KU and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

With the enshrinement of Bill Self in 2017, there are 18 former Jayhawks elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame based on their individual accomplishments.  This is more than any other school.

	Year
Individuals (18)	Enshrined
James Naismith	1959	Contributor
Forrest "Phog" Allen	1959	Coach*
Ernest C. Quigley	1961	Referee
John Bunn	1964	Contributor
Adolph Rupp	1969	Coach
Paul Endacott	1972	Player
Arthur “Dutch” Lonborg	1973	Coach (also manager of 1960 Olympic team)
William Johnson	1977	Player
John McLendon	1979	Contributor (also enshrined as a Coach in 2016)
Wilt Chamberlain	1979	Player
Dean Smith	1983	Coach
Ralph Miller	1988	Coach
Clyde Lovellette	1988	Player
Larry Brown	2002	Coach
Lynette Woodard	2004	Player
Roy Williams	2007	Coach
Jo Jo White	2015	Player
Bill Self	2017	Coach
Team Members
Allen Kelley	2010	1960 Olympic team
Dean Nesmith	2010	Trainer of 1960 Olympic team
Other
Max Falkenstien	2004	Curt Gowdy Media Award
Rich Clarkson	2015	Curt Gowdy Media Award
*Phog Allen was originally enshrined as a Contributor in 1959.  According to Matt Zeysing, historian at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, "In the early to mid-90s, the BHOF Board reviewed Enshrinee careers. At that time a motion was made to change a few categories of Enshrinees. Phog Allen was one such Inductee. His category was changed to Coach." In addition to the above inductees, who have strong ties to KU, three other members of the Hall of Fame have weaker ties to KU basketball. Forrest DeBernardi, enshrined in 1961, was a seven-time AAU All-American in the 1920s and considered one of the greatest players of the first half of the 20th century.  He enrolled at KU in the fall of 1921 after spending two years at Westminster College.  Phog Allen was quoted at the time as calling Debernardi the "perfect basketball player".  He was already a heralded player, not only at Westminster, where he had scored 50 points in one game, but at the AAU level, having won All-American honors in leading the Kansas City Athletic Club (KCAC) to the 1921 national championship.  He joined the KU basketball team, and after sitting out the first semester as required at the time for transfer students, he appeared to be ready to step into the starting lineup in KU's first game of the second semester against KCAC, his former team.  Instead, just two days before the game, DeBernardi left KU and rejoined the KCAC team.  KCAC defeated KU by the score of 34-32, with DeBernardi scoring 17 points.  It was one of only two losses for KU that season. Jerry Colangelo came to KU in the fall of 1957 and joined the Jayhawks freshman basketball team.  He scored six points while playing against Wilt Chamberlain in the annual varsity vs freshmen game.  After a short stay he left KU and transferred to Illinois, saying, "Guards at Kansas do nothing but throw to the center and forwards."  Colangelo was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 2004. John Calipari began his coaching career as a part time assistant on Ted Owens' staff during the 1982-83 season.  He became a full time assistant for Larry Brown during the next two seasons, his duties including recruiting and coaching the junior varsity team.  At KU, Calipari met his wife, Ellen, a secretary in the athletic business office.  Calipari was in the 2015 class of Hall of Fame inductees. Inductees of select schools, based on individual accomplishments Kansas 18 UCLA 12 John Wooden, Ann Meyers, Bill Walton, Denny Crum, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gail Goodrich, Denise Curry, Billie Moore, Larry Brown, Don Barksdale,  Reggie Miller, Jamaal Wilkes North Carolina 10 Ben Carnevale, Frank McGuire, Dean Smith, Larry Brown, Billy Cunningham, James Worthy, Robert McAdoo, Roy Williams, Michael Jordan, Sylvia Hatchell Kentucky 9 Adolph Rupp, Cliff Hagan, Frank Ramsey, Dan Issel, C. M. Newton, Pat Riley, Rick Pitino, John Calipari, Louis Dampier Springfield College 9 James Naismith, John Bunn, Luther Gulick, Ferenc Hepp, Ed Hickox, R. William Jones,  Arthur Schabinger, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Edward Steitz Indiana 9 Branch McCracken, Harlan Page, Everett Dean, Cliff Wells,  Bob Knight, Walt Bellamy, Isiah Thomas, Bob Leonard, George McGinnis Louisville 3 Denny Crum, Rick Pitino, Wes Unseld Duke 1 Mike Krzyzewski

KU's Early Home Courts

KU's all-time home court records;

Cosley Skating Rink............	4 - 0..................100%
YMCA Gymnasium............	2 - 4...................33.3%
Journal Hall........................	2 - 0..................100%
Haskell Gymnasium...........	1 - 1...................50%
Snow Hall Gymnasium.......	7 - 3...................70%
Robinson Gymnasium........	148 - 37.............80%
Hoch Auditorium.................	204 - 40.............83.6%
Allen Fieldhouse.................	744 - 109...........87.2%
Total....................................	1,112 - 194........85.1%

The often quoted line about James Naismith is he is the only KU coach with a losing record.  But consider this, during the nine seasons under Naismith, KU played nearly 80% of its games on its opponents' home courts. On what could be considered their own home court, KU was 16 - 8, for a winning percentage of 66.7.

So why did KU play so few home games?  Because they really didn't have a home court until Robinson Gymnasium was opened in 1907.  Prior to this, KU's home basketball games were played in five different buildings in Lawrence, two of which still stand today. The first home courts were a roller skating rink, a warehouse, a dance hall, and a couple of basements.


Outdoor Court, West of Snow Hall
Basketball was first introduced to Lawrence at the YMCA in 1895 and is known to have been played at KU since 1896.  But enthusiasm for the game at KU didn't take hold prior to Naismith's arrival in the fall of 1898, the most likely reason being there was no suitable place to play on campus.  The earliest references to where KU students and faculty played basketball indicate an area outside, on a field west of old Snow Hall.

