Self, Men's Basketball Host Ladies Night Out as Part of Jayhawks for the Cure
Oct. 28, 2010
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The color pink won out in favor of crimson and blue Thursday night, as hundreds of women gathered in Allen Fieldhouse to participate in Ladies Night Out with Bill Self.
The event benefitted Jayhawks for a Cure and all proceeds from Ladies Night were donated to Lawrence Memorial Hospital and the KU Cancer Center in an effort to fund cancer research. Breast cancer survivors, supporters and women from the community were given a crash course on basketball and an inside look at what it’s like to play for the University of Kansas. Self, as well as his coaching staff and players, staged a skills clinic, led the ladies in practice drills, guided tours of the KU basketball facilities and answered questions from fans during the three-hour event.
The night began with the men’s basketball highlight video shown on the Fieldhouse scoreboard to build excitement. Self then introduced his coaching staff and players. Introductions came complete with good-natured ribbing and a mix-up by Self between twins Marcus and Markieff Morris, giving fans a glimpse of locker room life.
Players then demonstrated several plays on court, with Self explaining each one to the crowd. The eighth-year head coach explained when and why certain plays are run. Self also gave participants insight into coaching in a national championship by showing plays that were used in the 2008 NCAA title game.
A question and answer section followed, with the crowd asking Self and the players questions ranging from expectations of the upcoming season to practicing free throws. Participants then had a chance to practice free throws themselves, as they broke up into groups to learn about the fundamentals of the game.
After tours of the KU athletics facilities, players signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans to conclude the night.
Ladies Night Out with Bill Self is one of several Jayhawks for the Cure events that will take place throughout the 2010-2011 athletic year as part of a campus-wide initiative to bring awareness to cancer research. Student-athletes, coaches and staff work together with the university and the community of Lawrence to raise funds for cancer research at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and the KU Cancer Center.
