Mike YoderThroughout the past few decades, it has been customary for fans of the Kansas University men’s basketball team to welcome the Jayhawks home after deep runs in the NCAA Tournament.
On Wednesday, KU fans will have an opportunity to welcome the Jayhawks home after their perfect run through the rest of the world at this year’s World University Games in South Korea.
The gold medal winners are expected to return home Wednesday and will be welcomed back inside Kansas’ Hoglund Ballpark. Doors will open at Kansas’ baseball stadium, just south of Allen Fieldhouse, at 6 p.m. with the USA, which consists primarily of KU student-athletes and staff, expected to arrive at 7 p.m.
USA head coach Bill Self and selected members of the team will address the crowd. With extreme heat indexes expected even in the early evening, bottled water will be available for purchase and fans are allowed to bring one, unopened bottle into the stadium.
Attendees are encouraged to park in lot 112 south of the baseball stadium, behind the Hoglund Ballpark scoreboard. Yellow lots 90, 125 and 127 are restricted Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., even during summer class sessions. Parking in Red, Blue, and Gold lots is restricted year-round from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Accessible stalls in Yellow lots prior to 4 p.m., and Red lots prior to 5 p.m., are also restricted based on KU issued parking permits.
Team USA defeated Germany in the gold-medal game Monday morning via an 84-77 double-overtime victory that is expected to re-air on ESPNU Monday at 9 p.m.
The medal marked USA’s first basketball award at the World University Games since a bronze in 2009. The USA has now won 14 gold medals in the World University Games which began in 1965.