The faculty has organized to play basket ball, and games take place on the grounds west of Snow Hall every evening from 5 to 6 o’clock. Prof. Sayre is acknowledged the best player.
Lawrence Daily Journal, October 23, 1896

Some of the University girls are playing basket ball on the campus west of Snow Hall two days in the week instead of taking gymnasium work at that hour.
Lawrence Daily Journal, November 18, 1896

The University officials have at the request of Mrs. Clark given the space west of Snow Hall to be used as an athletic field for the girls. They have made two tennis courts, a basket-ball field, and a running track.
Kansas University Weekly, November 13, 1897

Interest in basket ball seems to be increasing.  On Wednesday more than twenty players were out.  Ten minute halves were played and some of the players showed up in good form.  On Friday another ground was made ready to accommodate all wishing to play.
Kansas University Weekly, November 5, 1898

The ill feeling which has gradually been springing up between those members of the faculty who hold forth in the main building and those of Snow Hall, has culminated in a challenge to a match game of basket ball to be played next Saturday west of Snow Hall.
Kansas University Weekly, December 3, 1898

The interest in basket ball is on the increase.  There are now one Faculty and four class teams.  Last Wednesday a meeting was held for the purpose of arranging a schedule for games and an effort will be made to secure the rink as the gymnasium is too small and grounds outside are not well arranged for a series of match games.
Kansas University Weekly, December 10, 1898

Class teams were organized early in the fall, and practice was carried on out of doors until cold weather set in, when the field was transferred to the narrow quarters of the gymnasium.
Oread Yearbook, 1899

The basket ball men are beginning to get ready for the season.  Mr. R. C. Russell was elected manager at the last meeting of the Athletic Board, and is pushing matters.  The field has been laid out beyond the hedge west of Snow Hall, and some of the men have begun practice already.
Kansas University Weekly, October 7, 1899

The men are practicing in the field every afternoon and are rapidly getting into condition.
Kansas City Journal, November 21, 1899

Cosley's Skating Rink, 807 Kentucky Street

Haskell	W	29-8	Jan. 28, 1899
Topeka YMCA	W	31-6	Feb. 10, 1899
Lawrence YMCA	W	14-4	Feb. 18, 1899
Kansas City YMCA	W	17-14	Feb. 25, 1899

With the presence of the game's inventor, the fervor for basketball at KU held going into the winter of 1898-99.  With no suitable place to play on campus a roller skating rink on Kentucky Street was leased for games.

Built in 1884 by Frank Cosley, the rink was a wooden building measuring approximately 50 feet by 120 feet, with a maple floor and a gallery for spectators. Although originally built to be a roller skating rink, the people of Lawrence found it to be an ideal place for public gatherings, including concerts, dances, banquets, lectures, and revivals.  Susan B. Anthony spoke there in 1886 and William Jennings Bryan spoke there in 1898.  KU held an annual athletic meet there which included boxing, wrestling, gymnastics, and track and field events.  The building was also known as the armory because Company H, the Lawrence unit of the Kansas National Guard, rented it for their use.

1884 ad from University Courier

Lawrence Daily World, October 8, 1896

In that first season, KU went 4-0 at the rink, playing three YMCA teams and Haskell.  Today a marker stands at the corner of Eighth and Kentucky in Lawrence commemorating KU's first home court.

In the early hours of March 20, 1899, a fire of unknown origin destroyed the rink.

Lawrence Daily Journal, March 20, 1899

YMCA Gymnasium, 925 New Hampshire Street

Haskell	W	14-5	Jan. 27, 1900
Topeka YMCA	L	14-24	Feb. 9, 1900
Kansas City YMCA	L	15-21	Mar. 16, 1900
Haskell	L	22-40	Jan. 25, 1901
Lawrence YMCA	W	28-12	Feb. 15, 1901 (KU was the visiting team)
Topeka YMCA	L	22-26	Mar. 1, 1901
Lawrence YMCA	W	27-20	Mar. 8, 1901 (KU was the visiting team)
Haskell	W	25-20	Mar. 15, 1901

Lawrence Daily Journal, January 1, 1900

In 1899, the Lawrence YMCA purchased a warehouse at 925 New Hampshire Street and also began renting rooms on the second floor of the building directly across the alley at 924 Massachusetts Street.  The buildings were converted into the association's new headquarters.  The warehouse was raised one story in height and a gymnasium and swimming pool installed.  The gymnasium was 40 feet by 65 feet with a 20 foot ceiling.  Encircling the gymnasium was a running track which also served as a gallery for spectators.  The new gymnasium opened on January 1, 1900.

The rented space in the Massachusetts Street building was used for the social rooms and offices of the association.  The two buildings were connected by a covered passageway suspended over the alley.

Based on sketch from Lawrence Daily Journal, January 1, 1900

It is interesting to note that James Naismith was the vice president of the Lawrence YMCA during this time and also served as chairman of the building committee established for this venture.  Thus, Robinson Gymnasium was the second time Naismith played a part in designing KU's home court, the YMCA gymnasium being the first.

KU hosted six games in the YMCA gymnasium over two seasons.  KU played two other games there as the visiting team against the Lawrence YMCA.  Unlike Snow Hall and Journal Hall which were disparaged in newspaper accounts, it appears the YMCA was a satisfactory place to play.

Like the rink, the YMCA gymnasium was used by Company H of the Kansas National Guard as an armory.  Like the rink, the YMCA gymnasium was destroyed by fire of unknown origin.  Like the rink, the location where the YMCA gymnasium stood is a parking lot today.

Early in the morning of September 29, 1901, the YMCA's New Hampshire Street building caught fire and was destroyed in spectacular fashion.

The loss of arms and ammunition of Company H was practically complete, though some of the gun barrels were fished out of the swimming pool yesterday, and others were recovered today when the pool was drained.  The ammunition exploded in a regular fusillade and reminded many of the members of the company, who were present at the fire and who had served with the Twentieth Kansas in the Philippines, of some of the engagements in which the popping of the musketry and the burning of houses was a combined feature in many of their engagements.  The bullets could be heard whizzing in every direction, and this added to the danger of the work about the fire.  As far as learned no one was hurt by the flying bullets.
Lawrence Daily Journal, September 30, 1901

Lawrence Daily Journal, September 30, 1901

Journal Hall, 710 Massachusetts

Haskell	W	27-22	Jan. 14, 1902
William Jewell	W	12-11	Jan. 25, 1902

Lawrence Daily Journal advertisement

With the arrival of the 1901-02 basketball season, KU was once again looking for a place to play.  On the second floor of the Learnard Building at 710 Massachusetts was a room that over the years had been used as a dance hall and for other social gatherings.  Journal Hall, as it was called, was rented for the season and eight home games were tentatively scheduled.

