One by one, an esteemed collection of former Kansas University basketball players stood and lectured the current KU players late Wednesday afternoon in the Jayhawks’ Allen Fieldhouse locker room.
The to-the-point messages — delivered by the likes of NBA players Billy Thomas, Drew Gooden, Nick Collison, Greg Ostertag, Jacque Vaughn and Kirk Hinrich — had nothing to do with the alumni’s 101-92 camp victory over the current players at a jam-packed Horejsi Center.
The heart-to-heart talks instead dealt with some off-the-court troubles incurred by the KU team — notably the May 19 melee outside the Moon Bar.
“If you are going to put on a Kansas jersey, you are going to wear it with pride and respect this school,” Cleveland Cavaliers forward Gooden said.
He indicated he made the trip from Ohio to Lawrence not just to play in the annual campers’ game, but to convey concern about the school’s image to the Jayhawks.
“We kind of heard there’s a lot of stuff going on in the media … the team not being together, acting up, not following the rules,” Gooden said.
“I think this trip was more to come out here and try to rejuvenate these guys, refresh their minds. This is tradition basketball. We’re not going to let this slide. This is my school. I went here. My blood, sweat and tears are on that floor. My heart will always be here no matter what.”
Thomas, who played for the New Jersey Nets this season, scored a team-leading 16 points in the scrimmage; Hinrich, Gooden and Collison scored 15 apiece.
Thomas also might have been the most emotional speaker.
“It’s gotten a lot more personal. Things that mean a lot to us need to be important to them. We need to carry over tradition,” Thomas said.
He and the other ex-Jayhawks touched on the Moon Bar incident in which junior J.R. Giddens, who is back in Oklahoma City, suffered a slashed artery in his right calf.
“We touched on all sorts of things. We’re just making sure that’s not a part of what happens around here. That’s just not acceptable. We touched on being responsible and what they’re representing,” Thomas said.
Message received.
“I needed to hear that. We all needed to hear that,” said KU senior Jeff Hawkins, who hit two threes in the scrimmage. “They basically told everybody to watch what they do. KU is bigger than yourself.
“They talked about how we need to be a family, the years before and what we used to do in the past.
“It sends a powerful message.”
KU sophomore Jeremy Case, who hit five threes and scored a game-high 20 points, said the alumni’s talks were forceful.
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“We definitely needed that, to hear from somebody that’s bigger than us,” Case said. “They weren’t necessarily mad, just disappointed in us, talking to us man to man, telling us we’ve got to stick together more, be a team, look out for each other a lot better than we have been.
“Everybody has woken up since the incident. Everybody is being cautious, thinking things through before they act on it.”
Case scored twice as many points as any other current Jayhawk. Christian Moody, Mario Chalmers and Sasha Kaun scored 10 points apiece.
Kaun had a vicious slam into Ostertag on the offensive end off a pass from Rodrick Stewart and came right back with a block of a Steve Woodberry shot on defense.
“It was a good experience. I mean, they are NBA players, fast, strong, smart, they know where to go, when to go,” Kaun said. “I’m very impressed how they pass the ball and cut. You don’t see that a lot in college.”
Collison, of Seattle’s SuperSonics, said Kaun was a force inside.
“He’s the kind of guy you don’t like to play against in the summer because he works so hard,” Collison said. “He is always trying to seal you in the post. It’s easier to play against a guy who’s lazy.”
Of KU’s team, Collison said: “They have got some guys who can shoot the ball, which is always a big thing. Being able to hit shots wins a lot of games.”
Gooden also liked the play of sophomore center Kaun.
“Kaun has a lot of upside,” Gooden said. “They’ve got a good team. I think they had us working overtime.”
The game was tied at 50 early in the second half before the veterans pulled away. The winning team was the first to reach 100.
“It means a lot to come back and win,” Gooden said. “It meant a lot to play the NBA guys when I was here. Now as an NBA player, you’ve got to come back and win. Pride will overcome immaturity.”
An esteemed collection of former Kansas University basketball players – including NBA players Billy Thomas, Drew Gooden, Nick Collison, Greg Ostertag, Jacque Vaughn and Kirk Hinrich – beat a team of current Jayhawks, 101-92, in a scrimmage at Bill Self’s basketball camp at Horejsi Center.
No, they have not yet added tattoos of Underdog, the cartoon superhero, on their arms. But by choice, Rodrick Stewart and Jeremy Case each have taken on the label.
Both sophomores-to-be in terms of their basketball eligibility, the two guards gave the more than 500 campers on hand Wednesday a little taste of the future.
Stewart, a transfer from Southern Cal who will be eligible to suit up following the fall semester, displayed his tremendous athleticism while Case, coming off of a red-shirt season on the Jayhawk bench, showed his newly buffed-up frame and point guard ability. The two helped lead the “Skins” squad to its 61-58 victory in a scrimmage during Kansas University coach Bill Self’s camp Wednesday at Horejsi Center.
“I couldn’t wait. I feel like I’m the underdog, so every time I step on the floor, I’ve got something to prove,” said Case, who dropped 10 points in the victory.
Having the unassuming role is nothing new for Case, who said he already experienced it as a freshman at both McAlester (Okla.) High School and KU.
The sweet outside shot that Case originally brought to Lawrence was on display Wednesday, but he also drove the lane repeatedly, showing he’s no longer going to be pushed around. That, of course, is thanks in large part to a physical frame that is not so whispy anymore.
“The biggest thing I’ve noticed is the strength,” Case said. “I’ve gotten a lot stronger, and I could put my chest on some people.”
While Case has bulked up, Stewart has slimmed down.
Stewart, who showed up last winter after a month at home in Seattle, Wa., weighing 218 pounds, is down to 200.
“Coach Self said I’d better get in shape, and I did,” Stewart said. “I’m more explosive. If I get the ball down low, I’m going to try and dunk it.”
The 6-foot-4 Stewart showed that Wednesday, at one point grabbing an offensive rebound, jumping off of two feet, cocking the ball back and throwing it home with one hand. He also showed plenty of quickness when it came of slashing to the basket.
Though they play very different games in terms of style, one thing both Case and Stewart said they valued in their time observing from the bench was getting an opportunity for the first time in their careers to just be spectators.
“You get to learn a lot just watching great players,” Stewart said. “And I did that for a whole semester.”
