New Orleans ? With no games scheduled Monday in the NBA, some of Kansas University’s most famous former basketball players had a rare opportunity to watch a college game.

Good game to pick.

Former Jayhawks Drew Gooden, Scot Pollard and Jacque Vaughn were just three of the former KU lettermen sitting behind the Kansas bench Monday night at the Superdome for the NCAA championship game.

Gooden, an Orlando rookie who led KU to the Final Four last season, was the main attraction during pregame activities in the stands, posing for photographs, signing autographs and shaking hands with old friends, former teammates and plenty of fans.

Gooden’s Magic played Sunday night at Houston, but the former All-American said he had more trouble getting into the arena and into his seat than he did getting to Louisiana from Texas.

“There’s been a lot of photos, but that’s to be expected,” he said. “I’m happy right now. This is my family.”

Gooden was his usual animated self. When senior associate athletics director Richard Konzem stopped to say hello, Gooden quipped, “I want some per diem.”

Konzem then reminded Gooden the first-round draft pick made more money than him.

Gooden also let it be known he planned to cheer loudly for his former teammates.

“I’m going to be wild tonight,” he said.

“Hopefully, they’re serving some alcohol.”

¢ See photo galleries from Lawrence and New Orleans, video highlights and full stats, post-game audio, animated plays at KUsports.com

Gooden didn’t have time to hit the French Quarter, though. He was planning to fly back to Orlando late Monday night, though he might not play the rest of the regular season. The rookie said he aggravated tendinitis in his knee during Sunday’s game against the Rockets and had been bothered by a toe injury.

Gooden had no prediction on whether coach Roy Williams would remain at Kansas or pursue the coaching vacancy at North Carolina.

“I don’t know,” he said. “We’ll have to see. Coach is unpredictable. You never know what he’s going to do.”

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Short trip: Pollard (1994-97) had a more difficult time getting to Monday’s game, chartering a flight after Sunday’s game against Philadelphia.

“It was pretty hard to get here,” said the Sacramento post player, who sat with former teammate Vaughn (1994-97). “It’s an expensive trip, but it’s worth it to be here. I’m taking off again after the game. We have to get home.”

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Networking: At least two former KU players were using the Final Four, which coincides with the National Association of Basketball Coaches convention, as an opportunity to look for coaching jobs.

Former KU center Eric Pauley (1992-93) lost his job as an assistant at Tennessee after the 2000-2001 season when former KU assistant Jerry Green was fired as the Vols head coach.

“I’m trying to see if I can get back into coaching somewhere,” said Pauley, who works for U.S. Investigations in Knoxville, Tenn.

Former KU guard Rex Walters (1992-93) is looking for his first college coaching job.

“I’m totally naive and a rookie to this,” said Walters, whose nine pro seasons included seven in the NBA. “I’ve never had to interview for a job. I’ve never had to apply for a job.”

Walters spent last season as an assistant coach at Blue Valley Northwest High School after wrapping up his playing career with the Kansas City Knights of the ABA.

“I’d like to be a college coach some day,” he said. “The bottom line right now is I’d like to see coach Williams cut down the nets.”

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Finalists again: Monday marked KU’s first appearance in an NCAA championship game since the Jayhawks were runners-up in 1991.

“Sometimes you have to have the ball bounce your way,” said former KU forward Mike Maddox (1988-91), who is president of Intrust Bank in Lawrence. “It takes luck. I hope it happens for coach Williams.”

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Year off: Like Gooden, former KU guard Jeff Boschee (1999-2002) was a member of last year’s NCAA Final Four squad. He took a year off from basketball to finish his degree in sports management and worked as an intern in the basketball office. He plans to attend NBA free-agent camps in July.

Unlike Gooden, Boschee has grown accustomed to watching the Jayhawks from the stands.

“I envy every one of them,” he said. “But I’m also proud of them.”