J B Bernhard, manager of the basket ball team of the University of Kansas, is making arrangements for the winter’s games.  Journal Hall has been rented for the games that will be played here, wired with electric lights, and baskets put in, and season tickets for the home games have been placed on sale at $1.25.
Lawrence Daily Journal, December 4, 1901

The eight game home schedule was pared down to only three games, two of these at Journal Hall.  Accounts of the games describe the court as being narrow with a low ceiling and the floor being slippery.  Without a proper place to play, enthusiasm for basketball at KU was fading.

The only encouraging aspect of the basket ball situation is that the sport is inexpensive and that the athletic association is not in danger of contracting big debts in support of the game.  But the fact that basket ball does not entail one-tenth the expense of foot ball and base ball will not insure its success at KU.  The student body must shuffle off its indifference and get on friendly terms with this neglected branch of Kansas athletics. Why not?  Do you admire endurance, activity, nerve, a cool head and a quick eye in an athlete?  If so attend the next basket ball game and see a good exhibition of these qualities.  Athletics can't thrive on money alone -- it must have encouragement.
Kansas University Weekly, January 25, 1902

Early on September 20, 1979 a fire gutted the buildings at 706 and 708 Massachusetts and damaged 710 Massachusetts.  These buildings were rebuilt or refurbished as part of the Nickel Building project.

Haskell Gymnasium

Nebraska	L	29-35	Mar. 1, 1902
William Jewell	W	23-12	Jan. 30, 1903

Hiawatha Hall on the Haskell campus

In 1902, the idea of using Journal Hall for games was abandoned after playing only twice there, and KU was again looking for a new home court.  With Nebraska scheduled to come to Lawrence to play KU and Haskell, it was decided to play both games in Haskell's gymnasium on consecutive nights.

Tomorrow night the University of Nebraska will meet the Haskell Indians, and on March 1st the University of Kansas, at Haskell gymnasium. Tickets admitting to game, with transportation both ways, are on sale at Smith’s depot and at Bromelsick’s. Price, 45 cents with conveyance, 25 cents without conveyance. Hacks will leave the Eldridge house at 7:15 and 7:30, and return promptly after each game. Games called at 8:15 p. m.
Lawrence Daily Journal, February 27, 1902

Hiawatha Hall, as it would later be named, opened in 1899 and was designed by John G. Haskell, who also designed old Snow Hall and other buildings on KU's campus.  The main floor of the building housed the chapel and auditorium, and the basement was the school's gymnasium.   Measuring 90 feet by 50 feet with a 18 foot ceiling, the gymnasium had two rows of support pillars that provided extra entertainment and danger during basketball games.

The Indians' court was fitted with chicken wire back stops and instead of shooting for the baskets the Indians fired away from a distance at the sagging area in the wire netting. Much to the chagrin of their “white man” opponents the ball would drop dead and fall directly into the basket. To complicate matters further, in the Indians' gymnasium there were six large, round, steel floor supports located in the playing court. The Indians would dash down the court, feint to go one direction, then clutch a post and swing off at an unexpected angle to elude their pursuers and, receive the ball at an unlooked for angle.
Baskets and Bankboards by Forrest "Phog" Allen, February, 1932

When it comes down to a peculiar floor we have got to hand it to the wily redskins at the Haskell Institute.  The ceiling of the Haskell hall is supported by two rows of pillars, about eight on a side, all of which are inside the playing surface.  It is amusing to watch the Indians play the posts.  They dodge or shake off the man covering by grabbing the posts and sliding around.  They get the ball with their opponents yards away, and consequently get many practically free throws from the field.
Kansas City Times, February 1, 1907

A peculiarity of the Haskell Indian court at Lawrence, Kas., is the posts, four on each side and inside the side lines.  The Indians practice working round these posts and have become skillful dodgers.  It is dangerous going for the visiting team.  The Haskell court has a wire netting backstop.  The Indians, of course, know the right spot on the netting and the shots drop dead into the basket.
Kansas City Star, February 16, 1908 

Nebraska beat the Jayhawks after being trounced by Haskell the night before.  Haskell's band provided entertainment during the game and also at the banquet held for the teams after the game.

During the 1902-03 basketball season KU played only two games in Lawrence, both in Haskell's gymnasium.  The first game was against the home team Haskell in December.  In the second game on January 30, KU was the home team versus William Jewell.  Transportation was provided to ticket holders from downtown Lawrence to the Haskell campus for the Friday afternoon game.

Considering they played 14 of 15 games on the road, the 1902-03 KU team finished with a respectable 7-8 record.

Now that the basket-ball season is over it is of interest to review the record of the team of the season ’02-’03.  Considering the fact that the team was from the beginning seriously handicapped by the lack of a good court to practice on and had to play every game but one on their opponent’s courts, the record made is an unusually good one.
Kansas University Weekly, April 18, 1903

Hiawatha Hall still stands on the Haskell campus, but has been close to the public for some years with a mold problem making it dangerous to enter.

Snow Hall Gymnasium

William Jewell	W	27-10	Dec. 12, 1903
Kansas School for the Deaf	W	35-10	Jan. 8, 1904
Topeka YMCA	W	25-22	Jan. 14, 1904
Haskell	L	12-28	Jan. 21, 1904
Ottawa University	L	23-26	Mar. 7, 1904
Emporia Normal	W	46-11	Jan. 21, 1905
Fraternal Aid	L	20-37	Feb. 11, 1905
Chilocco Indian School	W	19-11	Jan. 15, 1906
Washburn University	W	39-12	Feb. 28, 1906
Emporia Normal	W	60-13	Mar. 3, 1906

When Snow Hall was built in 1885-1886 there were no plans for a gymnasium to be in it.  The west room of the basement, which would eventually become the gymnasium, was, according to the original floor plans, meant to be a laboratory for botany classes.  Its actual use seems to have varied, being used as a banquet hall, meeting room, and for football practice.

