[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2016-S2017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS JAYHAWKS MEN'S 
   BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2022 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC 
              ASSOCIATION BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I am on the floor of the U.S. Senate today 
to congratulate and to commend the University of Kansas men's 
basketball team on its national championship victory. This is KU's 
fourth NCAA national championship title, the second under the tenure of 
Hall of Fame Head Coach Bill Self.
  The University of Kansas's men's basketball program boasts a storied 
history and track record of excellence and success, and the inventor of 
the game of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, served as the program's 
first coach.
  KU can also now boast having the most NCAA victories of any Division 
I basketball program in the country in addition to now four--four--NCAA 
championships.
  It is moments like this that Kansans remember forever. Whether you 
are watching the game from your living room, on the jumbotron at Allen 
Fieldhouse, or from your favorite hangout on Mass Street, 10, 20, 30 
years from now, Kansans from across the country will remember where 
they were on April 4, 2022, when KU clinched the national title in a 
nail-biting game against North Carolina's Tar Heels.
  It was the KU men's basketball team that inspired me to go to the 
University of Kansas when I was in high school. I am a first-generation 
college graduate, and the University of Kansas was probably not the 
place that most of my peers and friends from my small town in Northwest 
Kansas went to. But, no, it wasn't because I was recruited to play 
basketball for the basketball team; it was that I had the opportunity 
to attend on my first visit to the University of Kansas a basketball 
game in Allen Fieldhouse. From that one game, I knew this was where I 
wanted to go to college. The energy and excitement of KU basketball 
inspired me, encouraged me, caused me to wonder--and I think it is true 
of countless others, to decide they wanted to be a Jayhawk.
  On Monday night, KU rallied to overcome a deficit of 15 points at 
halftime to beat North Carolina 72 to 69--the largest comeback in an 
NCAA basketball national championship game. I am not sure what Coach 
Bill Self--but I am going to ask him--I am not sure what Coach Self 
said to his players in the locker room during that halftime, but in 
true Kansas fashion, the KU Jayhawks came back and beat the odds to 
clinch the championship. The team showed tremendous heart, 
determination, and resolve in that comeback victory.
  KU's Ochai Agbaji scored 12 points and was named ``Most Outstanding 
Player'' of the Final Four.
  Kansas forward David McCormack scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds 
and made 2 critical baskets late in the game.
  Kansas forward Jalen Wilson scored 15 points and had 4 rebounds.
  Kansas guard Remy Martin contributed 14 points to help the Jayhawks 
secure the title.
  Kansas guard Christian Braun of Burlington, KS--a smalltown, middle-
of-the-State native--scored 12 points and had 12 rebounds, 
demonstrating to other smalltown athletes like him that they, too, 
could be a star in the Nation's biggest tournament in college 
basketball.
  Jordan Juenemann, a former walk-on for the Jayhawks men's basketball 
team from my hometown of Hays, noted that this 2022 championship team 
might not be the best according to the stats, but they played like a 
team. They care about the game, and they care about each other. Only a 
team that sees the glass half full could come back after being down 16 
points and clinch the victory. This speaks to the team's perseverance 
and belief in themselves.
  Coach Keith Riley, a basketball coach from Hill City, KS, in the 
western part of our State--I visited with him the other day, and he 
pointed out to me the lesson that kids around the State will take away 
from Monday night: You may not always have all of the best players on 
the court at the same time, and you may not have all the talent that is 
out there on that court, but you can still find ways to be successful 
because of how hard you work.
  My guess is that kids, ever since Monday, back home in Kansas and 
maybe across the country, are in their driveway, they are at the school 
basketball court, and they are shooting free throws or 3-point shots 
one after another. It inspires us to know that we can do more, and the 
University of Kansas basketball team is inspiring kids today to go out 
and work harder.
  I commend these players and the entire Kansas Jayhawks men's 
basketball team, as well as the coaches and staff, for their hard work 
which culminated in this victory.
  While these young men on the team may be known for their talent on 
the court, many should be recognized for the adversity they faced off 
court. Dajuan Harris, KU's point guard, has overcome tremendous loss in 
his 21 years. He lost both his father and his brother just a few years 
apart, and Sunday night, he came out and he played for them.
  These young men came to college to play some great basketball, but 
along the way, they are learning how to give back to their community. 
At Christmastime, this team goes to the local Walmart and purchases 
Christmas presents for families who might be facing financial hardship. 
They learn the important lesson of giving back to their community.
  Finally, to Coach Bill Self, I know you are probably still feeling 
that very deep loss--and maybe even more so on Monday night--of your 
father, who died just recently--Bill Self, Sr.--but you can be sure he 
is smiling down with pride on you and your whole team. You took his 
advice. He advised you:

       Don't worry about the mules, just load the wagon.

  As a graduate of the University of Kansas, as a Kansan, I share the 
excitement of Jayhawks fans across the world in Sunday night's stunning 
achievement, and I am pleased to introduce this resolution with Senator 
Marshall to honor this achievement.
  To my fellow Jayhawks, ``Rock Chalk.''
  Mr. President, I am pleased that on such a bipartisan basis, in 
cooperation between Republicans and Democrats--something I know Kansans 
and Americans don't see enough of--this resolution normally would take 
a few more days than it has taken to get to the U.S. Senate this week. 
I am pleased that both the Republican and Democrat leadership and their 
staff worked with us in cooperation to be able to commend the Jayhawks 
this early this week.
  So, Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the Senate proceed to consideration of S. Res. 578, which 
is at the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 578) commending and congratulating 
     the University of Kansas

[[Page S2017]]

     Jayhawks men's basketball team for winning the 2022 National 
     Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball National 
     Championship.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. MORAN. With a neighboring Coloradan in the chair and a former 
part of the Big 12 Conference, Mr. President, I now ask unanimous 
consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, 
and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the 
table with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 578) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')
  Mr. MORAN. Thank you.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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