Kaun, Russia Take Bronze with Victory Over Argentina

Aug. 12, 2012

LONDON – Former Kansas men’s basketball player Sasha Kaun helped his Russian team to a bronze medal Sunday morning with the victory over Argentina in the final day of the Olympic Games. Kaun played just under 30 minutes and netted six points in the 81-77 win over the Argentinians.

Kaun, who played at Kansas from 2005-08 and was a key reserve on KU’s 2008 NCAA National Championship team, started and played a tournament-high 30 minutes and scored six points on 3-of-5 shooting. The Tomsk, Russia, native also pulled down six rebounds in the game. The Russians won the contest 81-77 with the help of Alexey Shved and Andre Kirilenko who combined for 45 points.

In the eight games the Russian’s played in the Olympic tournament, Kaun started in each and averaged 7.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Russia amassed a record of 6-2 which was only bettered by the American team that went 8-0.

Kaun is the first Jayhawk men’s basketball player to earn an Olympic medal since Danny Manning competed for the United States in 1988, also winning the bronze medal. Kaun currently plays professionally for CSKA Moscow and is no stranger to international play. He was also a member of the Russian National Team, which competed in the 2010 World Championships in Turkey.