In 1894 the west basement was converted into a gymnasium to accommodate the newly introduced Physical Culture classes at the University.

The basement of Snow hall is being fitted up for gymnasium use.  The windows are already screened and as stated last week, a lot of lockers, dumb bells, Indian clubs and other apparatus purchased.
Lawrence Daily Journal, March 7, 1894

The west room in the basement of Snow Hall is being arranged for gymnasium purposes. The apparatus from the main building will be moved to this room, and two hundred and fifty dumb bells and lockers have been ordered.
Students Journal, March 9, 1894

Men's Physical Culture class in the "gymnasium" in old Snow Hall

The gymnasium room was 86 feet long, 36 feet wide, with an 11 foot ceiling.  The low ceiling along with eight support pillars running down the middle of the room made basketball unpractical.  Further complicating matters, the room was divided in half during Naismith's first two years at KU to accommodate zoology classes

In order to accommodate the large class in beginning zoology, the west half of the gymnasium is being partitioned off as a laboratory.  The east wall will be occupied by sinks and acquariums, while along the center and west wall there will be work tables for the students.
Lawrence Daily Journal, September 19, 1898

The gymnasium room has been divided and one-half is now used by classes in zoology.
Kansas University Weekly, September 24, 1898

The girls in the gymnasium are advancing rapidly in their ability to swing clubs and several new movements are added to the series each day.  A young man takes his life in his hands however, when he tries to enter the zoology department.  It really approaches the pathetic to see him dodge and slink along the wall in mortal fear of being prostrated by a swinging club.
Kansas University Weekly, November 12, 1898

The removal of the zoology rooms to the medical school building has given larger quarters to the physical culture work, and the whole lower floor of the west end of Snow hall is now devoted to that work.  This room has been fixed up so that it looks very much like a gymnasium, and gives Dr. Naismith much greater opportunity to do his work.
Lawrence Daily Journal, September 21, 1900

Despite the difficulties, attempts were made to play basketball in the gymnasium.  Complaints about the inadequacies of the gymnasium soon followed.

A large scorpion was found in the basement of Snow Hall this morning.  These are rather rare for this part of Kansas.
Lawrence Daily Journal, October 25, 1898

The gymnasium has just added to its supply of Indian clubs and several dozen wands. At present the gymnasium is very inadequate in its space accommodation, the room being too crowded for the best work and too small to admit of basket ball.  It is hoped that the next building obtained for the University will be a new gymnasium with ample accommodations for dressing and bath rooms.
Kansas University Weekly, November 5, 1898

It was decided to try to get a place fitted up in the Y. M. C. A. rooms for practice. There is no room in the gymnasium for basket ball practice at present owing to its small size, but next year efforts will be taken to have this remedied.
Topeka State Journal, December 7, 1899

The boys can not find a good place to practice indoors now that cold weather has set in, as there is no room for basket ball in the gymnasium at the University.
Topeka State Journal, December 18, 1899

After being shown through Nebraska's beautiful gymnasium, a handsome structure as large as Spooner library fitted with every appliance for the development of physical manhood, the boys were asked how it compared with ours.  Some one aptly replied, "We have none.  All we have at K U is a bath and a hole in the basement of Snow Hall where we have the privilege of storing our apparatus."
Kansas University Weekly, March 10, 1900

The season has been delayed this year at Kansas university by lack of a suitable place to practice.
Topeka State Journal, January 29, 1900

The gymnasium of the Lawrence Y. M. C. A. has been secured by the manager of the basketball team as a place for the squad to practice, the university gymnasium in Snow Hall having proved very unsatisfactory for that purpose.  Pillars that support the floor overhead make playing extremely dangerous.  Besides the ceiling is too low and the room is needed for other kinds of athletics.
Topeka Daily Capitol, November 23, 1900

Where will the team play? Our University gymnasium is not large enough for practice, to say nothing of playing an inter-collegiate game in it. Dr. Naismith has reserved one end of the gymnasium for the basket ball team, but there is only enough room for practice in passing the ball, much of the work must be done out of doors.
Kansas University Weekly, October 5, 1901

No games were played in Snow Hall by the KU varsity teams until the 1903-04 season when the gym was remodeled.  However, the KU women's team and the Lawrence high school teams did play a few games there before the remodel.

During the summer of 1903, the floor of the Snow Hall gymnasium was lowered and four of the eight support pillars were removed.  The lowering of the floor was possible because Snow Hall had been built with a four-foot air space, or plenum, under the basement to aid in the circulation of air through the building.

The regents inspected the repairs and interior improvements which are being made on the new gymnasium room.  This department has been placed in the west end basement of Snow Hall and the floor has been lowered five feet to permit of putting in the trapeze and other athletic apparatus.  New shower baths and dressing rooms have been added and a complete gymnasium has been put in as far as the capacity of the room will permit until a new building is erected.  The gymnasium improvements will cost $2,000 when completed.
Lawrence Daily Gazette, July 22, 1903

Nearly all the basement will be used in connection with the work in physical training.  The floor of the main gymnasium room has been sunk three feet, making the room that much higher.  A small room will be fitted up for fencing, boxing and tumbling.  The offices of the physical director, the ladies’ physical director and the general manager of athletics will be in the southwest corner.  The lockers have been entirely re-arranged and new baths are being put in.
Lawrence Daily Journal, August 12, 1903

In Snow hall there are many changes. The Natural collection has been removed to the Museum building. The basement floor has been lowered three feet, cemented, and will be used for a gymnasium. It will make a splendid room for basket ball and other games of the sort.
Lawrence Daily World, August 20, 1903

The basement floor has been lowered and a much better gymnasium room has been secured, where classes in gymnasium training for all students will be conducted, and where it will be possible to play the winter’s basket ball games.
Lawrence Daily Journal, September 8, 1903

