Jayhawks back on campus despite travel snafus that have gripped the nation
Kansas sophomore forward Zach Clemence was the only member of the Jayhawk men’s basketball team affected negatively by the the travel snafus that have gripped the country over the past several days.
Clemence, a 6-foot-10 native of San Antonio, Texas, missed Tuesday night’s practice — the first since the Jayhawks reassembled from their four-day Christmas vacation — but was back on campus in time for Wednesday morning’s holiday clinic for youths and an afternoon practice that followed well in advance of kickoff for KU’s Liberty Bowl football game against Arkansas.
“I heard about all the troubles people were having (because of airline cancellations over the bitterly cold, icy Christmas break). That was crazy what was going on. I had no clue,” KU senior guard Kevin McCullar said Wednesday.
The San Antonio native reported from the clinic that he feels “refreshed” after “hanging out with my family and friends, just kind of laying back and relaxing with them. It was good to be home.”
McCullar said it was important for the team to spend Christmas with loved ones.
“I needed that break. It was good,” he said. “You can’t go wrong with some rest. Your body needs it at this level. You come back after a few days ready to get to work. We already have one good practice under our belt with another one later today,” he added. “We’re trying to continue that momentum.”
No. 4-ranked KU (11-1) will take a five-game winning streak into Saturday’s Big 12 Conference opener against unranked Oklahoma State (8-4). The game will tip at 1 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
KU junior guard Joseph Yesufu said he had “just a 30-minute (airline) delay” returning from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
“I got to spend time with my family, my mom,” the Bolingbrook, Illinois native said, noting it was “fun and relaxing both. I helped my mom cook food. I watched her cook. It was good to spend time with her. I hadn’t seen her in a long time.”
After practicing Tuesday night, the Jayhawks were up bright and early Wednesday for a 3 1/2-hour clinic held in Allen Fieldhouse as well as the Jayhawks’ practice facility and Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
“This camp has been great. We get to give back to the kids. They are all having a great time,” McCullar said.
“It’s fun taking part in this annual tradition, giving back,” Yesufu said.
Many of the Jayhawks took part in shooting, dribbling and defensive drills with attendees. Freshman M.J. Rice met with group after group of campers, leading a discussion on: “What it takes to be a great teammate.”
KU coach Bill Self was swarmed by youths seeking autographs and pictures near the conclusion of the clinic.
“This has been great. The guys had great attitudes,” Self said. “They made it back in time last night for practice with the exception of Zach, who had flight delays and is here today. Practice was OK. There’s not much time left before our first conference game.”
Self credited Fred Quartlebaum, director of basketball operations, and Karen Steinkamp, KU’s travel coordinator and travel account manager, for working on players’ travel schedules.
“I think we rerouted seven or eight guys. We had to reroute everybody who was on Southwest (Airlines, which had a major number of cancellations),” Self said. “If we’d have stuck with the original flights they’d have never have gotten back (for Tuesday’s practice).”
Self spent the holiday break both in Texas, where his daughter and son both live, as well as Oklahoma, where Self and his wife Cindy have relatives.
“Too much turkey and dressing,” Self said.
This story was originally published December 28, 2022 at 2:16 PM with the headline "Jayhawks back on campus despite travel snafus that have gripped the nation."
