Jayhawks become spectators at 3-on-3 tourney for Coaches vs. Cancer

By Matt Tait     Sep 28, 2016
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A handful of players on the Kansas men’s basketball team made the short trip across Naismith Drive Wednesday night to become spectators at the men’s and women’s [3-on-3 basketball tournament benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer.][1]

Devonte’ Graham, Josh Jackson, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Dwight Coleby and newcomer Malik Newman checked out a little of the action at the tournament that coincides with this week’s Late Night in the Phog. The top two teams on the men’s side and the top two teams on the women’s side will do battle at Allen Fieldhouse for the 3-on-3 title. KU coaches Bill Self and Brandon Schneider will dole out the trophies to the winning teams.

While the players in attendance clowned around with some of the participants and oohed and ahhed at some of the skills they saw, the most important thing about the night, according to Newman, was to show a little support the other direction.

“Those are the same people that are in the stands cheering for us night in and night out,” Newman told a group of reporters at the event. “For us to come interact with them and show them we care about their support means a lot to those guys.”

As for the action he saw during the night’s games, Newman said he was impressed by how hard everyone played.

“I think it’s awesome,” he said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some people. For these guys to sign up, come out, help the cause and just compete, hoping to get a shot to play in Allen Fieldhouse, I think it’s a great thing.”

As for Newman’s first few weeks at his new home, the Mississippi native and Mississippi State transfer who will be forced to sit out this season because of NCAA transfer rules had nothing but good things to say about his decision to come to the Midwest.

“I love it. I love it,” he said. “It’s been a great month, on the court, off the court, in the community and in the classroom. I’m enjoying myself right now.”

[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2016/sep/11/3-3-tourney-adds-kus-strong-tradition-supporting-c/?mens_basketball

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.