Kansas Basketball Gets Season Started and Raises New Banner At Late Night

Oct. 17, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

In front of a packed Allen Fieldhouse crowd, both the Kansas women’s and men’s basketball teams started their seasons with performances and scrimmages. The 24th annual Late Night saw the Jayhawks raise the 2008 National Championship banner after a video tribute to the 2007-08 team.

After introductions of all Kansas Athletics teams and a skit featuring the current versions of Big Jay and Baby Jay and the 1980s versions of the two, the Orlando Magic dance team performed for the near capacity crowd alongside their mascot “Stuff”.

The 2007-08 women’s team performed an “America’s Best Dance Team” themed skit before head coach Bonnie Henrickson addressed the crowd. In the women’s scrimmage, the blue team’s Marija Zinic had a game high seven points off 2-of-3 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from the foul line. For the red team junior forward Danielle McCray scored a team-high six points. While Newcomer Angel Goodrich had four points and two assists for the red team as well.

Following a short address from Bill Self and a “Jayhawks in the NBA” video montage, the men’s team danced to a time capsule themed skit highlighted by the freshman performing to Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel.”

The 2008 National Championship banner was unveiled on the south side of the Fieldhouse following a video tribute to the 2007-08 team. The 2008 Final Four and 2008 Big 12 Championship banners were also unveiled.

In the men’s scrimmage, freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor scored a game-high 17 points for the red team off 4-of-7 shooting from the floor. Taylor also made 6-of-7 free throws in the contest. For the blue team freshman forward Markieff Morris scored 13 points off 6-of-12 shooting. Junior guard Sherron Collins shot 4-of-9 from the field for eight points for the blue team.

The men’s basketball team faces Washburn on Nov. 4 in Allen Fieldhouse at 7 p.m., for its first game of the season. Fort Hays State travels to Allen Fieldhouse for the women’s first game on Nov. 2 at 2 p.m.