Self in awe of Washington’s career
Kansas University women’s basketball coach Marian Washington, who announced her retirement Friday night, will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this summer.
It’s a fitting tribune, first-year Jayhawk men’s coach Bill Self said, awed by Washington and her accomplishments at KU during the past 31 years.
“Coach Washington certainly deserves all the recognition and praise she has received,” Self said. “Coach Washington has won an unbelievable number of games and had an unbelievable career.
“I knew that prior to coming here,” the former Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois coach added, “but after I took the job and had the opportunity to study her career, I was amazed at the mark she’s left on this university and athletic program. It’s a mark left for the rest of time.”
Washington, who won 560 games, seven conference titles and six conference tournament championships, also has accomplishments outside the basketball arena.
She founded KU’s women’s track program and served as the school’s first and only women’s athletic director from 1973 to ’79.
“When you think of all the people in athletics who have impacted a university, there’s very few out there who have impacted a program more than coach Washington. I hope she is very happy and healthy, because she deserves it,” Self said. “I hope people realize how much she has done and are very proud of her and her accomplishments.”
Self said he will support whoever is chosen to be Washington’s successor.
6Sports video: KU seeking a new women’s head basketball coach
It’s official: Washington retires
Career record
See the photos: Washington and Woodard“There’s room for all sports here to be great,” Self said. “It’ll take an unbelievable commitment from the athletic department and alums and from a facility standpoint. A lot of things have to occur. I believe all sports can and will be successful here.”
- Final four team to be honored: KU’s 1974 Final Four team will be introduced at halftime of Sunday’s KU-Oklahoma game. Tipoff is 1 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
Coach Ted Owens, his assistant coaches and former players are in town for their 30-year reunion weekend.
“It’s long overdue to honor that team,” Self said. “It’s very fitting to bring those guys back and very fitting to do it against the University of Oklahoma considering coach Owens is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma.”
The 1973-74 Jayhawks finished 23-7, losing to Marquette in the national semifinals.
“I didn’t realize the year prior, that team only won eight games. That’s a remarkable turnaround — the next year going to the Final Four,” Self said.
Indeed, Owens’ Jayhawks completed the greatest turnaround in school history, going from 8-18 to the Final Four.
- KU to play St. Joe’s: Undefeated, No. 2-ranked St. Joseph’s is slated to play at KU next season with the Jayhawks to return the game at the 2005-06 Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York.
St. Joe’s likely will play KU in early December in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jimmy V Classic is a two-game, one-day event, formerly at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, but in the future will be held at the Garden.
KU senior associate AD Larry Keating noted that no contracts had yet been signed, but the series would be a one-for-one deal.
- Bumps, bruises: KU junior Wayne Simien, who has been held out of one of three practices because of his groin strain, didn’t practice Friday. Senior Bryant Nash, who has a right foot injury, also didn’t practice. Both are expected to be able to play Sunday.
- Huertas on KU radar screen: David Huertas, a 6-foot-5 junior guard from Jacksonville, Fla., tells rivals.com he will visit KU next fall. Huertas told Shay Wildeboor of rivals.com that KU and Arizona lead Louisville, Florida, Florida State and others.