Kansas basketball: Jayhawks unknown to Clemson fans
By Stan Unruh
The Kansas basketball team will meet Clemson in a Sweet 16 battle Friday. Fans of the South Carolina school are learning about the Jayhawks.
The NCAA basketball tournament usually provides interesting matchups. On selection Sunday, most pay immediate attention to the possible, potential opponents rather than who and where the team begins the journey. Kansas basketball fan usually have a good idea in advance where the team is headed. However, there are a couple of teams Jayhawk fans don’t want to play each year. With all the upsets, you never know who will advance and any matchup is possible. It’s March Madness.
The Jayhawks beat a couple of Tiger teams this season. One in an exhibition and another on a record setting night a few weeks later. The Jayhawks and Clemson Tigers have never met on the basketball court. Clemson, South Carolina is football country. The Dabo Swinney led Tiger football team won 82 games over the past seven seasons and a national title.
The basketball team won 124 games in that time and 25 more this season. Most media in that part of the country gives more attention to the defending national champion University of South Carolina women’s basketball team than the Clemson Tiger basketball squad.
Since many Clemson fans don’t follow basketball, they don’t know much about the Kansas basketball tradition. Scott Keepfer In the Greenville News attempted to educate local fans on the Jayhawk history and the 2017-18 Big 12 Champs. Keepfer wrote about Phog Allen and as he called it the “Rock Chalk Cheer.”
"It’ll be heard plenty Friday night, but what does it mean?"
There is also an attempt to explain the history of the Jayhawk. For some reason, Keepfer avoided any mention of the Civil War. He is writing for a South Carolina publication. He did his best to avoid controversy.
Newman and Azubuike are not stars yet?
Next: One common opponent give KU edge over Clemson
There is no mention of 14 consecutive conference titles but the article finally includes Jayhawk coaches and players. There is not much about Bill Self but Keepfer did remind readers the Jayhawks are loaded with McDonalds All Americans and that the team’s MVP is Devonte Graham. Malik Newman and Udoka Azubuike are just stars in waiting, according to Keepfer.
The Jayhawks certainly have a formidable opponent in Friday’s Midwest Regional semifinal. Their fans may not know much about Kansas basketball. I expect they won’t want to hear much more about the Big 12 Champs when they wake up Saturday morning. In addition, Newman and Azubuike won’t be waiting for stardom.