Numerous changes have been made in the buildings in the summer vacation. The new museum building has been occupied by the collections of the natural history department and the changes made in Snow hall as a result of the increased room have given much more space for the work in botany, zoology and similar sciences. The floor of the basement in this building has been lowered four feet for the athletic drill every student is to take. The football dressing rooms have been moved to the south side of the basement floor, with the offices of the physical director and his assistants adjoining the east entrance. It is here that the athletic manager, U. S. G. Plank, will have his office.
Kansas City Star, September 8, 1903

The state legislature did not deem it expedient to grant us a gymnasium building when we asked for it last year, yet, by extensive remodeling of the basement of Snow Hall, the facilities for gymnasium work have been greatly increased.  The large west room has been ceiled and plastered and its floor lowered three feet, thus affording a room fourteen feet high with a floor area thirty-eight by ninety feet.  One half of this will be used for basket ball and the remainder for general apparatus for physical development.
Kansas University Weekly, September 26, 1903

It is in the basement that the changes have been made that interest the greatest number of University people.  By lowering the floor three feet and reducing the number of columns through the room from eight to four, the gymnasium has been converted from a low, crowded room into an airy room of adequate height and reasonable freedom from obstruction.  By means of two large swinging doors a partition can be thrown across the middle of the room, and two rooms can thus be made for the use of classes in physical training.  In the remaining space of the basement, toilet and locker room, and two shower baths have been equipped for young women, and larger rooms and three baths for young men.  Next to the east basement door are the offices of Dr. Naismith and Mr. U. S. G. Plank, assistant in physical education and general manager of athletics.
Graduate Magazine, October 1903

The Gymnasium is as yet very inadequate to the needs of the University. It is located in Snow Hall, occupying all of the basement floor. The main exercise room is 86x36x14 feet, and was refitted last fall, so that it is now a pleasant room, well-lighted and heated. It may be divided into two rooms by large folding doors, permitting two classes to work at the same time. Another room has been set aside for small classes, or for special work by those who are unable to take the regular work, or who need special developing exercises.
Kansas Annual Catalog, 1903-04

Despite the improvements and initial enthusiasm, as soon as games were played there the gymnasium became a source of embarrassment to the University.  The 14-foot ceiling and the pillars were still a handicap.  The size of the court was reduced when hosting games by the need to add about 300 to 400 seats for spectators.  During the four seasons that the Snow Hall gymnasium served as KU's home court, only 10 games were played there.  Emporia Normal (now Emporia State) was the only team willing to play KU twice there.  During the 1906-07 season no home games at all were played, despite 1,200 athletic season tickets being sold to the students.

One thing which was a menace to the home team was a row of posts down the center of the room and also the woven wire back of the baskets instead of the regulation board backing as is used in practice work here.
Topeka Daily Herald, January 15, 1904

The team work of the Jewell boys was handicapped because of the inconvenience of the court.
William Jewell Student, February, 1904

The present gymnasium is totally inadequate to the needs of an ordinary high school and is actually unfit to be used in connection with any University.  It is located in the basement of Snow Hall and is simply the unfinished basement with a shower bath and board partitions.
Kansan, October 27, 1904  

The present gymnasium is a discredit to the people of Kansas and to the University.  Everything is crowded into half the space it should occupy.  Two men are given a locker about the size of a lunch basket.  Their clothes are wrinkled and soiled.  The men are forced to work in a small room which is so crowded that those who play basket ball are often injured by falling over apparatus, or against the racks that are standing about the room.
Kansan, December 8, 1904

Leslie Burt broke his nose in the gymnasium Monday evening by colliding with one of the upright posts.  No serious injury was sustained, although a most painful one.
Lawrence Daily Journal, February 1, 1905

Forest Allen made his first appearance at basket ball in the gymnasium Thursday evening.  The ceiling was too low for him to show how well he could throw long goals, but he gave the men some good ideas of how to get into the game.
Kansan, October 21, 1905

Washburn has evidently been playing upon a floor with higher ceiling, as many of their long throws coincided with the ceiling.
Kansan, March 3, 1906

The Jayhawkers are without a coach, and at present without a suitable floor on which to practice.  Manager Lansdon has opened negotiations for the Eldridge house hall but has not been able to get possession of it.  One thousand, two hundred tickets to the basketball games are out and the present gymnasium will hold only 120 persons.  The new gymnasium will not be ready this year and unless some arrangements are made for a hall down town Kansas will not be able to get a local game.
Kansas City Journal, December 13, 1906

Kansas is about to let basket ball die for this season.  The new K. U. gymnasium is not yet finished and the old gymnasium is better suited for a crossroads grocery store than for any athletic contests.
Kansas City Star, January 15, 1907

One thing is almost certain, there will be no game in the K. U. gymnasium as no visiting team will risk their lives among the pillars and there is no room for spectators.
The Kansan, January 23, 1907

A word of explanation is due the athletic management as to the basket ball situation before it is condemned for the lack of home games this year.  With 1200 tickets outstanding, and with no hall either in the University or in town that could accommodate a fourth of that number and leave room for a team, the problem is a hard one.  Under such circumstances it is almost out of the question to schedule games for the home court until the new gym is available.
The Kansan, January 23, 1907

The University of Kansas is to have a few home baseball games this spring even if they do cost money.  The K. U. students were reamed on the basket ball deal.  They paid for games, but none were played.  The Jayhawker students had better order their games C. O. D. if they want to be sure they get what they pay for.
Kansas City Journal, February 21, 1907

In the fall of 1907, KU basketball finally had a permanent home with the opening of Robinson Gymnasium. The gymnasium in Snow Hall was converted into a laboratory, then later to classrooms.  Old Snow Hall, which stood in front of where Watson Library stands today, was slowly demolished between 1932 and 1934.  Limestone blocks salvaged from the building were used for the facing of the Military Science Building still standing on the KU campus today. Stone from old Snow Hall was also used in the construction of the benches and bulletin boards gifted by the class of 1931 that flank the main walk leading to Watson Library.

Additional Notes

The records section of KU's basketball media guide lists 37 games played in Lawrence prior to the opening of Robinson Gymnasium.  Many of those games were actually played elsewhere or where played against Haskell or the Lawrence YMCA on their home courts.  Only 24 games were played on what could be considered a home court for KU.

