Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoOKLAHOMA CITY ? Roy Williams’ news conference Wednesday night at Ford Center started about the time President Bush’s ultimatum to Iraq and Saddam Hussein expired.
While KU’s coach was here to talk about tonight’s NCAA Tournament first-round game against Utah State, he acknowledged war could be a distraction.
“I think they’re focused on the tournament, but I do talk to them about it, and I’ve been talking to them about it for probably six weeks,” Williams said of his players, who range in age from 19 to 22. “I want them to be completely focused when we go into that locker room, and I want them to be more than completely focused when we step out onto that court.
“But we all have to remember this is only a game. We have guys their age getting ready to go over there and put on gas masks, worrying about chemical and biological warfare. We have guys their age carrying guns. We have guys their age flying planes and dropping bombs.”
Shortly after Williams and the Jayhawks met the press, the war in Iraq began.
There had been some debate about whether the games should be postponed, but the NCAA decided Tuesday to stick to its schedule.
“If they tell us we’re going to play, then we’ll play hard and enjoy ourselves and have fun,” KU senior Nick Collison said. “Still, our thoughts are with those people over there. We realize what they’re doing for us.”
Debate about playing the games was minuscule compared to the debate about war.
“Whether or not you believe we should be there or should not be there, I hope that our nation never gets to the point that we have these guys over there come back and they’re treated like the people that came back from Vietnam,” Williams said of U.S. soldiers. “My message to my team is for us to understand that those people over there have to have our 100 percent support and have to have our encouragement.”
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoOKLAHOMA CITY ? Roy Williams’ news conference Wednesday night at Ford Center started about the time President Bush’s ultimatum to Iraq and Saddam Hussein expired.
While KU’s coach was here to talk about tonight’s NCAA Tournament first-round game against Utah State, he acknowledged war could be a distraction.
“I think they’re focused on the tournament, but I do talk to them about it, and I’ve been talking to them about it for probably six weeks,” Williams said of his players, who range in age from 19 to 22. “I want them to be completely focused when we go into that locker room, and I want them to be more than completely focused when we step out onto that court.
“But we all have to remember this is only a game. We have guys their age getting ready to go over there and put on gas masks, worrying about chemical and biological warfare. We have guys their age carrying guns. We have guys their age flying planes and dropping bombs.”
Shortly after Williams and the Jayhawks met the press, the war in Iraq began.
There had been some debate about whether the games should be postponed, but the NCAA decided Tuesday to stick to its schedule.
“If they tell us we’re going to play, then we’ll play hard and enjoy ourselves and have fun,” KU senior Nick Collison said. “Still, our thoughts are with those people over there. We realize what they’re doing for us.”
Debate about playing the games was minuscule compared to the debate about war.
“Whether or not you believe we should be there or should not be there, I hope that our nation never gets to the point that we have these guys over there come back and they’re treated like the people that came back from Vietnam,” Williams said of U.S. soldiers. “My message to my team is for us to understand that those people over there have to have our 100 percent support and have to have our encouragement.”
