Fans rocked Allen Fieldhouse during pregame introductions all the way through the first half of Saturday’s Kansas-UCLA game.
The 16,300 spectators also shook the roof with applause during ceremonies to retire Jacque Vaughn’s No. 11 jersey at intermission.
But the second 20 minutes were easy on the ears as the Jayhawks, who led 48-25 after 20 minutes, finished off an 87-70 victory before a suddenly quiet throng.
“I do think there’s something to that,” KU coach Roy Williams said of the second half losing luster after the Vaughn love-fest. “Our team lost our focus and I think our crowd lost focus, too. The first half the crowd was loud, exciting, emotional, enthusiastic. The second half it’s the chicken-and-egg thing. What comes first, does our great play stimulate the crowd or do their actions stimulate us?
“The bottom line is, the second half UCLA beat us to death on the backboards. We did get refocused and finished up with some nice plays.”
Shortly after the first half ended, Williams took the microphone and introduced Vaughn, who was handed a massive jersey No. 11 by KU officials.
Williams spoke warmly of some of the highlights in Vaughn’s career, including a shot that beat Indiana in overtime during Vaughn’s freshman season.
“I said I remembered him hitting the shot against Indiana. I remembered him playing against UCLA. I was going to say I remembered him standing here on Senior Day, but I about lost it myself, so I didn’t say that,” Williams said, referring to Vaughn’s emotional Senior Day speech in 1997.
“He’s a great youngster. One of my great joys is coaching great kids. There are no greater student-athletes than Jacque. If they had a ‘pictionary’ and it said student-athlete, they’d just put his picture beside it.”
Vaughn, who was on hand with his mother and other family members, took advantage of a break in the Orlando Magic schedule to attend the game.
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At one point, he broke down in speaking to the fans after a loud standing ovation.
“I know I lost the over-under on whether I’d keep my emotions,” Vaughn said. “I tried, but talking about my mom, I gave in a bit.”
Vaughn said as a KU player he’d look at the retired jerseys hanging in the south end of the fieldhouse, but he never envisioned his No. 11 would ascend.
“I never thought it’d be there. I always appreciated the names up there who came before me and laid a foundation. I always appreciate what history is. It’s amazing I can be a part of that,” he said.
Vaughn, who has a house in Lawrence and was married here last summer, says he’ll love visiting the fieldhouse with his jersey hung high.
“It’s going to be special when I have kids who come in and say, ‘Daddy, why is your name up there?”‘ Vaughn said. “It’s tough to describe what this means to me. The fans here have always been unbelievable. I love them and this university so much.”