The First KU - Wichita State Basketball Game

Wichita Daily Beacon, December 17, 1908

KU and Wichita State first played each other on December 18, 1908.  Back then, WSU was known as Fairmount College. Fairmount became the Municipal University of Wichita in 1926, and was renamed Wichita State University in 1964.

KU took advantage of the Christmas break to make a road trip across Kansas playing the local colleges.  By defeating Emporia State, Kansas State, Kansas Wesleyan, Bethany, Fairmount and Baker, KU proclaimed itself Champions of the State.

Forrest "Phog" Allen was in his second season as the KU coach, but did not make the trip with the team. In fact, on the day of the game with Fairmount he was in Columbia, MO officiating the basketball game between Missouri and Warrensburg.  This was not unusual for the time, James Naismith also did not always travel with the team during his coaching tenure.

The game was the first ever in Fairmount's new gymnasium and KU won by a score of 65 to 15. Tommy Johnson led KU in scoring with 27 points, making 13 field goals and one free throw. Johnson's point total was a new KU scoring record, eclipsing Phog Allen's 26 point output against Emporia State in 1906. Johnson and Allen were freshman teammates in 1906 (Johnson tossed in 16 points in Allen's record-breaking game).

George McCune chipped in 21 points, marking the first time two Jayhawks scored 20 or more points in the same game.

It was the first game of the season for Fairmount.  Things didn't get any better in their second game which was played only a few hours later.  After the 50-point drubbing in the afternoon game against KU, Fairmount's team traveled to Newton, KS that evening and was again defeated by 50 points, 69 to 19, by the local YMCA team.

KU would go on to win its first 19 games en route to a 25-3 record and the Missouri Valley Conference championship during the 1908-09 season.

Boxscore from Wichita Daily Eagle

Kansan, January 5, 1909

Evolution of the Kansas single game scoring record.

4  William Sutton, vs Kansas City YMCA, February 3, 1899

13 William Sutton, vs Topeka YMCA, February 10, 1899
13 William Sutton, vs Kansas City YMCA, February 25, 1899

19 William Sutton, vs Topeka YMCA, March 3, 1899

21 Frederick Owens, vs Haskell, January 14, 1902

21 Donald Alford, vs Leavenworth High School, March 21, 1902

21 William Miller, vs Nebraska Wesleyan, January 28, 1905

23 Forrest Allen, vs Nebraska, February 12, 1906

26 Forrest Allen, vs Emporia St., March 3, 1906
27 Tommy Johnson, vs Fairmount College (Wichita St), December 18, 1908
40 Ralph Sproull, vs Washington MO, February 8, 1913
42 Clyde Lovellette, vs SMU, December 14, 1951
44 Clyde Lovellette, vs St. Louis in Kansas City, NCAA tournament, March 22, 1952
44 B. H. Born, vs Colorado, March 2, 1953
52 Wilt Chamberlain, vs Northwestern, December 3, 1956

Dateline: December 3, 1949 - KU's First Televised Basketball Game

Television made its debut in Kansas City on October 16, 1949.  A few weeks later, basketball made its television debut in Kansas City when Rockhurst College hosted the Kansas Jayhawks on December 3, 1949.  WDAF-TV broadcast the game to the estimated 20,434 television sets in the Kansas City area (the number had grown from 7,500 sets in October, and 15,755 sets in November).

Kansas City Star, December 2, 1949

Kansas City Star, December 3, 1949

Another debut was made that night as Clyde Lovellette played in his first game for the Jayhawks.

The following is the Kansas City Star's take on the novelty, from its December 4 , 1949 issue.

CAGERS ARE TV STARS 

FAST ACTION INTO LENSES AT K. U. – ROCKHURST GAME. 

Two Cameras Give Fans at Home a Close-Up Seat as Basketball Joins Other Video Sports.
----------------
Basketball made its television debut in Kansas City last night and proved itself a worthy companion of the sports of the ring and the rink as a WDAF-TV medium.  The probing eye of video brought out all the speed and gusto of action as the University of Kansas defeated Rockhurst college, 55 to 34. 

TWO CAMERAS ARE USED.
With the two cameras settled in a corner of the Mason-Halpin field house at Rockhurst, the plays were followed as they were set up.  Then the cameras seemingly reached almost into the baskets to follow the course of the ball as the counters were rung up.  K. U. had little trouble in handling the Rockhurst team, but the Kansas City school had it all over the Jayhawkers in the field of uniforms being telegenic.  The white Rockhurst letters stood out well against the dark blue uniforms, while K. U.’s  blue letters on red uniforms were at times indistinct.  Strangely enough, the television was at its best when the play was in the end of the court away from the cameras.  There, the range took in the entire width of the court.  At the near end the camera’s scope was lessened by the very proximity. 

TV AUDIENCE KEPT POSTED.
Victor Peck, the announcer, concentrated on identifying the players and keeping the television audience posted on the score and the time, letting the cameras provide the account of the action.  In many instances the cameras took the viewer closer to the play than they ever could have gone if at the scene of the game.  One outstanding sequence was in the first half when the cameras swooped down on the basket while eager Jayhawkers tapped the ball six times in a futile effort to sink rebound shots.  The close confines of the gymnasium were ideal for picking up the cheers, the enthusiasm which marks basketball.  At one time Peck’s voice virtually was drowned out as the partisan crowd booed what it considered roughness on the part of a Kansas player. 

CROWD AT NEAR RECORD.
Between halves Peck interviewed the Rev. Paul Smith, Rockhurst athletic director, who estimated the crowd at 3,400, a near record for the field house.  Father Smith also volunteered the statement that:  “We are very glad to have television here and I want you to know the welcome sign will always be out for WDAF-TV.”  Also in the intermission Peck explained that WDAF-TV had a 9-man crew at the scene and that the mobile video unit was parked outside the field house, relaying the program to thousands of television sets in the area.
Moving back to the court between halves the cameras picked up a shot of Dr. F. C. Allen, Jayhawker coach, at his ebullient best, slapping a well-wisher on the back while, at the same time, issuing orders to his players, about to take the floor. 

