Frank Mason III joins ESPN2's broadcast of Kansas vs. Stanford Thursday night, in Sacramento.

Some serendipitous timing, thanks to the schedule-makers for both the Kansas men’s basketball team and the NBA, allowed KU’s 2017 National Player of the Year and current Sacramento rookie Frank Mason III to take a courtside seat and watch the Jayhawks defeat Stanford Thursday night.

Seeing as how Mason knew the Jayhawks as well as anyone inside at the new Golden 1 Center not named Bill Self, the point guard slipped on a headset and joined the ESPN2 broadcast to discuss all things Kansas.

Although the Kings are his priority, Mason, averaging 8.6 points and 2.7 assists in 21.1 minutes this month, said he continues to follow the Jayhawks closely.

“I try to keep up with them as much as
I can. I search Twitter, and if I can
watch the game I definitely do that,”
Mason said, before reiterating his
Senior Night claim that he would’ve
played more than four years for KU if
possible. “But I’m always supporting
my Jayhawks. I love them to death.”

ESPN’s Sam Farber and P.J. Carlesimo prompted Mason to explain what he misses about Lawrence and his time at Kansas.

“I miss absolutely everything. The
amazing fans, my professors, coaches,
teammates, the dormitory we live in —
we called it a mansion,” Mason joked
of McCarthy Hall. “It’s great, man. So
I miss everything. And I miss the fans
who come through Kansas. I miss
playing in the fieldhouse — 16,300
fans every night, they bring
unbelievable energy.”

For years to come, of course, Mason’s time with the Jayhawks will be associated with the program’s ongoing Big 12 title streak, currently at 13 years. He felt certain even though he won’t be contributing this season, as Self’s bunch attempts to break college basketball’s all-time conference title streak Kansas shares with UCLA, his former teammates know how much the run of excellence means to so many.

“Every player on the team don’t want
to be a part of the team that ends
that streak. So I think they’re all
aware of that,” Mason said. “They
worked really hard during the
offseason and they take the
responsibility to go out there and get
a win every night.”

Asked about Oklahoma freshman phenom Trae Young and how the rest of the Big 12 stacks up this season, Mason wasn’t ready to assume the Jayhawks will make it 14 in a row with ease.

“I think that it’s definitely going to
be a challenge. I think Trae is doing
a great job over there at OU, and he’s
doing more than scoring. He’s
assisting the ball really well. They
have a fantastic coach over there,
too,” Mason added of Lon Kruger, “so
I’m looking forward to Big 12 play. I
think it’s going to be a really,
really fun season.”

The former KU all-American hopes to get back to Allen Fieldhouse over the NBA’s All-Star break and said he is eying KU’s Feb. 17 home date with West Virginia. In the meantime, he’ll continue to enjoy watching his longtime backcourt running mate Devonte’ Graham take on a larger role as a senior.

“He’s running the show, I think he’s
doing a fantastic job,” Mason began to
say, before Graham dished one of his
five first-half assists. “Look at that
pass right there. What a pass by
Devonte’ Graham.”

His air time couldn’t conclude without the ESPN crew asking Mason for his prediction on how the rest of the KU season will play out.

“That’s a rhetorical question,” Mason
replied. “I think we’re going to win
it all this year.”