Nick KrugTouring the USS Chafee may have produced better pictures and videos, but Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self said late Wednesday night that he thought his team’s trip to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor may have been the most memorable part of KU’s day.
In Hawaii to kick off the 2016-17 regular season with a 3-vs-11 showdown against Indiana in the Armed Forces Classic on Friday night, Self and the Jayhawks spent the bulk of the day Wednesday at Pearl Harbor, interacting with members of the United States Navy and soaking up an important piece of American history.
“Being on the destroyer was nice,” Self said. “But I think going on the little tour prior to stepping foot on the Arizona Memorial was really cool and then actually being there was pretty humbling. It was very nice.”
While on the guided missile destroyer, Self learned a little more about the background of both the USS Arizona, which was sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor 75 years ago, and the USS Missouri, which sits next to the Memorial. The Missouri was the ship aboard which the Japanese officially surrendered in the Pacific, thus ending World War II.
“It was great,” Self said of the entire experience. “I think our players enjoyed all of it. They were into it.”
Perhaps the area Self was most pleased about his team’s engagement on Wednesday was the way in which the Jayhawks treated the dozens of active service men and women they met on their tours with such respect and kindness.
“I think (Wednesday) was a very good day for them from an education standpoint,” Self said. “No matter what class you had in high school, U.S. history or whatever, you can’t really grasp what actually takes place if you haven’t had family members or close friends or relatives represent our country in a way so many of these people here do. So I think it’ll be very good for our guys.”
The Jayhawks will have a little more time to themselves on Thursday. After morning meetings and breakfast, KU shuttled over to the Stan Sheriff Center, site of Friday’s game, for a two-hour practice.
Self said earlier this week that the team would get “a free day” on Thursday and it is expected that the Jayhawks will be able to hit the beach or explore Waikiki after today’s practice.
— Stay tuned to KUsports.com for updates from practice and the rest of KU’s day on the eve of the start of the 2016-17 season.
