Kirk Hinrich stood in the fabled northwest tunnel of Allen Fieldhouse at halftime of Sunday’s Kansas University-Missouri game. He craned his neck to watch a highlight video of his storied KU basketball career playing on the center scoreboard.
Highlight after highlight on the big screen was enough to bring a 28-year-old man to tears.
“Watching the video brought back so many good memories. It was really emotional,” said the Chicago Bulls point guard/shooting guard, who at the conclusion of the video walked onto the court to a thunderous standing ovation from 16,300 fans who remained in their seats for his jersey-retirement ceremony.
“It was a great day, better than I expected. It was electric. This is the greatest honor I can have,” added Hinrich, who watched in amazement as his jersey No. 10 was unfurled high in the south rafters.
His banner hangs next to those of buddies Nick Collison and Drew Gooden, his teammates at KU.
“I am truly honored to be here. It’s humbling. Thank you all very much,” Hinrich told the fans. He thanked former KU coach Roy Williams as well as family members, friends and the fans.
“When I came here today, I was thinking about what I would say about this place and how special it is for me to be a Jayhawk and still be a Jayhawk. There’s nothing like it. In my mind, this is the greatest basketball venue in the world,” Hinrich said.
Hinrich addressed his KU career highlights.
“On the court, my best memories are going 16-0 in the league (2001-02) and the Final Four appearances (2002, 2003). The best memories are off the court, the relationship I had with my teammates and coaches. Kansas basketball is like a family. It’s what makes it special,” he said.
Hinrich, who is ninth all-time on the KU scoring charts and fourth in assists, visited the Jayhawk locker room after the game.
“Just casual stuff,” he said of what he discussed with the current team members. “I’ve been following them all year. They’ve been playing great. A few of them I know. A few I don’t know as well. (I said) ‘Just keep it going.’ I just went back there to say hello.”
Former players galore
Other former KU players in the house included Nick Collison, Eric Chenowith and Scot Pollard, as well as former KU assistant Neil Dougherty.
“That’s a really good team (that sat) behind the bench,” coach Bill Self said. “It was great to have those guys back because they love this place.
“It was a great day for us having a crowd like that, playing well, getting a number of former players back, and Kirk’s jersey in the rafters made it a pretty special day.”
Self on the loud crowd
Self praised the fans packing the fieldhouse.
“The atmosphere was fabulous,” he said. “I felt coming in the game this would be as good as (some big games in past like Georgia Tech in 2005) just because they beat us the first time and stakes were high. More important than anything, it’s Missouri. The crowd didn’t disappoint at all.”
Recruiting
Bradley Beal, a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard from Chaminade High in St. Louis, attended and sat behind the Kansas bench.
Stats, facts
KU has won 10 in a row at home versus MU. … KU has won six of seven and 10 of 13 versus the Tigers. …
Tucson, Ariz ? Woolridge in the house
Future Kansas University player Royce Woolridge, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound junior shooting guard from Phoenix Sunnyslope High, sat in the McKale Center stands with two buddies and one of his prep coaches.
Woolridge is averaging 29.6 points a game off 49 percent shooting with 5.0 boards and 2.6 assists per contest for 8-2 Sunnyslope.
He’s headed to Wisconsin to visit relatives for the holidays.
“I’ve never been in weather like that,” said Woolridge, enjoying “winter” in Phoenix, which lately has meant upper-60-degree temperatures.
He definitely planned to root for KU at the game.
“I get made fun of a lot. I get that all the time,” he said of Sunnyslope classmates asking him to change his mind and become an Arizona Wildcat.
No chance of that. He’s happy with his early college choice.
Holiday schedule
KU’s players were to head to their hometowns today for a short Christmas break. Everybody is expected back in Lawrence for practice late Saturday afternoon.
The Jayhawks will hold their annual holiday clinic for boys and girls grades three to eight from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Allen Fieldhouse.
The clinic will feature instruction from current Jayhawk players and coaches and include an autograph and picture session. More information is available at billselfbasketballcamp.com.
KU’s next game is against Albany, set for an 8 p.m. tipoff Tuesday in Allen.
Zona to land top coach
The vacant Arizona coaching job, currently manned by interim Russ Pennell, is an attractive one, KU coach Bill Self says.
“The job that coach (Lute) Olson did here would probably equate to as good a turnaround job as ever been done in college basketball. Arizona has been to 24 straight NCAA Tournaments. It’s gotten to the point to where Arizona has been viewed as either the premier or one of the top two or three premier recruiting jobs in the West Coast,” Self said. “I don’t see that going away just because coach Olson (who resigned in October) isn’t coaching. They’ve done such a good job that over time it’s still going to be Arizona. They will hire a guy who will attract a high-level recruit.”
Pennell a native Kansan
Pennell, 48, who graduated from Pittsburg High, played basketball at both the University of Arkansas and Central Arkansas. He later received both his bachelor’s and graduate degrees from Pittsburg State.
Pennell has worked as an assistant at Oklahoma State, Mississippi and Arizona State. He spent the last two seasons running the Arizona Premier Basketball League in the Phoenix area. He also was a commentator for the Arizona State radio network last season.
“Growing up in that state, you understand how important they are,” Pennell said of the Jayhawks. “The thing about KU, it’s just so storied. No matter who the coach has been, it’s just one of the great programs. That state is certainly proud, and there’s no place like Allen Fieldhouse. When it’s rocking, there’s no better place to play.”
Pennell said he was “a little bit of a K-State fan” growing up. “I was a big fan of Lon (Kruger). I didn’t have allegiance any way. I liked both programs.”
Collins fan
Pennell on KU guard Sherron Collins: “Wow. That guy can change ends quick.”
Both schools have early entries galore
Arizona knows what it feels like to lose players early to the NBA. The Wildcats lost underclassmen Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson and Michael Wright to the 2001 Draft. Without the trio, the Wildcats went 24-10, 12-6 in the Pac Ten and reached the NCAA Sweet 16.
KU, of course, lost Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers after the national title season.
“If our guys came back they would have had a second year to make a run. You’re not going to find many teams that have a three-year window for a chance to make serious runs. So it was important that we did it last year,” Self said of winning it all with guys with their eyes on the NBA.
“I want our guys to leave. Not from a personal standpoint, but I think over time, if you have guys who are leaving to go be professionals, you’ll recruit better because guys want to go to places where they have opportunities (to play in NBA).”
He does not believe players should leave unless they are emotionally equipped for the rigors of the pros.