Kansas basketball: Coach impressed with Jayhawk fans
By Stan Unruh
Kansas basketball fans are known for their knowledge and class. One NCAA Tournament coach praised Jayhawk fans in advance of March Madness action.
Kansas basketball and especially Jayhawk fans are known for their knowledge of the game. They love basketball and are a first class group on the road and especially during games at Allen Fieldhouse. This is obvious to those who attend Jayhawk games in other parts of the country. As a matter of fact, you get the sense of this watching on television. You may hear it explained by a radio play-by-play announcer. The Crimson and Blue fans at the fieldhouse are like none other.
The fans in Lawrence certainly made a big impression on Penn coach Steve Donahue. The head man of the Quakers got his first head coaching job in 2000. He’s coached hundreds of games around the country. His teams have qualified for the NCAA tournament four times at Cornell and this season at Penn. He also coached a team in the National Invitation Tournament. He’s been around and seen just about everything.
His 2010 team at Cornell made a trip to the Sweet 16. That team also made a stop in Lawrence to play the Jayhawks. On that Wednesday night in January, Donahue saw something he had never seen while coaching a game anywhere. The fans at Allen Fieldhouse made a lasting impression on the veteran coach. He’s never forgotten it.
Coach won’t forget Allen Fieldhouse
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During the press briefing ahead of the NCAA Tournament first round matchup with the 2018 Big 12 Champs, Donahue shared his memories of that trip to Allen Fieldhouse. He didn’t mention the game’s outcome. Cornell had a chance to win the game in the final seconds. The 14-0 Jayhawks survived 71-66 thanks to 33 points from Sherron Collins.
As his team left court, Donahue said the Allen Fieldhouse crowd stood and gave his team a standing ovation.
"Our guys waved to the crowd. Fans don’t do that in Philly. They don’t do that anywhere"
Donhue’s 30 second story during an NCAA tourney press conference said a lot. The history, tradition and class of Kansas basketball goes far beyond the great coaches and players. Jayhawk fans are spoiled. They are also the best fans in America.