With the regular season just days away from its official start, who better to give you some scoop on what to expect from the Jayhawks than someone who knows most of this year’s roster as one-time teammates? Former Jayhawk Christian Moody will join us to talk about this year’s team, plus what he’s been up to since graduating last May. The chat will take place Friday at 2:30 p.m.

Moderator

Hello all and welcome to today’s live chat. I’m Ryan Greene, editor of KUSports.com, and it’s my pleasure to welcome in a very special guest for today’s session. Joining us is Christian Moody, who graduated from KU last May, but is remembered as one of the most successful walk-ons in the history of the KU men’s basketball program. Christian, thanks for taking the time to join us today.

Christian Moody

Ryan, Thanks for asking me to be on here. This is my first time being on a “live chat” and I’m not gonna lie, I’m pretty excited about it.

Moderator

It’s intimidating stuff, I know. Obviously, you were a huge fan favorite here. The amount of questions we received for this chat is a pretty obvious sign of that (trust me, there were tons) before we get to them, fill everyone in on what you’re up to these days?

Christian Moody

That is great, you’re going to have to get me some of those other questions later so I can see what people wonder about. As far as what I’m doing now, I’m living in Lawrence and I’m still a student at KU. I graduated in May, but I’m taking some credits and doing some research in the biology department. I’m also working at the a medical clinic called The Leo Center in Lawrence, and on top of that I’m trying to help out with this years team in what ever ways that I can. Its gonna be a fun year of Kansas Basketball.

Moderator

Speaking of which, lets get to some questions regarding just that from our readers.

jayhawk20

Have you been to a game yet this year? And if so, is that hard watching your old teammates perform without being able to play?

Christian Moody

I have been, and it is tough. I got to sit close to the bench at the games and it still kinda feels like you’re almost in the huddle and you want to get close and hear whats going on. You want to give each guy a high five when they come off the court, you want to be able to encourage them up close like you’re used to. The thing that makes it easier is when they are playing well and you can can see them getting better and playing together. When I see that, I can focus more on watching and enjoying the game from the stands.

Moderator

Well it’s obviously a young team this year, which of those young guys has really stuck out to you so far with the regular season about to tip off?

Christian Moody

You know I’m going to say “all of them,” but it’s true. Shady really impresses me with his atheticism, quickness and his pure touch, and Sherron is super fast and can cut through multiple defenders like a running back cuts through d-lines. Brady really impresses me too. To anyone who is reading this, I’m telling you, Brady can shoot. Great shooter. And I like the ways that Brenden and Brad are playing too. I get to see them in practice but I also love seeing those guys get to play in games and they’ve done really well in both exhibition games.

DSommersby

Christian, You went to the Final Four and Elite 8 while at KU. The last two years did not go as expected in the tourney. What happened, and what do you think the Hawks will need to do differently to get back on the winning track this March?

Will they be able to step it up and make a great March Madness run which every KU fan is yearning?

Thanks for being such a great Jayhawk!

Christian Moody

I really don’t have the best answer for why our last two years havn’t pushed far into March, but the peices were definitely there. And for this year, I know you all can see the right peices in this years squad. In March it has a lot to do with your health, your experience, and your draw. This years team is young but they’ve almost all had the experience of big time games. Last years boot camp shirts said “Youth is no Excuse” and it isn’t. This team is young, but they got a big year of experience in last years season, and the juniors are hungry, and also Coach Self has added some great peices to the mix with the freshmen. It’s gonna be fun for Kansas fans.

beakem_hawks

You are truly one of the great walk-ons at KU. Are you pursuing post-college basketball opportunites or will you be around to help out the big men and current walk-ons here at Kansas?

Christian Moody

Thanks for that first sentence. I’m trying to do both right actually. When I can, I’m helping out with the big guys in practice and doing what I can to help them get better. Also, after I have everything lined up for Med school I’m going to try and go play over seas somewhere. There are plenty of opportunities and if the right one comes up, I would love to play some more basketball.

Moderator

What are your plans as far as med school? Where do you want to go? What field do you want to go into? Where overseas would you most like to live/play? (Sorry, that’s about a gajabillion questions)

Christian Moody

I’m definitely going to apply to KU Med and would love to go there to stay close to my school and being in Kansas City (close to Lawrence) would be great.

Orthopaedics would be a great field, if I could pick now, because I would get to get to stick around sports and help athletes recover and get back on the court or field.

I think living in anyother country would be a great experience. There are great leagues all over so where ever the best option is, is where I’ll be. Australia would be nice.

supermario15

What was your most memorable moment both as a team and individually as a Jayhawk?

Moderator

Back to business…

Christian Moody

I can’t pick just one but I’ll list a couple of my favorite moments:

Big XII tournament Championship game last year

Senior night seeing my fiance, family, and friends all there…. and when they flashed on the JumboTron that Texas A&M beat Texas

Oklahoma State at Home Junior year

At Rupp Junior Year

Beating Duke and Arizona freshmen year…

and there are plenty more.

Bone777

If you could go back and replay one moment of your college career, what would it be?

Christian Moody

Celebrating that victory over Texas last year on the court with my Senior season team, after everything we’d been through, was amazing. Confetti, hats, shirts, music, laughing, dancing, trophy hoisting, all in Dallas. I’d love to replay that again, over and over.

The_Vock

Christian,

You were on the team when J.R. Giddens got himself in trouble and eventually left the team. Can you tell us what I was like to be on the team during that tumultuous time and what it must be like for the current crew must be going through with the dismissal of C.J. Giles?

Christian Moody

Good question. With J.R. it was tough because it was at the end of the season and we had the whole off season to think about it and have it over shaddow a time when we wanted to focus on getting stronger and better. Right now, even though I wish C.J. would have made some different decisions, the team can focus on playing games and beginning this season right. The can work on doing the things its gonna take to put a championship season together rather than have their minds else where.

Moderator

Sorry for the delay there, had a couple of technical difficulties. But we’ve got two more questions to get to here before we let Christian get back to what I’m sure is a busy afternoon.

brando

If there is one word of advice that you could give to the incoming freshman as well as the walk-ons, now and in the future, what would it be?

Christian Moody

One word huh?

Christian Moody

How about….

Christian Moody

pass

Christian Moody

Pass the ball as a freshman and pass your classes.

Moderator

Good word. Care to elaborate?

jayKUfan

You said you work at the Leo Center? I have lived in Lawrence for quite a while and have not heard of this place. What is it and what do you do there?

Christian Moody

The Leo Center is a medical clinic that provides health care to many people in Lawrence and surrounding areas who don’t have health insurance or people who need affordable health care. Along with Health Care Access in Lawrence, the Leo Center looks to serve and give hope to anyone in need. I’m working here as part of the Development team.

Moderator

Well Christian, I’d like to thank you again for joining us here today, and I’m sure the readers appreciate it, too. We’d love to have you back as the season progresses. Heck, maybe you could even be the KUSports.com guest basketball analyst? Just throwin that out there.

Christian Moody

I’d love it. Thanks for having me on here. And thanks to all the readers and people who sent in questions. See you guys at the game

Moderator

Take care.