Kansas University’s Bill Self is one of several major college coaches who will attend tonight’s “Dick Vitale Gala to Benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research” at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sarasota, Fla.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will be honored and serve as guest speaker at the $1,000-a-plate dinner.

The event raised more than $250,000 last year for The V Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to saving lives by helping find a cure for cancer.

Other coaches who will attend include Memphis’ John Calipari, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, Marquette’s Tom Crean, Indiana’s Kelvin Sampson, Louisville’s Rick Pitino, Notre Dame’s Mike Brey and Maryland’s Gary Williams.

“I don’t know how much I’ll be helping by being there, but it’ll be a fun time. I’ve not been to the event in the past. Certainly it’s for a good cause, and I’m looking forward to it,” Self said Thursday.

ESPN announcer Vitale – who was a good friend of former North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano, who died of cancer – is grateful for the help of Self and others.

“These guys really care about people,” Vitale said of coaches. “That is why we are gathering – to help someone in need. These coaches are about a lot more than Xs and Os. They are people with the same everyday problems like you and me. They are good people with hearts of gold.”

¢Russell notches “A” mark: Former Kansas University javelin thrower Scott Russell placed second to Cuba’s Guillermo Martinez at the Caixa Grand Prix meet Wednesday in South America.

Russell, a Windsor, Ontario, native who lives in Lawrence, threw the spear 275.45 feet – the fifth-best mark in the world this year and, more importantly, an “A” qualifying standard in Canada.

Russell fell short of reaching the Olympics in 2000 and 2004 despite winning the Canadian championships. Canada not only requires a top-two placing at nationals, but requires athletes to reach a certain standard – 258-4. Now that he has an “A” mark for the first time, the ex-Jayhawk will be eligible for the 2008 Olympics if he can place at the ’08 Canadian meet.

The throw has qualified him for this summer’s World Championships in Japan.