Perkins, Henrys attend Owens’ induction

Five members of Kansas University’s athletic department witnessed Monday night’s induction of former KU basketball coach Ted Owens into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

KU athletic director Lew Perkins was joined at the black-tie dinner in Oklahoma City by senior associate AD Larry Keating, associate AD/internal relations Sean Lester, Williams Fund development associate Banks Floodman and director of external relations/men’s basketball Barry Hinson.

Also on hand were incoming Jayhawk players Xavier and C.J. Henry of Oklahoma City, who were there to honor Owens, who coached their dad, Carl Henry, at KU.

“I think it’s neat they (Henrys) were there to pay tribute to a guy who coached their father,” said Hinson, who at the banquet was pleased to introduce KU’s Perkins to Bill Self’s high school coach — Mike dela Garza of Edmond Memorial High.

“I do think one of the impressive things is we had people representing our university pay tribute to a coach who has meant so much to our basketball program. One of the things I’ve said since I’ve been here (the past year), and I have an unbiased opinion: I am amazed at the family atmosphere Lew and his staff have created. Last night it resonated not only in us being there, but coach Owens seeing us and knowing we wanted to be there. That is lost in today’s athletics sometimes,” Hinson added.

Hinson enjoyed listening to speeches of Owens and the other inductees: Tom Catlin (Oklahoma football player), John Kolb (Pittsburgh Steelers), Cal McLish (MLB All-Star pitcher), Clem McSpadden (longtime rodeo announcer) and Bob Tway (Oklahoma State golfer).

“Coach Owens was so elegant. He was gracious and humble. There were a plethora of people from coach’s life. He got a remarkable ovation,” Hinson said. “Coach Owens got emotional as anybody would. I got emotional. A couple speeches, I felt like I was watching ‘Steel Magnolias,”’ Hinson cracked.

Owens, the third winningest coach in KU history, acknowledged it has been an eventful year. The Hollis (Okla.) native, who now lives in Tulsa, recently turned 80.

“An incredible year with both ups and downs,” Owens said. “The upside of course is being inducted into the Oklahoma and Kansas hall of fames (Oct. 4) the same year and having the great trip to Scotland (last spring with Self), and all my kids are doing great. The downside is losing Sam and Bob the same year.”

He was referring to two of his former assistant coaches — Sam Miranda and Bob Frederick — who both recently died.

Owens thought it was fitting an Oklahoma newspaper mistakenly ran a picture of Miranda instead of Owens in an article about Owens this week.

“There was an article with a picture … only it was Sam. I am thinking, ‘Sam is up there laughing,'” Owens said.

Colorado in Maui Invite

The 2009 Maui Invitational brackets were revealed Tuesday. The tourney is slated for Nov. 23-25 at Lahaina Civic Center in Maui.

The bottom half of the bracket pits Colorado vs. Gonzaga and Arizona vs. Wisconsin; the top half matches Chaminade vs. Maryland and Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt.

KU will compete in the 2011 Maui Invite. This year, the Jayhawks will compete in the Hall of Fame Tournament with a marquee matchup against Memphis on Nov. 17 in St. Louis. Next year, KU will meet Arizona in the featured game of the Las Vegas Invitational. KU has no tourney yet on tap for 2012. A possibility is the Jayhawk Invitational, in which KU would play either three or four home games with the fourth at home or a neutral site.

Global Games this weekend in Oregon

Several KU prospects will be playing in the Global Games, set for Friday through Sunday in Hillsboro, Ore.

On the Midwest team: Harrison Barnes, 6-8, Ames (Iowa) High; Ray McCallum, 6-1, Detroit Country Day High; Doron Lamb, 6-4, Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va.; Cameron Clark, 6-6 Sherman (Texas) High; Adreian Payne, 6-9, Jefferson High, Dayton, Ohio. On the East team: Josh Selby, 6-2, Lake Clifton High, Baltimore. On the West: Terrence Jones, 6-8, Jefferson High, Portland.

— Assistant sports editor Gary Bedore can be reached at 832-7186.