Saturday, June 21, 2008

He’s from where? Campers unaware of KU coach’s roots

By Jason Elmquist

Deer Creek High guard Korey Welch laces up his shoes as Bill Self talks with the team's head coach, David Crynes, shortly before a game Friday at Allen Fieldhouse. The team hails from Edmond, Okla., the hometown of Self.

Photo by Nick Krug

Deer Creek High guard Korey Welch laces up his shoes as Bill Self talks with the team's head coach, David Crynes, shortly before a game Friday at Allen Fieldhouse. The team hails from Edmond, Okla., the hometown of Self.

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Bill Self Basketball Camp

Trivia question: Where did Kansas University men's basketball coach Bill Self graduate high school?

Answer: Edmond Memorial in Edmond, Okla.

"I didn't know that. It's pretty cool with Edmond being sort of a small town," Zach Trujillo said. "It's pretty much connected with Oklahoma City, but it's still pretty cool (knowing Self is from there)."

The odd part about Trujillo not knowing of Self's roots is that Trujillo is currently a student at Deer Creek High, which also is located in Edmond.

But he wasn't the only member of the Deer Creek hoops team - which is one of 62 high schools in Lawrence this weekend for the Bill Self team camp - unaware that Edmond once was home to the national championship coach.

"I had no idea," Adam Byrd said when finding out about Self's ties to Edmond. "I play football. I follow college football mostly. I watch basketball, but I don't follow it like I do football."

"I'm more of a North Carolina fan," Korey Welch responded. "I'd rather be there."

Deer Creek coach David Crynes knew better.

"They should know because he's from Edmond and that's where we're from," Crynes said. "So I don't know if they're pulling your leg or not, but coach Self's a big deal where we're from. He went to a different high school, but it's the same hometown and he's legendary down there now."

While the campers didn't know much about Self, they certainly knew about the history surrounding Allen Fieldhouse. Deer Creek suffered a 40-38 loss in the Fieldhouse to Clayton (St. Louis, Mo.) High in its first game of camp.

"It was pretty exciting. I've never been here," Trujillo said of Allen Fieldhouse. "I've only seen it on TV. It's a lot different than I imagined it."

Trujillo's teammate Byrd, who finished with eight points tying Jalen Burnett for the team-high, said he believed the aura of KU's gym played a factor in Deer Creek's slow start.

"I think it was a little overwhelming, so our heads weren't really into the game in the beginning," Byrd said. "But after that we got it behind us and started playing better."

Comments

kcphantom (anonymous) says...

"I'm more of a North Carolina fan," Korey Welch responded. "I'd rather be there."

Kick his ass out of the building....He doesn't deserve to touch the floor.... after asking him how he liked the Final 4 game of course.

June 21, 2008 at 6:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says...

Sorry, but this is a rather mundane and irrelevant story.

June 21, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

LHS1980 (anonymous) says...

I can't believe that kid said that!

June 21, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ku98 (anonymous) says...

Kids say the darndest things...

June 21, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

tis4tim (anonymous) says...

It's like that other camper who yelled out that Duke was the number one team during a session a week or so ago.

Newman!...I mean, Kids!

June 21, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

Get out out of the city

no seriously, Korey, get out of the city

June 21, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

UNC and Duke....haha! Teenage years are a mix of irreverence (explains the UNC comment) and ignorance (Duke comment?) or just untempered bravado (maybe explains it all...). If you questioned them or pressed them why, that is where it would be stutter-stammer-city or half-baked thoughts, or simple superstar worship (MJ or whoever...). Duke basketball is a shadow of its former self, being lacking in talent, height, and depth--sounds like a half-ass bball team to me, and they were this season. UNC just got taught by the Edmond, OK native Bill Self what lies beyond pure transition basketball: the "complete" game with a dedicated half-court offense, as well as solid defense to go along with the high-flying transition offense. These kids do not even know enough about basketball to begin to analyze it. Maybe the kid just likes Hansborough, but doesnt know he is from Missourah....! So much to learn...and it all could begin with a couple of dvds dated April 5 and April 7.

June 21, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

Sorry, but this is a rather mundane and irrelevant story.

Irrelevant to whom?
It's team camp and we're covering team camp.
I thought it was a good story from team camp. Don' you?

June 21, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

I mean 'Didn't you?'

June 21, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

derringer29 (anonymous) says...

i give a flip about north carolina-as for duke i think we got the best of them in 2003--it does suck that next year all were going to be hearing about is how good the damm tar heels are just because there kids wasnt good enough to go pro, now there going to cram them down are thoath...........oh well how many times has a team started #1 ap overall and won the whole thing just twice and florida was the most recent i see another choke job in the future for roy.....

June 21, 2008 at 3:20 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Strikewso (anonymous) says...

That kid needs a good ol' fashioned code red from the rest of his camp mates.

June 21, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

I agree the basketball season is too long. I rarely agree with Dick Vitale but I agree with him about one thing. He says that college basketball shouldnt start until after Thanksgiving Weekend is over because in November America is understandably focused in on college football and dosent give a hoot about basketball. The November games usually dont play much of a role in determining the final brackets in March.
If I remember right, the day after the KU/Mizzou game in Arrowhead, the basketball team hosted Arizona and the student section wasnt full because of the football hangover. Basketball cant compete with football in this country and shouldnt overlap it while football is still in the regular season.

June 21, 2008 at 6:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rcaltrider (anonymous) says...

Sorry, but this is a rather mundane and irrelevant story.

Then why did you spend the time and effort to read and post a comment about the story?

As for the UNC fan, he is certainly entitled to root for whoever he likes. But show some respect and don't say things like, "I'd rather be there." Keep your mouth shut about it!

June 21, 2008 at 7 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

You wrote: Vitale says that college basketball shouldnt start until after Thanksgiving Weekend is over because in November America is understandably focused in on college football and dosent give a hoot about basketball. The November games usually dont play much of a role in determining the final brackets in March."

--I agree with him but it'll never happen. College sports are never going to go backwards because of money and TV contracts, etc. It is absolutely ridiculous that the season starts the Friday closest to Oct. 15. That is way too early. Frankly I am surprised all NBA teams don't do full body scans on these college athletes who turn pro because as much as they play, guys that have not torn ACLs and need scopes probably soon will tear ACLs or need scopes. The season is too long. It also should not end as late as this year's Final Four.
But again ... this will not change. Money is involved.

June 21, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says...

There's been nothing advertised about "team camp."
Then, the only talk of it is about where Self grew up. If this is about "team camp" then write about it.

June 22, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

gary, don't take too seriously the rantings of one idiot. According to some people, every article posted on here that doesn't qualify for the Pulitzer Prize deserves to be criticized. I mean, the NERVE of you guys, publishing a short article about a KU team camp in the middle of the summer when there are SO many other great things to write about at KU.

June 23, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )