Traditionally, the Kansas basketball banquet belongs to the seniors, and Adonis Jordan, Eric Pauley and Rex Walters heard plenty of applause on Thursday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
However, something KU chancellor Gene Budig said to coach Roy Williams may have produced the most decibels from the crowd of around 1,400.
“Coach Williams, you have spoiled us,” Budig said prior to his presentation of plaques to the three seniors, “and we only ask that you continue to do it indefinitely.”
Often, with the seniors given carte blanche at the microphone, these banquets can drag on indefinitely.
Not this time.
Walters spoke the longest, a comfortable 13:55.31. Jordan was next at 10:15.29 and Pauley was clocked at 6:47.29. Those are hand-held times.
Much has been said about Jordan’s loyalty to the KU program because he didn’t renege on his verbal commitment after the Jayhawks were placed on NCAA probation.
“I was loyal to Kansas, it’s true,” Jordan said, “but coach Williams was loyal to me, too. He said I’d play a little bit as a freshman behind Kevin Pritchard, then I’d get the ball.”
Jordan started three seasons as the Jayhawks’ point guard. In the four years the 5-10 Californian was on Mount Oread, Kansas won 113 games.
“There were 113 nights I’m sure glad he decided to stick with us,” Williams said.
There’ll be many more days and nights, Jordan stressed, that he’ll stick with Williams — half a century, at least.
“Fifty years down the line,” Jordan said, smiling, “we’ll get together and talk. We’ll be friends. He’s my coach, but he’s also my friend.”
In the same vein, Pauley thanked the Kansas coach for recruiting him out of the Cypress Community College in California two years ago.
“For me it’s been a dream come true,” Pauley said. “I want to thank coach Williams for that. I’ve had a lot of good times.”
So, too, did Walters who has spent three years here after transferring from Northwestern.
“I’m a Jayhawk for life,” said Walters who was named the Jayhawks most valuable player for the second straight year.
Juniors Richard Scott and Steve Woodberry were double award winners — Scott for rebounding and field goal percentage, Woodberry for defense and free throw shooting. Other winners were junior Patrick Richey for most improved, Jordan for assists and soph Greg Gurley for academics.