David Padgett was in New Orleans when Kansas University’s men’s basketball team made its run to the 2003 NCAA championship game.
Padgett was in the stands with the rest of the fans last April at the Superdome, but the freshman center will be on the court with the Jayhawks in this year’s NCAA Tournament.
“As a kid watching it on TV, I always dreamed of playing and being there,” he said. “Now I’m actually going to be a part of it. It’s kind of weird to think of it, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
KU has made back-to-back Final Four trips, but this is a different Jayhawk team. All-Americans Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich have moved on to the NBA, and freshmen Padgett and guard J.R. Giddens have moved into the starting lineup.
“I know a lot of people would like to see us get to the Final Four, and a lot of them are probably expecting it,” said Padgett, who started 19 regular-season games and averaged 6.7 points and 4.6 rebounds. “If we put that kind of pressure on ourselves, that could hurt us. We just need to go into the tournament and play like we have been. Hopefully, we’ll get there.”
Padgett and Giddens watched last year’s Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games from Cleveland during their time at the McDonald’s All-American Game.
Giddens, who said he “sucked” early in the season, thought the tournament would be one more learning experience.
“I’ve improved at everything in terms of defense, shooting, ball-handling, decision-making,” said Giddens, who started 23 regular-season games and averaged 10.7 points and 3.6 rebounds. “I still make some stupid decisions, but considering where I came from, I’m doing a lot better. I’ve taken my lumps, and I’m learning. I’ll be better next year, and I’ll be better for the NCAA Tournament.”
KU’s three other freshmen — guards Nick Bahe, Omar Wilkes and Jeremy Case — have played smaller roles, but the reserves are looking forward to their first Big Dance as well.
Wilkes, a Los Angeles native, attended KU’s 78-75 victory over Duke in last year’s regional final at Anaheim.
“Just seeing how big-time of an event it was — the hoopla and hype surrounding it, the media frenzy and all the fans and their loyalties to the teams — was a great experience for me,” said Wilkes, who has averaged 1.7 points in 17 regular-season games.
Wilkes said the freshmen weren’t feeling pressure.
“We just need to contribute as much as possible,” he said. “I feel like that’s more up to our leaders to lead us there, and we’ll definitely do our part to follow them.”
“I’m very excited,” Bahe added. “Obviously, that’s something that plays into every kid’s college decision, getting the chance to play in March. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time, growing up watching the NCAA Tournament. To get a chance to play in it is going to be an unbelievable feeling, and I’m counting the days. I can’t wait.”
