Notebook

Kansas University athletic department officials, fans, even media members – including legendary radio announcer Max Falkenstien – paraded through the new Booth Family Hall of Athletics before Saturday’s KU-Nebraska game.

The Hall opened Saturday, eight months after groundbreaking.

“This is a tremendous exhibit for all of the fans of KU,” said KU alumnus Mike Rogers, who made the trip from his home in Edmond, Okla., just to see the sights for the first time. “It’s wonderful to see all the sports that are highlighted.”

The 26,000-square-foot building chronicles the history of all of KU’s sports teams, with a heavy emphasis on basketball – appropriate since it is connected to Allen Fieldhouse.

“What I think is so fantastic about it is that we are honoring the history and the tradition of Kansas,” athletic director Lew Perkins said. “You don’t even have to be a Jayhawk fan to enjoy it and appreciate everything that we have in here.”

Members of the Booth family, who donated money for the Hall, were honored in halftime ceremonies.

¢ Moody beloved: Christian Moody, who missed two free throws that could have won the game at the end of regulation Monday at Missouri, was cheered wildly when he hit two charities in the second half.

“That shows how loyal our fans are,” senior Jeff Hawkins said. “They all cheered. A couple of people stood up. They’ve always got your back, in good times and bad.”

¢ Famous face in crowd: Ex-Jayhawk center Walt Wesley attended and sat behind KU’s bench.

¢ Students chide Huskers: KU’s student section chanted, “Just like football,” to the Huskers in the second half. KU beat NU in football, 40-15, this season for KU’s first victory against the Big Red since 1968.

¢ Stats, facts: KU’s 72.4 percent shooting the first half was best in a half in a conference game since KU shot 70.8 percent in the second half on Feb. 1, 1992 at Oklahoma. : Bill Self is 6-1 versus NU; Barry Collier 1-10 against KU. It was Collier’s worst loss at Nebraska, surpassing a 39-point loss to KU in 2002. : KU’s 42-point victory was its largest margin of victory in a league game since a 47-point rout of Baylor on Jan. 28, 1998. : Brandon Rush had 10 of KU’s first 12 points.

¢ Case in points: Jeremy Case hit a late three and immediately pointed to Hawkins on the bench. “I told him to do that, as soon as he hit a three to point at me. It was funny,” Hawkins said. Case had seven points and two assists in 13 minutes.

¢ Wright excels: KU coach Self on Julian Wright, who had 12 points and six boards in 21 minutes:

“He’s played well. Since he’s been back from Christmas, he hurt his back, his foot, has been sick. He’s not been able to be healthy, for a week or so straight. He has lately and is playing pretty well.”

Self started Wright and Darnell Jackson in place of Moody and Sasha Kaun in the second half.

“We’ve got to have a post presence that can rebound the ball,” Self said, noting he would continue to play the big men who were playing the best at a particular time.