FIND A GAP IN DEFENSE.
At the onset of the half the cameras themselves seemed to pick a gap in the K. U. defense, through which Rockhurst quickly drove for a setup.  Again, the cameras moved down for a closeup of towering Clyde Lovellette, K. U.’s highly touted sophomore, shaking his head in disgust after flubbing an easy one.  As usual, there were those who made deliberate efforts to make their actions seen over television. But they were confined to a group of 7 and 8 year olds seated on the floor level at the far end.  They jumped, waved and grimaced for the benefit of the cameras on several occasions.

Other Early Televised KU Games

One other KU basketball game was televised that season, the Fifth District NCAA play-in game against Bradley on March 20, 1950 in Kansas City, also broadcast by WDAF.  Television sets were rare in Lawrence, so watch parties for the Bradley game were arranged for the few sets available. The high school had two 16-inch-screen sets placed on the stage of the auditorium where about 600 people gathered to watch the game.  The KU Student Union also had a brand new TV tuned to the game.  Downtown businesses with TVs reported crowds of between 20 to 100, some watching through the windows from outside.

During the 1950-51 season, only one KU game was televised, but not locally.  The KU - St. John's game in Madison Square Garden on December 12, 1950 was televised in New York City on WPIX, and the game was called by Curt Gowdy.

New York Daily News, December 12, 1950

The first KU home game to be televised was against Kansas State on March 7, 1952.  Played in Hoch Auditorium, it was also broadcast by WDAF in Kansas City.  An estimated one million viewers saw KU win.  The Kansas City viewing area had about 195,000 TV sets at that time.  In Lawrence, watch parties were organized.  The following is an excerpt from the Lawrence Journal-World's report of game.

Along with the game and its general area telecast, big screen TV made its debut in Kansas at Lawrence's own Granada Theater.  Over 900 fans, about 200 of them from Manhattan where TV reception is extremely poor, jammed every seat in the local theater to see the Wildcats and Jayhawkers perform on the giant 14 by 20 foot screen.  The theater picked up its signal direct from the auditorium where the game was in progress.

Kansas City Times, March 8, 1952

KU's first nationally televised game was against Wisconsin, played on December 10, 1955 in Madison on CBS.

Jesse James the Basketball Player

   In KU's first ever varsity basketball game played in 1899 one of the players on the opposing team was in trouble with the law.  He had been accused of train robbery, and his name was Jesse James.

   Sifting through newspaper accounts of the game, it is not initially clear who this fellow was.  In the Kansas University Weekly’s report of the game was this mention, 

"Jesse James, the young man who has lately come into prominence by his alleged connection with the recent train robberies in Missouri, at this time played a rough, and at times, a very ungentlemanly game.  He was cautioned and punished by the referee several times during the game.”1

   Attempting to decipher the Weekly's report, Bernice Larson Webb in her Naismith biography, The Basketball Man, apparently thought the train robbing claim was fiction and wrote,

“A high point of the event was the discovery by the Kansas players and fans that one of the Y. M. C. A. participants was a Jesse James, who, it was reported tongue-in-cheek, had a connection with the recent train robberies in Missouri.  Train robber or not, Jesse James played “a very ungentlemanly game” and, despite several penalties and numerous warnings by the referee, helped his team steal the match from K.U.”

   In the 1937 Jayhawker yearbook can be found a review of early KU basketball which includes this paragraph,

"Most disgruntled fans who shout disapprovingly at referees, "Hey, Jesse, where's your horse," never had the opportunity that Kansas fans of 1899 did. The famous old desperado himself played against Kansas that year in the first game ever played by the University.  Jesse James played right back on the Kansas City Y. M. C. A. team and according to the account of the game, "played a rough, and at times, a very ungentlemanly game."  He was cautioned and punished by the referee several times.  His roughness apparently persuaded the University team to stay out of his territory and Jesse's team won the game 16-5.  Several weeks later when K. U. again played the Y team Jesse was dodging the law so the Lawrence boys dodged their opponents, sans young James, often enough to win 17-14. Apparently this daring young gunman was to his basketball team what his horse was to him.”2

   So who was this Jesse James, and was he really involved in, of all things, train robbery?  He obviously wasn't the "famous old desperado" the Jayhawker claimed him to be.  That Jesse James was killed in 1882.  But he did have a son, also named Jesse.

Jesse James, Jr.

   Jesse Edward James was the son of Jesse Woodson James, the notorious outlaw.  Until he was six years old, young Jesse did not know his father's true identity nor even his own real name, having been raised under the name Tim Howard.  His discovery of the truth began in grisly fashion.

   When Jesse James was assassinated in his home in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1882, his son was nearby.  Many years later, Jesse, Jr. recounted the death of his father,

 "The morning my father was murdered we had just finished breakfast.  I heard from the front room the loud roar of a shot.  My mother rushed in and screamed.  I ran in after her and saw my father dead upon the floor, and my mother was down upon her knees by his side and was crying bitterly. My father was killed instantly by the bullet that Ford shot into the back of his head.  He never spoke or breathed after he fell.

Soon after the murder of my father a great crowd gathered outside the house.  My childish mind imagined that these were responsible for the murder, and in great anger I lugged from its closet my father's shot gun and tried to aim it at the people outside, but my mother took it from me"3

   Shortly after the death of his father, Jesse, Jr. moved to Kansas City with his mother and sister.  In 1896 he returned to St. Joseph for the first time since his father's death.  He would visit the house where the assassination occurred, however this was not the reason he came to St. Joseph.  He was in town to play basketball.4

The Basketball Player

   Basketball was first played in Kansas City in 1894.  Beginning at the YMCA it was later taken up by club teams and national guardsmen.  In 1896 Jesse, Jr. was playing for the Third Regiment of Missouri National Guard.5

  The position Jesse played was guard or back, which in those early days of basketball was defined as a defensive position.  In Kansas City the brand of basketball played was a seven-man game, eventually evolving into a six-man game by 1898.  Each team had two forwards who played near their own goal and where looked upon to do the scoring, two or three centers who were positioned in the center of the court and either passed to the forwards or took outside shots, and two guards who stayed back and guarded the opposition's forwards.6

   In the winter of 1898-99, Jesse was a member of the Kansas City YMCA basketball team.  But he found only enough time to appear in five games that season, he was much too busy playing defense in the court of law.


