100 Reasons it’s Great to be a Kansas Jayhawk [VIDEO]
By Mike Norris
Mar 3, 2015; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self congratulates guard Frank Mason III (0) after the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won their 11th consecutive Big 12 Championship 76-69. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Reasons 75-51 it’s Great to be a Jayhawk
75. This is the final Border War memory.
74. With that final win you lead the all-time basketball Border War series, 172-95.
73. For good measure, you lead the Sunflower Showdown basketball version against K-State, 188-93.
72. That means you hold the advantage in football and basketball against K-State, and basketball against Mizzou, only trailing the football series, 55-56-9.
71. This suit worn by your 2014 No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Andrew Wiggins.
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Andrew Wiggins (Kansas) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
70. This amazing/awkward reaction by your 2014 No. 3 overall NBA draft pick Joel Embiid.
69. Your 2007-08 men’s basketball national champions were so good the following players were drafted by, or played in, the NBA:
68. Brandon Rush
67. Sasha Kaun
66. Darnell Jackson
65. Darrell Arthur
64. Mario Chalmers
63. Another player on that team, point guard Russell Robinson, ended up playing professionally overseas.
62. The women’s Track and Field squad was better than every other team in 2013.
61. Running back Tony Sands set a then NCAA D-I record of 396 rushing yards in a game in 1991 — against Mizzou.
60. Your home court is just better than everyone else’s.
59. Your men’s basketball coaches are few, but legendary:
58. James Naismith (1898-1907) — We already established he invented the game and was just pretty much awesome. Never mind he is the only KU coach with a losing record.
57. Forrest “Phog” Allen (1907-09 and 1919-56) — If you are instrumental in recruiting Wilt the Stilt you get a building named after you. It doesn’t hurt if you go 590-219 and earn the team’s first three championships either.
56. William O. Hamilton (1909-19) — Haven’t heard much about him over the years? Well he did quit coaching 96 years ago, but before he did, he amaased a 125-59 record and won five consecutive conference championships. Amazing, unless you know, you’re Bill Self.
55. Dick Harp (1956-64) — 121-82 in five seasons is not awful, but not great either. Harp did get to say he coached Chamberlain, so that means something.
54. Ted Owens (1964-83) — 348 wins and only KU coach to be fired, but he did have six conference titles and two Final Four appearances.
53. Larry Brown — 1988. Enough said.
52. Roy Williams — Sure, you didn’t like him when he left in 2003, but he stole your heart back with that Jayhawk sticker at the 2008 Final Four.
51. Bill Self (2003-current) — Well, if you don’t know about him by now, I’m not sure how you stumbled on this story. Simply put: he’s the man.
Next: No. 50-26