Richard Gwin/Journal-World PhotoKansas University senior Kenny Gregory was named the Dr. Forrest C. “Phog” Allen Most Valuable Player at the Jayhawks’ annual Basketball Awards Ceremony on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
Gregory, a 6-foot-5 swingman from Columbus, Ohio, earned honorable mention All-America honors after averaging 15.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game both career highs.
Sophomore point guard Kirk Hinrich claimed a team-high three awards the Clyde Lovellette Most Improved Player Award, the Cedric Hunter/Jacque Vaughn Assists Award and the Dutch Lonborg Free Throw Percentage Award.
Sophomore forward Drew Gooden won the Bill Bridges Rebounding Award, sophomore forward Nick Collison the Dick Harp Field Goal Percentage Award and junior guard Jeff Boschee the Ted Owens Defensive Player Award.
Junior forward Jeff Carey, a first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection, won the Ken Koenigs Academic Award.
Richard Gwin/Journal-World PhotoCollison had successful bursa sac surgery Tuesday to remove fluid on his right elbow. Collison will miss two weeks of offseason pick-up basketball.
KU coach Roy Williams joked Collison has the large bursa sac on display in a jar in the 6-9 sophomore’s apartment.
“They removed the bursa sac. He had some swelling and more pain than was expected so they decided to go back in, open it up and clean it out,” Williams said of an afternoon procedure which followed a morning procedure. “They wanted to make sure it’s OK so they did that. He’ll be out a week to two weeks as was originally stated.”
KU senior Luke Axtell, who received senior awards and captains awards with Gregory and Eric Chenowith, has decided to take part in KU’s barnstorming tour, which starts next week. Axtell won’t play, but will be on hand to sell his CD The River Runs Dry and sign autographs.
Axtell, who has two degenerative disks and a bulging disk in his back, returned to his hometown of Austin, Texas, after the Big 12 Tournament for treatment.
Axtell travels from Austin to Dallas once a week for treatment at Southwest Sports and Spine clinic. He is trying to avoid back surgery with exercise and treatment.
“Right not the chances of a comeback are fair to good,” said Axtell, who hopes to attend an NBA camp as a free agent next fall if he goes undrafted. “They won’t let me run yet, but it’s coming along.
Today marks the first day of the month-long spring signing period. KU has one scholarship to give in recruiting after inking four players in the fall.
“I would think, ‘Probably not,”’ Williams said, asked if expected to sign a fifth player. “(But) I’m not finished looking.”
Williams was sorry to learn the NCAA management council Tuesday approved a proposal that would remove the exempt status of tournaments, such as the Preseason NIT and Maui Invitational.
Schools that participate in those tournaments would count all games in which they compete against the NCAA’s mandated limit. Current rules allow each tournament to count as one game against a 28-game limit.
If approved by the Board of Directors, which is scheduled to meet April 26, the Preseason NIT could account for as many as four games on a team’s schedule. Conference tournaments would still count as one game. The limit of games also would increase to 29 games.
“I do feel bad for the Maui people. I think it’s a sellout,” Williams said. “I think the only reason we’re doing that is because people are saying: ‘Well if you go there, you are giving up a home game where you can make $100,000; you go there and you lose $70,000. Like almost everything it’s driven by the almighty dollar. I think it’s a shame.
“I think universities should lead society not reflect them. I think it’s bad. It’s sad. Instead of thinking about great experiences for young people, we’re making decisions like it’s a business.”
Williams says KU will still go to tournaments like the Maui Classic even though the games will count as three on the schedule, not one.
Awards handed out at Tuesday’s Kansas Basketball Awards Ceremony at Allen Fieldhouse:
Senior Awards: Luke Axtell, Eric Chenowith, Kenny Gregory.
Ken Koenigs Academic Award: Jeff Carey.
Dutch Lonborg Free Throw Percentage Award: Kirk Hinrich
Clyde Lovellette Most Improved Player Award: Kirk Hinrich (won for second straight year).
Bill Bridges Rebounding Award: Drew Gooden (won for second straight year).
Cedric Hunter/Jacque Vaughn Assists Award: Kirk Hinrich.
Ted Owens Defensive Player Award: Jeff Boschee.
Dick Harp Field Goal Percentage Award: Nick Collison.
James Naismith Captains Award: Eric Chenowith and Kenny Gregory
Dr. Forrest C. “Phog” Allen Most Valuable Player Award: Kenny Gregory.