The Leeds Train Robbery
   

Kansas City Times, September 24, 1898

   In early 1898, when he was 21, Jesse opened a cigar stand in the Jackson County courthouse and it was here that he began befriending suspected train robbers, one of whom would betray him.

   On September 23, 1898, a gang of train robbers dynamited the safe in the express car of the Missouri Pacific Train No. 5 in Leeds, Missouri, a few miles southeast of Kansas City.  The explosion was so loud it was heard for miles, and so destructive that only about $30 was retrieved by the bandits from the resultant rubble.  The robbery was front page news in the Kansas City newspapers the next day.

“Dynamite Used In Plenty”, “The Safe Shattered, and the Express Car Blown Up by an Explosion Heard in the City”.  “That they did not blow off their own feathers was a wonder, for the car was razed, the great iron safe was shattered, and, for a distance of two miles, waybills and papers and fragments of baggage were scattered along the track.” - Kansas City Star

 “The track for 100 yards on either side was littered with broken parcels, pieces of timber, etc.  Flying fragments of the car broke down the telegraph wires along the Missouri Pacific and the 'Frisco, which parallels the former road.  There were several crates of chickens in the car and nothing but feathers was left to tell the story.” - Kansas City World

   

"Think ya used enough dynamite there, Butch?"

   

   William Lowe, an acquaintance of Jesse, Jr.,  was arrested and confessed to the crime.  Not only did he have a letter from Jesse in his possession, he claimed Jesse was the leader of the gang.  Jesse was arrested on October 11, 1898 and newspapers nationwide picked up the story of the younger Jesse stepping into his father’s footsteps.

   

Chicago Tribune, October 12, 1898

Los Angeles Herald, October 12, 1898

Atlanta Constitution, October 12, 1898

New York NY Herald, October 16, 1898

Chicago Inter-Ocean, October 16, 1898

Buffalo NY Evening News, November 3, 1898

   While out on bond and awaiting trial, James began playing basketball with the Kansas City YMCA Tigers, including the game against KU on February 3, 1899.  Not only did James Naismith bring his Jayhawks to Kansas City that night, he brought along the "modern" game of five-on-five basketball.

"A change will be made in the game of basket ball which is to be played at the Young Men’s Christian association gymnasium at 810 Wyandotte street this evening between the Tigers and the University of Kansas team.  But five men will be allowed on each team and instead of having the floor divided into thirds as has been the recent rule no division will be made and all will be allowed to play anywhere in the field.  This will have a good effect in that it should make the game even faster than it has been before."7

The accounts of the game in the Kansas City dailies singled out Jesse's play.

"Jesse James' defensive work was one of the features of the game." - Kansas City World

"Jesse James, Jr. is an expert basket ball player.  Jesse plays right back for the Tigers and puts up a fast and determined game, playing with a dash, spirit and gameness that is generally a feature of the games in which he takes part." - Kansas City Star

"Jesse James, who played one of the backs for the Tigers, was censured five times by Referee Naismith and Umpire Clark for fouling, but he played a hard game and got much applause from the crowd."  - Kansas City Times

"Martin and James were off in their playing, both forgot that they were not playing football and would start to run, hence the number of fouls charged to their account."8  - Kansas City Journal

   The rematch between the two teams was scheduled to be played in Lawrence on February 25, but whether Jesse would be able to play in that game was in doubt since his trial was to begin on February 23.  The Lawrence Daily World quipped,

"In the game of basketball to be played at the rink next Saturday night Jesse James will be on of the players for Kansas City, if nothing prevents."

   The trial continued all that weekend and the Tigers, playing without Jesse, lost to KU.  The following Monday the Kansas City Star in its coverage of the trial wrote,

“This morning when the trial was in progress and a witness was giving important testimony a young man whom Jesse knew very well entered and sat down close to him. 

Jesse leaned over and whispered:  “How did the Tigers come out at Lawrence?”

 A whispered reply was made and Jesse laughed and asked again: "Who played guards?  Who played in my place?”

Jesse is a member of the Tigers’ basket ball team that played the Lawrence team Saturday."9

   On February 28, 1899, Jesse was found not guilty, despite William Lowe's accusation and being identified by a witness to the robbery.  Those who have since studied the case also believe Jesse was innocent.10  In 1910 Lowe admitted his accusation was a "pack of lies", claiming he was coerced into implicating Jesse.11

   His trial over, Jesse found time to author a book entitled Jesse James, My Father.  Only the first half of the book is about his father.  The later half is autobiographical and is a summary of the Leeds train robbery and his own ensuing trial.  On page 169 of the book is quoted the Kansas City Star article from February 27, 1899 that mentions Jesse played basketball for the YMCA and his interest in the rematch played in Lawrence.

    A few days after the trial ended, Jesse rejoined his YMCA teammates for a game against Wentworth Academy in a game billed as the "Championship of Western Missouri".  Jesse played poorly, being charged with a staggering 13 fouls, but his team was able to win.12  There is no record of Jesse ever playing basketball again after this game.

Notes:

1. Kansas University Weekly, February 4, 1899.
2. 1937 Jayhawker, The Hawk Flies High, by William Fitzgerald, p186.

3. Jesse James My Father, by Jesse James, Jr.

4. St. Joseph Daily News, February 29, 1896 and March 2, 1896.
5. Kansas City Star, September 27, 1896, No Acting For Jesse, Jr.
6. Kansas City Journal, January 10, 1898, Is An Exciting Game.
7. Kansas City Star, February 3, 1899.
8. Basketball rules in 1899 defined fouls as any violation of the rules, thus they included such things as traveling or kicking the ball, as well fouling one's opponent.  There was no limit on the number of fouls a player could commit.  Disqualification after five fouls did not enter the rules book until 1908.
9. Kansas City Star, February 27, 1899.
10. The Train Robbery Era, by Richard Patterson, 1991.
11. Kansas City Star, February 20, 1910.
12. Kansas City World, March 5, 1899.