By his own admission, Brandon Rush doesn't usually wake up in time to take in the U.S. Olympic basketball team during breakfast.
However, he was interested to learn that the national championship he helped Kansas capture this past season was once a path to the Games.
In 1952 the Jayhawks captured their first NCAA crown, then played in a pre-Olympic qualifier, which also involved the second-place squad, as well as the NAIA and NIT champions. Seven Jayhawks went on to play on the Olympic gold-medal squad that year in Helsinki.
"They won it, too? Wow, I didn't know that,"
Rush exclaimed.
For kicks, I pulled up on our interview and took an imaginary shot. If the fluid rotation — Rush, Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers, Russell Robinson, Darnell Jackson, Sherron Collins and Sasha Kaun — that contributed to a 37-3 run by the Jayhawks was allowed to move on to the Olympics, how would the group fare?
Rush wouldn't bite. In this version of "Around the World,"
Beijing represents a new game.
"You wouldn't know it until you get over there, but guys are real, real tough all around the world,"
Rush said. "It would be real cool to go. It would be so much fun being part of the Olympic environment, especially going on over there after winning an NCAA title. I never dreamed of anybody doing that. It would be a big thrill."
As it is, confining the thrill to an NCAA championship isn't so bad.
Especially for Rush, who declared for the NBA following his sophomore season, only to suffer a knee injury before the draft, which prompted him to return to Kansas.
The rest is history, a part of which — roughly a square foot of the floor used at the Final Four — can be purchased for a mere $225 from KU.
It could be that one of those hardwood keepsakes is presented to Rush for his signature during an appearance from 4-7 p.m. today at Kansas Sampler. He's there to sign copies of the book, "Kansas Jayhawks: Year to Remember,"
and says he enjoys interacting with fans.
Maybe he'll even pinch himself.
"You still can't put (the title) into words,"
he said. "It just worked out perfect for me, other than having to do the six months of rehab."
"Winning a national championship, then being able to go to the Green Room and get drafted as part of the (NBA) lottery. My dream came true by me hurting my knee."
These days Rush is working out in Indianapolis while waiting for his rookie season with the Indiana Pacers to begin. That was the team that traded for Rush on draft night after he was picked 13th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Points addressed by Rush this summer include the NBA 3-point distance, the swift influence of the 24-second clock and, as always, ballhandling.
"I know I'll be coming off the bench for sure, but I know I'll be getting a lot of playing time,"
he said. "That's the reason why they drafted me for that position (swingman) is because they needed somebody to come in and play defense, and shoot the ball. I'm confident in what I can do."
So much so that Rush mentioned a Pacers legend, Reggie Miller, as a player he hopes to pattern his game after in the pros. Then, after meeting Paul Pierce this summer in Las Vegas, he drew a contemporary comparison with the Boston star.
"(Pierce) can post, he can do things off the dribble, he can play defense,"
Rush said. "So I just try to model my game after his. And, he went to KU, so that's another plus there."
"We got a chance to chat up a little bit. He was pretty cool. We'd never talked before that. But he said when we play, he's going to give me the business."
Finally, the NBA awaits.
