2008 — a 3-point shot that sent the championship game into overtime. Chalmers waved to the crowd with a smile across his face.
Bill Self's basketball camp was a two-week long camp for children to practice their skills. On Wednesdays of both weeks, KU basketball alumni challenged current KU players in games that ended when one of the
teams reached 65 points.
Alumni were in crimson pennies and current players wore blue pennies, racing from one side of the court to the other in a whirl of Jayhawk colors. Their sneakers against the court were barely noticeable amidst the campers' screaming and chanting of Mario's name through much of the first half.
"It's good for the campers," Chalmers said while standing next to a mural of himself shooting the 3-pointer against Memphis. He said that he didn't feel it was any different playing now than before.
Andrew Wingreen, a basketball coach at the camp, said the kids didn't know who would show up to play at the game.
"I definitely think that it's something that they can come to and enjoy," said Winegreen, who also works for Wayne Simien's Call to Greatness ministry and basketball camp. "They like seeing the players, you know, especially the alumni."
The current players beat the alumni team 65-45. Chalmers scored 15 points and Keith Langford scored 9. Current Jayhawks Marcus Morris and Conner Teahan each scored 11 points.
Remaining Big 12 ADs meet. Read the story at kansan.com
NBA
Hard to get ahead in this draft
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The 6-foot-11 Samhan averaged 30.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in victories over Richmond and Villanova in college basketball's marquee event, but is finding NBA executives and scouts much more difficult to charm.
MINNEAPOLIS Omar Samhan's throwback drop-steps in the post and new-age candor with the media made him one of the stars of the NCAA tournament.
Most mock drafts forecast that Samhan will not be drafted on Thursday.
"The politically correct answer would be, 'Oh you know, it happens, that's the way it is.'" Samhan said after a workout with the Minnesota Timberwolves this month. "I think it's crap, to be blunt with you. I feel like I do a lot for my team, for my school and still just don't get a lot of credit, a lot of love."
The outspoken center captivated fans with his skills on the court and drew belly laughs in the press room with sharp one-liners while leading St. Mary's to the sweet 16 for the first time in more than 50 years.
Don't worry, Omar. You're not
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alone.
College stars like Villanova All-American Scottie Reynolds, KU point guard Sherron Collins and Notre Dame forward Luke Harangy are deemed second-round picks at best. Xavier's Jordan Crawford may fall out of the first round, even after averaging 29 points in their run to the Sweet 16.
"You can look at it like, 'What more do you want me to do?' said Crawford, who left after his sophomore season. "But you still have to come out here and show what you can do and that you're worth a first-round pick."
Many of college basketball's best have used the postseason to increase their draft stock. Jonny Flynn's performance in Syracuse's epic six overtime win over Connecticut in the Big East tournament in 2009 helped propel him up the draft board, where the Timberwolves took him at No.6.
Butler's Gordon Hayward lifted himself into lottery consideration this year after leading the Bulldogs on an improbable run to the NCAA title game.
But there are plenty of decorated players drawing yawns this year.
The best thing these players can do, says NBA scouting director Ryan Blake, is criscross the country, working out with as many teams as possible in hopes someone will give them a chance in the draft or on a summer league team.