Pregame changes

There will be a change in the pregame schedule this season, starting Tuesday.

It used to be the Allen Fieldhouse floor was cleared with 12 minutes on the clock for the playing of the national anthem as well as the alma mater and ensuing Rock Chalk Chant.

This year, the alma mater and Rock Chalk still will take place at the 12-minute mark. The anthem, however, will be sung with :00 left on the pregame clock, right before introduction of the lineups and the opening tipoff.

Big 12 coaches voted this year to just have one portion of pregame where they are required to be on the court.

“It ensures both teams are on the floor for the anthem,” KU associate AD Jim Marchiony said. “The basketball coaches will only have to come out once. It will be a little different until people get used to it.”

Coach’s radio show tonight

Hawk Talk with coach Bill Self will begin at 6 p.m. today at the Salty Iguana, Sixth and Wakarusa. The hourlong show is broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network including KLWN in Lawrence. There will be 17 Hawk Talks throughout the season. Four will be on Tuesdays following KU’s appearances on ESPN’s Big Monday.

Henry decision coming

Xavier Henry, a 6-6 senior guard from Putnam City (Okla.) High, is expected to choose between KU and Memphis either Thursday or Friday, his dad, Carl, told Zagsblog.net on Sunday. The decision will be shown live on ESPNU.

Former KU forward Carl Henry told Zagsblog he believes his son, “wants to go to Kansas,” but is torn because Xavier’s brother, C.J., plays for Memphis.

“I believe he wants to go to Kansas, but then again with his brother at Memphis, he might want to go there also,” Carl said. “I can you tell I don’t know (where he’s going). He doesn’t even talk about it. We will do a little sit-down where he writes down some stuff about each school. Then he picks the school. He can pick Kansas or Memphis, it doesn’t bother us (he and Xavier’s mom, former KU player Barbara Adkins) one bit.”